Julius Caesar had positioned his Roman army near the banks of the Rubicon River located in northern Italy. It was illegal for any Roman army to cross the Rubicon. The Roman Senate had been challenging the legality of Julius Caesar’s military campaigns and his amassing of power and was calling for his removal from his position. JC decided to cross over the Rubicon with his army in defiance of Roman law knowing it would provoke an unalterable act of war against Rome. Supposedly, JC made this comment during the crossing, “The die is cast,” symbolizing an irrevocable choice had been made.
This reference to the die being cast is not referring to the die-casting of metal but of a single die, two dies equal dice, being thrown. JC rolled the die, and now he must live with the results. The casting of the die was the actual crossing over the Rubicon River by the Roman army led by JC in 49 BC.
Today, “crossing the Rubicon” is a popular expression of referring to a point of no return, an irreversible action. In aviation it is called PNR (point of no return), a point in the flight, due to fuel consumption, where an aircraft can no longer return to its point of origin. Another similar expression is “burning our bridges.”
Spiritually speaking, there are two spiritual Rubicons, spiritual death and spiritual life.
- The former is crossed over by unbelievers at physical death into hell, and
- The latter is crossed over at the point of accepting Christ as Lord and Savior.
Both involve a choice to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Whether to accept or to reject the claims of Christ we must be prepared to live with the results of our decision. Once the die is cast; the decision is irrevocable; there is no turning back.
- For unbelievers, at death the result is eternal separation from God in a dreadful place.
- And for those who accept the claims of Christ can never again come out from under the authority of God and must conform to His standards of holiness.
With going beyond the point of no return, believers have traded one brutal master, sin, for a benign One, Christ. Believers have relinquished all personal rights in service to and for God and are expected to submit to His authority by obeying His will, immediately and unreservedly, according to the Scriptures. Upon death or rapture, the believer enters into everlasting life, free from the effects of sin, united with God forever in His heavenly kingdom and His enterprises.
Sadly, a vast majority of believers today have failed to realize that when they accepted Christ as Lord and Savior by faith, they have crossed a point of no return. Crossing over was an act of total commitment whether they fully realized this or not. Submission to God’s authority is not an option on the table. It is an obligation. The world will give us all kinds of options to portray a sense of freedom of self-expression, but ultimately, there will be hell to pay. Worldliness is counter-culture to kingdom living. It is a contradiction to crossing the Rubicon through faith. Carnal Christians don’t act like they have crossed over. And God is certainly not pleased with this type of behavior. If the world cannot please God in the flesh (Rom 8:8), worldly behavior, like an unforgiving heart, on the part of Christians is definitely unpleasing.
On this matter of forgiveness, there is an opinion from every angle imaginable. When you google the word forgiveness there are over 15.4 million results (as of 10.3.09). There is one result that gives the best results, it’s the Bible. Since the Bible is a believer’s compass in life, let’s see what the Bible has to say about navigating the turbulent seas of forgiveness that produces God’s blessing.
In our lesson for today in Philemon, verses 17-21, are some concepts to remember in the matter of offering forgiveness willing. These truths are like buoys to guide us when navigating the troubling waters of forgiving someone who has wronged us in order to keep us from getting off course and becoming grounded or shipwrecked in a relationship with others, but more importantly, in our fellowship with God. All of Scripture serve this purpose, but here in Philemon we can spot some buoys or channel markers while piloting through the stormy sea of forgiveness to stay within God’s will in the matter.
Whenever we look to the cross and read the incredible words uttered from Jesus’ lips, Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Lk 23:34), that same Person nailed to the cross lives in the heart of every born again believer. This leads me to the conclusion that because Christ lives in our hearts through faith, we possess the capacity to forgive like Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit of God (cf. Eph 1:3).
Forgiveness is a choice that only we can make; no one can make it for us. We have the power to make it, and no one can take it from us. There is no middle ground, no compromise of sorts, only the high road of forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation and the low road that leads to bitterness and anger and resentment. Christ’s expression of forgiveness on the cross is the supreme example of forgiveness.
