You are never more like God than when you forgive

Every relationship in your life depends upon forgiveness. A failure to forgive imprisons a person in the past. Unforgiveness produces bitterness or settled anger. Unforgiveness gives Satan an open door and hinders fellowship with God. Scripture everywhere teaches that those who have been forgiven much are obligated to forgive others (Matthew 18:23-35, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13). Christians are to be characterized by forgiveness. One of the shortest books in all the New Testament is the epistle of Philemon. It is the briefest and most personal of all Paul’s inspired works. It is a superb study on how forgiveness should work in the life of every believer. It also graphically illustrates how grace can reconcile a broken relationship and restore the offender.

The drama behind this little epistle is amazing. A remarkable providence brought together the lives of three men — a runaway slave, the offended slave owner and a godly apostle. These men were very different from each other except in one regard: They all were believers in Jesus Christ. Therefore, they were members of the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). The Apostle Paul asked Philemon (the slave owner) to forgive his runaway slave (Onesimus). Biblical forgiveness and reconciliation always involves three crucial aspects.

The first crucial aspect is reception. Verse 17 reads, “Receive him.” Paul asked Philemon to open his life to Onesimus and take him back. This was very difficult for Philemon. His slave had wronged him. He had stolen money. Why should the disobedient slave be given another opportunity? Most slave owners would have simply branded the slave’s forehead and then sold him or demoted him to the lowest level of responsibility.

Paul gave Philemon several reasons to view Onesimus in a new way. He was repentant. Paul said, “I have begotten him in my imprisonment” (verse 10). The slave was a new person. He experienced spiritual rebirth. Paul was certain the slave was converted. The very fact that Onesimus returned Paul’s letter to Philemon was evidence of the reality of his repentance. He was saying, “I am willing to accept whatever punishment is necessary.”

Onesimus was also transformed. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Apostle Paul described him as “useful” in verse 17. Onesimus had also been proven faithful. He spent enough time in Rome with Paul to demonstrate his faithfulness to Christ.

You are never more like God than when you forgive others. The first crucial aspect in forgiveness and reconciliation is reception. You must be willing to receive the person who has offended you.

The second crucial aspect is restoration. Paul suggested that God orchestrated all these events for a good reason. “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but now much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord” (verses 15-16). Providence orchestrated his meeting Paul in Rome. Paul asked Philemon not only to accept Onesimus but also to restore him. Paul said, “Don’t simply accept him as a slave. Accept him as a brother.”

The third crucial aspect is restitution. “If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account” (verses 17-18). Restitution is fair and right. When we have wronged others, restitution is always appropriate. Onesimus’ running away had cost Philemon dearly. He had to pay for someone to replace Onesimus. It seems that Onesimus’ sin included embezzling money or property from Philemon. The slave was in no position to demand that Philemon forgo restitution. He was also in no position to repay what was owed. Paul graciously offered to pay on his behalf. Most likely, Philemon was gracious and simply forgave the debt.

This is a wonderful picture of the way God works in our lives. Paul asked Philemon to credit Onesimus from the apostle’s own account. “..accept him as you would accept me…” (verse 17). He wanted Onesimus’ debt put on his account (verse 18). That is precisely what Jesus does for us. His righteousness is given to us through his sacrifice on the cross. Through faith and trust the work of Jesus in paying for our sins is credited to our lives. Paul was willing to suffer the temporary consequences of Onesimus’ sin in the same way that Jesus has willingly suffered the eternal consequences of all the sin of all the redeemed of all time.

Philemon’s response is not recorded for us. It is likely that he saw Paul’s point and forgave the debt of Onesimus. In doing so, Philemon shouldered the debt which is precisely what Jesus did in dying for our sins. That is why forgiveness is the ultimate expression of Christlikeness.

Forgiveness is so important the Holy Spirit devoted an entire book of the Bible to it. In the brief book of Philemon, the spiritual duty to forgive is emphasized — not in principle, parable or word picture. Through a real life situation involving two people, God teaches the importance of forgiving others. The Bible clearly teaches the wonderful point that God is a forgiving God. Won’t you be a forgiving person?

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reached at ethanchansen@gci.net