Restoration: Gospel Roles

Text: Philemon

Title: Restoration Part 2: Gospel Roles

Content:

Philemon was a personal letter the Apostle Paul wrote to a friend regarding his runaway slave, Onesimus, and the wrong Onesimus had done against Philemon, his household, and the church. Although this is a personal epistle, it was also addressed to other people and to the entire Colossian congregation. The issue, although personal between Philemon and Onesimus, required reconciliation between Christian brothers and restoration into Christian fellowship, which involved the whole church. From Paul’s perspective, we see the role of all believers in working toward and encouraging reconciliation between brothers and sisters in Christ and complete restoration with the church when conflict arises.

The gospel compels believers to act following the pattern modeled by Christ and mirrored by Paul in this letter. For the sake of Christ, the church must strive to forgive, love, encourage, mediate, exhort, correct, plead for restoration, work toward reconciliation, call one another to repent and forgive, walk in light of the gospel you have received…in other words, because you have been restored in Christ you now are called to participate in the ministry of reconciliation and restoration. You, church, are restored to restore. One might ask, How do we engage in the ministry of reconciliation? First, ask if your faith in Jesus is active through your love for the church. Paul reminds Philemon of the gospel at work in his own heart, namely, faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, which has directly resulted in a more profound and genuine love for the saints. This love for the saints compels believers to act in gospel partnership, guided by the knowledge of God’s word, to the glory of Christ displayed by the church for the unbelieving world. When believers hold onto unforgiveness and resentment, the gospel witness suffers. But, brothers and sisters, when the gospel filters the church's perspective, Christ’s glory motivates the church’s actions, and God’s word governs the church’s doctrine; it is a beautiful proclamation to the watching world.

Discussion Questions:

1. Paul’s letter to Philemon speaks of a Christian fellowship that is the effective action of our faith in Christ—how are you displaying the work of the gospel in your life through the church?
2. How are you serving alongside brothers and sisters joyfully and sacrificially?
3. How have you worked for reconciliation and restoration in conflict? Is your thinking (knowledge v.6) directed by God’s word? In other words, does your faith in Jesus produce love, rightly governed by God’s word, directed towards God’s people for the sake of Christ?
4. It is a good practice to regularly ask the Lord to examine our hearts and reveal any resentment or discord we may be carrying against a brother or sister. Take a moment to ask the Lord if there is anything you need to seek forgiveness for or repent of. If something comes to mind, act for the sake of the saints to the glory of Christ.