This is why an unforgiving spirit among Christians is a contradiction to kingdom living. Believers have crossed the Rubicon or the point of no return through faith that God will be the authority in all matters of kingdom living. Forgiveness is one of those matters, and when we don’t act like we have crossed over it conjures up all kinds of questions about the sincerity of our faith. Keep in mind, in the context of the book of Philemon; we are talking about Christians forgiving Christians, believers forgiving one another.
Let’s look for some buoys or channel markers in this matter of forgiveness in Philemon 17-21 that will help keep us in the navigable waters of God’s will when a storm arises.
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #1
All believers belong to God.
We are God’s property. Whatever way we touch another believer we touch Jesus for He lives within the heart of every believer. When we help another to be more Christ-like we glorify God; when we cause another believer to be less like Christ, God is not glorified. Retaliation or revenge or getting even is to be avoided for it does not glorify Christ.
(Verse 17) If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.
If then you count me as a partner is a first class conditional statement that assumes the premise is true – since you count me as a partner. It is a solid assumption on Paul’s part.
Partner is from koinonia translated in verse 6, sharing. It refers to spiritual fellowship or partnership, that which they both share or have in common. They are members of the same spiritual family in Christ.
Receive him as you would me (take him to yourself, “to receive into one’s family circle,” Wiersbe) Paul said to receive Onesimus as you would me, a son of God.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:40, He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me, and
Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me (Mt 25:40).
· It was said that we are all Onesimuses (Luther?).
Paul (a type of Christ) is petitioning
Philemon (a type of God the Father) to receive
Onesimus (a type of the believer)
as Philemon (as the Father) would
Paul (as the Son).
Jesus is petitioning God the Father to receive Onesimus as God the Father would Jesus; Paul is petitioning Philemon to receive Onesimus as Philemon would Paul. This is a beautiful spiritual illustration of how God the Father has accepted us in the Person of His Son. You and I are as near and dear to God as Christ is!
Remember, no circumstances enter into our lives without God’s approval (cf. Rom 8:28).
God can deal with the offending believer in a personal way as a wayward son or daughter, keeping it within the family.
Discord among the brothers is in conflict with the concept of the unity of the body of Christ. Division or dissension among the brothers is a very serious situation to God the Father. In Proverbs 6:19 is one of the things the LORD hates and is an abomination to Him – “One who sows discord among brethren.”
One commentator said this. “The striking thing here (in Proverbs 6:16-19, added) is that God ranks the one who causes divisions among brethren with murderers, liars, and perjurers!” (Believer’s Bible Commentary) An unforgiving spirit does not unify the body.
One commentator said this. “The striking thing here (in Proverbs 6:16-19, added) is that God ranks the one who causes divisions among brethren with murderers, liars, and perjurers!” (Believer’s Bible Commentary) An unforgiving spirit does not unify the body.
This channel marker helps to remind us that the Holy Spirit lives within every genuine believer needing forgiveness and belongs to the family of God. Unlike the ungodly offender needing forgiveness, the Holy Spirit can work from within the believer to convict the offending brother or sister of sin.
Waiting on God in this matter rather than taking matters into our own hands through retaliation is an acknowledgment of the Sovereignty of God. God knows what is going on, and we must allow God to deal with it in His time and way. We must be mindful and careful in how we handle those that belong to God.
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #2
Christ paid our debt on the cross.
This was a debt we could never have paid. This is pure grace. We must never lose sight of this truth.
(Verse 18 – 19a) But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—
Keep in mind here that the Apostle Paul is a type of Christ. He is offering to make restitution to God the Father (Philemon) for a debt Onesimus (you and I) could not pay.
Put that on my account (“to reckon in, set to one’s account, lay to one’s charge, impute,” Thayer) Theologians refer to this as the “doctrine of imputation” — put that on my account. What this means to you and me is that when Christ went to the cross and paid our debt for us, our sins were put to Christ’s account or imputed.
But it doesn’t stop there! His righteousness was imputed or put to our account the moment we placed our faith in Him and not until then (cf. Ps 32:2; Rom 4:1-8).
But it doesn’t stop there! His righteousness was imputed or put to our account the moment we placed our faith in Him and not until then (cf. Ps 32:2; Rom 4:1-8).
