A VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY
OF  PHILEMON
“The Aspects of  good Christian Character”
(Philemon 4-7)
[3 of  7]

Introduction

We've been presenting a verse-by-verse study of  the epistle to Philemon. We first examined the background, and performed an overview of  this "Postcard Epistle."   In that overview of  the book we considered the Presentation of  Paul as he greeted his beloved friends and fellowlaborers in the Lord.  Then we pondered the Prayer of  Paul--he was thankful for Philemon, who was very dear to him.  We then looked at the Petition of  Paul as the apostle interceded on Onesimus' behalf.  We concluded the overview by discussing briefly the Promise of  Paul as he requested Philemon to prepare lodging for him.

On the previous web page, we began to get into the book itself.  We looked closely verses 1-3. We talk about the apostle’s greetings from his palace in Rome.  In the first part verse one, we saw the Prisoner of  the Lord. Paul was incarcerated at Rome, not for his own sake, but for the sake of  the gospel and Christ.  Then we came to the second half of verse one and also verse two, in which we saw the Laborers in the Lord.  Paul greeted each of  his fellowlaborers in the ministry.  Finally, we considered the Gift from the Lord in verse three. We learned that one cannot have the peace of  God without the grace of  God.  Let me reiterate the fact that it is first grace then peace.

In our text for this web page, we see the character of  Philemon.  Paul speaks with great pleasure about the character of Philemon.  As Christians, we should strive to develop good Christian character--for God's purpose for us is Christ-likeness.  What we have here in verses 4-7 are four "Aspects of  good Christian Character."

Outline

I.       The Aspect of  Prayer (vs. 4).
         A.      This prayer appears in many of  Paul’s epistles.
                  1.      Romans 1:8, 9--"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of
                           throughout the whole world.  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of  his
                           Son, that without ceasing I make mention of  you always in my prayers."
                  2.      II Timothy 1:3--"I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without
                           ceasing I have remembrance of  thee in my prayers night and day."
                  3.      I Thessalonians 1:2--"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of  you in our prayers."
                  4.      II Thessalonians 1:3--"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that
                           your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of  every one of  you all toward each other aboundeth."
         B.      The attitude of  this prayer.
                  1.      It was one of  thanksgiving (I Thessalonians 5:17f).
                  2.      We need to pray for one another (James 5:16a).
                  3.      Illustration: Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:22-25).

”What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!”

”Have we trails and temptations?
Is there trouble any where?
We should never be discourage,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrow share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.”
[Joseph Scriven, 1819-1886]

 
II.     The Aspect of  Love (vs. 5a).
         A.      Philemon loved the Lord dearly and showed Christian love towards all believers.
                  1.       This is referring to agape love.  It’s a sacrificial love, a special kind of  love--the love of  God.                                 2.       We see this same type of  love mentioned in other writings of  Paul.
                            a.       Ephesians 1:15f--"Wherefore I also, after I heard of  your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto
                                      all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of  you in my prayers."
                            b.       Colossians 1:3f--"We give thanks to God and the Father of  our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
                                      always for you, Since we heard of  your faith in Christ Jesus, and of  the love which ye have to all
                                      the saints."
         B.       We ought to have this same agape love for God, for one another, and for the lost!  We can do all the good
                    we want for God and others, but without love, it’s all in vain (I Corinthians 13).

