A Concern for Knowledge (Philemon 6b)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09/22/2024 9:08 PM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  A Concern for Knowledge

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 6b

            Message of the verse:  “through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you”

            “Epignosis (‘knowledge’) refers to deep, rich, full, experiential knowledge.  It is the knowledge that comes through personal acquaintance with the truth” writes John MacArthur as he gives a wonderful definition of the word knowledge.

            The question we have here for Philemon and as that matter for all of us is how can we experience forgiveness?  Well we could read about forgiveness or we could hear a sermon about forgiveness, but the only way to experience forgiveness is to forgive someone.  Jesus Christ has forgiven every true believer that belongs to Him, so then obliviously we should forgive others who have wronged us because of Christ’s forgiveness for us.  MacArthur writes “By forgiving Onesimus, Philemon would experience that good thing in him known as forgiveness.  By walking in obedience to God’s will, believers experience the good things God has placed within them.” 

            MacArthur goes on to talk about the difference between reading a book about downhill skiing and the actual thrill of doing downhill skiing, and there is a vast difference.  When we read the Bible and it tells us about forgiveness then this is completely different than stepping out by faith to do the things that you have read about in the Word of God and then determine that you are going to forgive someone, as it is an exciting thing to live out this truth.  We know that we need to forgive someone but it is difficult to do the right thing as it probably was for Philemon.  I remember back when I was a pretty knew Christian that we had a guest Pastor come and speak at our church and he told the story of a man who had had someone cheat him out of some money, and I don’t think that it was even that much money, but in his wallet was a piece of old yellowed paper with the amount of money he was owed.  Do you think that it would have bothered that person who owed him the money after all of the years that this man became bitter about it?  My guess is that it would not.  As we practice the truths of Scripture it will lead us to the epignosis that will bring spiritual maturity.  “11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13).”

            MacArthur concludes “Paul is confident that Philemon will want to experience a true knowledge of forgiveness by forgiving Onesimus.  He gives both Philemon and us a gentle reminder of the importance of a concern for knowledge.”  7/3/2017 9:34 PM