Paul stated in 2Cor 5:21, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This channel marker reminds us when it comes to forgiveness Christ paid our debt on the cross which we could never settle on our own. The cross was for us; Jesus went to the cross in our place. Being forgiven of our debt helps us to forgive others the debt owed to us – Matthew 6:12, And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. If we are unwilling to forgive those who wrong us, how can we expect to be in fellowship with our Father who has freely forgiven us for our wrongdoings?
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #3
Believers are saved sinners.
Though we are sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ, we are still only saved sinners. The world demands perfection from those claiming to be Christians. Criticism is leveled against the validity of Christianity when any imperfection is detected in the life of a Christian.
The world doesn’t understand that believers are only sinners saved by grace. If they look to any believer as the role model of Christian living, they will be disappointed. Only Jesus Christ lived the perfect life. Jesus is the standard by which we try to honor and measure our lives. This is something we as believers need to be reminded.
Perhaps forgiveness is hindered because believers expect perfection from one another and quick to criticize human frailty. Why do you think Jesus told His disciples to forgive an offending brother 7 x 70? The need for forgiveness is unfortunately numerous because of believers in Christ yielding to the sin nature in disobedience rather than the Holy Spirit.
The world doesn’t understand that believers are only sinners saved by grace. If they look to any believer as the role model of Christian living, they will be disappointed. Only Jesus Christ lived the perfect life. Jesus is the standard by which we try to honor and measure our lives. This is something we as believers need to be reminded.
Perhaps forgiveness is hindered because believers expect perfection from one another and quick to criticize human frailty. Why do you think Jesus told His disciples to forgive an offending brother 7 x 70? The need for forgiveness is unfortunately numerous because of believers in Christ yielding to the sin nature in disobedience rather than the Holy Spirit.
(Verse 19b) —not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
Paul reminded Philemon that Paul led him to Christ. Philemon was once a lost sinner just as Onesimus. God saved us from the power and penalty of sin but did not remove the presence of sin. We still wrestle with the flesh or sin nature (the old man). See Rom 7:18-25.
Though we cannot use sin as an excuse for disobeying God, forgiveness becomes necessary even the more because of sin in the world. We who offer forgiveness one day may very well find ourselves asking forgiveness the next! We all have weaknesses, and the enemy does everything allowable to exploit those weaknesses against us. We all struggle with our sinful nature and the sinful things in the world.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
This channel marker reminds us when it comes to forgiveness, believers are sinners saved by grace. No one will ever be perfect like Christ this side of eternity.
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #4
Forgiveness benefits others in the Lord.
(Verse 20) Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
Joy (to be useful, to profit, help, to receive profit or advantage, be helped [or have joy], Thayer)
NAS: Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.
Refresh (used in verse 7) “Refresh” means to give rest, to restore strength. Think of it in military terms when soldiers have been marching and stop to rest. Philemon was a source of restoration, an oasis in the desert to others. Paul is asking the same for himself. It is the same Greek word used by Jesus in Mat 11:28 when He speaks of rest, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Paul anticipates that Philemon will receive Onesimus (Having confidence in your obedience, v. 21). Paul could benefit by Philemon receiving Onesimus and putting his heart to rest. True forgiveness reveals obedience to the Word and the power of God being displayed. This encourages and inspires others to do the same for the situation surrounding forgiveness is rarely a private matter.
This channel marker reminds us that when it comes to forgiveness; it becomes a source of blessing to others. It advances the cause of Christ.
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #5
Forgiveness is a choice.
(Verse 21) Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
You will do even more
As I said before, forgiveness is a choice that only we can make, and no one can make it for us. We have the power to make it, and no one can take it from us. Forgiveness is always a choice, ours alone. The exercise of the will is a crucial element in forgiveness being fully realized. “Never are we more like God than when we forgive” (JM).
Forgiveness is moving beyond the bare minimum (knowing you will do even more than I say) and moving toward the process of reconciliation. This is the proof of true forgiveness.
