Kress Biblical Resources :: Principles Gleaned from Paul's Appeal to Forgive and Restore (Phm 1:8-21)

Detailed Outline of Philemon

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Flow from a Transformed Life of Love, Faith and Obedience

3. Principles gleaned from Paul's appeal to forgive and restore (Phm 1:8-21) [Is your life marked by obedience to God’s mandate to forgive and restore others, because you’re motivated by love, faith and a passion for the work of the ministry?]
   1. Forgiveness and restoration should be seen as an issue of obedience, yet freely given (Phm 1:8-14)
      1. It is a matter of duty and propriety (Phm 1:8)
         1. Duty
         2. Propriety
      2. It is a matter of love (Phm 1:9-13)
         1. For the sake of love (Phm 1:9a)
         2. For the sake of a beloved brother (Phm 1:9b-13)
            1. Paul’s situation (Phm 1:9b)
            2. Paul’s spiritual son (Phm 1:10)
            3. Paul’s helper (Phm 1:11)
            4. Paul’s heart (Phm 1:12)
            5. Paul’s wish (Phm 1:13)
      3. It is a matter of reconciliation (Phm 1:11-12)
         1. The rift recalled (Phm 1:11)
         2. The reconciliation desired (Phm 1:12)
      4. It is a matter of choice (Phm 1:13-14)
         1. Paul chose to send Onesimus back though he didn’t feel like parting with him (Phm 1:13)
         2. Philemon’s goodness in the matter was not to be by compulsion, but of his own free will (Phm 1:14)
   2. Forgiveness and restoration should be seen in the light of the sovereignty of God (Phm 1:15-16)
      1. The temporary separation was within the scope of God’s sovereignty (Phm 1:15a)
      2. The timeless blessings were wrought by God’s sovereign love (Phm 1:15b-16)
   3. Forgiveness and restoration should take into account the benefit to the work of the ministry and the glory of Christ (Phm 1:17, 20)
      1. It strengthens the partnership that believers have in the ministry (Phm 1:17)
      2. It stimulates and refreshes others who are partners in the ministry (Phm 1:20)
   4. Forgiveness and restoration should be seen in the light of the greater debt God has forgiven (Phm 1:18-19)
      1. The pledge of payment—an implicit reminder of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice (Phm 1:18)
      2. The personal relationship—an explicit reminder of the proper perspective on debt and forgiveness (Phm 1:19)
   5. Forgiveness and restoration should go beyond the minimum requirement, and overflow in abundance (Phm 1:17, 20-21)
      1. It should be as if he were accepting the Apostle Himself (Phm 1:17)
      2. It should bring refreshment to others, not suspicions as to the whether you’ve fully forgiven or not (Phm 1:20b)
      3. It should overflow well beyond minimum obedience (Phm 1:21)