BUILT TO LAST: WERE IT NOT FOR MERCY

Ben Gutierrez 

Were It Not For Mercy 

Book of Philemon

Colossians 3:13 NLT

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Philemon v.1-2 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.

The Church’s Battle for the Truth

Colossians 1:15-20 NLT

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.  So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Colossians 1:21-22 NLT

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Philemon’s Personal Battle to Forgive

Philemon v.3-5 NLT

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.

Philemon v.6-7 NLT

6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.

Philemon v.8-9 NLT

8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.

Philemon v.10 NLT

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.

Philemon v.11-14 NLT

11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. 13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced.

Philemon v.15 NLT

 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.

Philemon v.16-17 NLT

16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

Philemon v.18-20 NLT

18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it. And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul! 20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.

Don’t Miss the Big Picture!

Philemon v. 2a,c

I am writing to Philemon…and to the church that meets in your house.

Get Right with God.

Get Right with Others.

Get in the Game.

Don’t allow a personal struggle to sideline you 

from joining the church in standing for Christ!

Did Philemon Ever Forgive Onesimus?

Philemon v.21-22 NLT

21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.

What Are You Going to Do?

Why Should You Forgive?

1. Because God Forgave You!

 Ephesians 4:32 KJV

[B]e ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

2. Because Forgiveness Reveals Your Faith.

 Forgiven People Forgive People! 

3. Because You Need Mercy Too.

Where would you be were it not for mercy?