The third aspect is

III.    The Aspect of  Faith (vs. 5b, 6).
         A.      ”. . . which thou hath towards the Lord Jesus . . . .”
                  1.       Dr. H. L. Willmington--"No greater tribute can be paid to a believer than this.  Paul speaks of
                            Philemon’s love for Jesus (because of  who he is), and his faith in Jesus (because of  what he is)."
                  2.       Philemon’s love towards the saints. Love and faith go pretty much hand-in-hand." . . . faith which
                            worketh by love. . . ." (Galatians 5:6). (Willmington, H. L., Willington’s GUIDE to the BIBLE.
                            Wheaton, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., c1984; page 479)
                  3.       Dr. Oliver B. Greene--"Faith in Christ is the key, the heart, the soul, the life, the very essence of
                            salvation; but faith which saves will do more than saved.  Faith that saves produces works--work
                            of  love; and a faith which does not work is dead faith (James 2:17, 20)." (Greene, Oliver B. and Mrs.
                            Oliver B. Greene, The Epistle of  Paul the Apostle to PHILEMON and The General  Epistle of
                            JUDE.  Greenville, SC:  The Gospel Hour, Inc., c2001; page 23.  Italics are his.)
         B.      The effectual communication of  faith (vs. 6).
                   --Communication:  sharing.
                   --Effectual:  effective.
                   1.       In public profession.
                             a.       The marriage illustration.
                             b.       One thing God wants us to do is make our profession of  Christ public (Romans 10:11; Matthew
                                       10:32, 33; II Timothy 2:12; cf. Hebrews 3:13).
                                       (I)       Matthew 10:32f--"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess
                                                  also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him
                                                  will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."
                                       (II)      II Timothy 2:12--"If  we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if  we deny him, he also will
                                                  deny us."
                                       (III)     Hebrews 3:13--"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of  you
                                                   be hardened through the deceitfulness of  sin."
                   2.      In soul-winning (Mark 16:15).
                   3.      In trails and tribulations (John 16:33; Romans 8:28).
                   4.      In every good work.
                            a.       James 2:14-18.
                            b.       Matthew 5:16--"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
                                      glorify your Father which is in heaven."
                            c.       ". . . acknowledging of  every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
                                     (I)       Philippians 1:9--"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in
                                                knowledge and in all judgment."
                                     (II)     Philippians 4:8--". . . whatsoever things are true . . . ."
                                     (III)   II Peter 1:5-8.

IV.     The Aspect of  Fellowship (vs. 7).
          A.       The joy and comfort of fellowship.
                     1.       This was the reason for Paul’s praise.
                     2.       I Corinthians 7:4, 13--"Great is my boldness of  speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am
                                filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.  Therefore we were comforted in your
                                comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of  Titus, because his spirit was
                                refreshed by you all."
          B.       The result of  fellowship.
                     1.       Believers are encourage.
                               a.       Paul’s prayer of  praise and thanksgiving on the part of  Philemon was due to Philemon’s
                                         kindness, love, and comfort.  Philemon not only opened the door of  his house to all weary
                                        saints, but he also opened the door of  fellowship to them as well.
                               b.      We should do likewise in opening the door of  fellowship to one another.
                     2.       Believers are refreshed.
                               --Bowels:  hearts.
                               --Refreshed:  anapauo--to give rest again (Matthew 11:28).
                               a.       II Timothy 1:16-18--"The Lord give mercy unto the house of  Onesiphorus; for he oft
                                         refreshed me, and was not ashamed of  my chain:  But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out                                          very diligently, and found me.  The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of  the Lord in
                                         that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well."
                               b.       Verse 20.

Conclusion

Here we have four aspects of  good Christian character--prayer, love, faith, and fellowship.  Dear saint of  God, are you finding yourself lacking in one of  these areas?  Why not talk to God about it?  Just tell God in your own words where you are lacking in one, or all these areas, and ask Him for His help.  Dear Christian, there is always room for improvement in these areas of  our lives.  The journey of  spiritual maturity does not end until that blessed, wonderful day when we stand in Christ complete.

“And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete
’Jesus died my soul to save,’
My lips shall still repeat.”
[Elvina M. Hall, 1820-1889]

Brethren, let's ask God to remove all the obstacles in our prayer life; let us request of  Him to teach us to have agape love for one another and for the lost.  May we love Him more than ever before.  May our faith be ever strong in Him.  And let us not forsake fellowship with one another.

Oh lost man...lost woman...lost church goer...long have you live in sin’s dark night!  For years you have been spiritually blind and dead in trespasses and sins!  Lost person, Jesus loves you with an agape love; He loved us enough to go to the cross for my sins and your sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).  Lost man...lost woman...flee the wrath to come!  Run to the outstretched arms of  the loving Saviour.  See the nail prints in His feet and hands?  those are the mark of  love for you! You need not pray a long, prayer to be saved--for it is not the words that save us!  It is faith in the heart--faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did for us on Calvary’s tree.

Oh sinner, Christ shed his precious blood for you!  Why not come to him today?  Will you not invite Him into your heart? Will you not pray “God be merciful to me, a sinner” and be saved?  Oh lost person, I beg you to pray today, and by faith alone in Christ receive Him as your Lord and Saviour.  Then you shall know the love of  God, and you’ll be able to have fellowship with Him and His children--for then you shall be his child as well.