Reconciliation means to bring together again or to make friendly again. Re (Latin) = again, conciliare (Latin) = to bring together. There is no middle ground with forgiveness. We either forgive and move toward reconciliation or hold on to bitterness and anger. Naturally, reconciliation cannot happen if the person needing forgiveness refuses to repent of wrong doing.
Should there be no repentance of the wrong doing; the forgiver must forgive that person in order to maintain fellowship with God the Father. It isn’t worth losing fellowship with God over an unforgiving spirit! In such case God is not asking the relationship to come together again as if nothing ever happened because there is no repentance of wrong doing. We do our part and let God do His part and leave it at that. Without repentance there can be no reconciliation though the person is forgiven. Forgiving a stubborn saint is for our spiritual benefit.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Mt 6:14-15).
What are the buoys we need to look out for when navigating through the stormy waters of forgiveness:
- All believers belong to God, v.17.
- Christ paid our debt on the cross, vv. 18-19a.
- Believers are saved sinners, v.19b.
- Forgiveness benefits others in the Lord, v.20.
- Forgiveness is a choice, v.21.
With the last buoy, forgiveness is a choice, there is something we need to keep in mind. There is a difference between being accepted in Christ and being acceptable to Christ.
Accepted in Christ. When we trust in Jesus Christ for salvation we are forever accepted in Him (Rom 4:1-4) and can never be rejected by the Father.
Acceptable to Christ. Whenever we sin we are still accepted of Him because we are his children, and that will never change, but our actions are not acceptable. It becomes necessary for us to confess our sins before God and receive Christ’s cleansing (1 Jn 1:9). We must strive with God’s help to live lives acceptable to Him in order to have fellowship.
- Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
- Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
- Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
- 2 Co 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
- Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
If we don’t live a life acceptable to God we cannot offer forgiveness when needed, or we create unnecessary situations where we are needed to be forgiven. In either case living a life that is unacceptable to kingdom living is a contradiction of when the Rubicon of Life was crossed. Failure to forgive is unacceptable to God. We forgive because we have been forgiven and are enabled by the Holy Spirit to forgive like Christ. Even though forgiveness is not an option, the choice to forgive is the only one we are expected to make since we crossed the point of no return. Either way we decide; the die is cast; and we have to live with the results.
There is one more buoy we need to mention.
<><<><<><<><<><<><<>< Buoy #6
“Tell Me about it” (a talk with Jesus on the cross).
This buoy is necessary as the last ditch effort to keep us from going aground in the shallow waters of unforgiveness. With all the mental wrangling going on inside our head during the storm we begin to justify why there are legitimate barriers preventing us from forgiving some one who has wronged us.
Look at Hebrews 12:1-3 …let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
At this point picture you and Jesus having a dialogue about forgiveness while He is hanging on the cross paying your sin debt.
You: Lord, you don’t understand my situation?
Jesus: Tell Me about it.
You: Lord, you don’t understand what was done to me?
Jesus: Tell Me about it.
You: Lord, you don’t understand what was said about me?
Jesus: Tell Me about it.
You: Lord, you don’t understand the personal loss I experienced?
Jesus: Tell Me about it.
You: Lord, you don’t understand the pain and suffering I have gone through?
Jesus: Tell Me about it.
Before you can offer one more angle of protest, Jesus cries out, Father, forgive them…
The tell Me about it buoy is the marker that reminds us that Jesus knows very well about being the recipient of wrong doing. Forgiveness is found at the cross. We need to act like we have crossed over the Rubicon by faith, because truthfully, all believers are under God’s authority from here on out.
Resistance to His will is a battle a believer can never win (sounds like the world on the other side of the river bank, huh?). If we make the choice of staying within the buoys while navigating the troubled waters of forgiveness, we will experience the channel of God’s blessing as He sees us through the forgiveness process, and I2P takes place, proof that we have indeed crossed over in the right direction.
Resistance to His will is a battle a believer can never win (sounds like the world on the other side of the river bank, huh?). If we make the choice of staying within the buoys while navigating the troubled waters of forgiveness, we will experience the channel of God’s blessing as He sees us through the forgiveness process, and I2P takes place, proof that we have indeed crossed over in the right direction.
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