Welcome to episode 19 of Grasp the Bible.  In this episode, we continue our study of the Book of Philemon, covering vv. 8-16.  The series is called “Forgiving Others When They Wrong You.”  Today, we discuss: 

• Paul’s authority and attitude (vv. 8-9) 
• Paul’s relationship with Onesimus (vv. 10-14) 
• The providence of God (vv. 15-16) 

Key takeaways: 

• Paul is a great picture of Christ as a mediator.  Paul is good friends of both the offender and the one offended.  Because Jesus was a man, he can mediate on our behalf as the offender.  Because Jesus was fully God, he can mediate on God’s behalf as the One offended. 
• When the hearts of people become captured by truth and compassion, social evils disappear. 
• Paul recognized God’s providence in the situation.  He saw that God can take a bad situation and turn it into something good in the lives of his children. 

Quotable: 

Just because you have the right to do something does not necessarily mean it’s right to do so. 

Application: 

• Christian leaders are to be servant leaders, not authoritarians who rule by fiat. 
• Obedience to a command may be done because of a recognition of authority, but it does not always come from a willing heart.  God wants our commitment to Him, not just compliance. 

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