How the Gospel Can Give You a Fresh Start in the New Year
REMEMBER WHAT I SAID THAT SIN DOES? THERE’S THE PROBLEM, THERE’S THE PROBLEM OF THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN. HA. THERE’S THE PROBLEM OF THE DIVISION OF SIN, THE DISTANCE THAT SIN CAUSES. AND THERE’S THE PROBLEM OF THE DEBT OF SIN. NOW, ONESIMUS HAD ALL THREE OF THESE PROBLEMS, AND SO DOES EVERY SON OF ADAM THAT HAS EVER LIVED.
IN A VERY REAL SENSE, EVERY ONE OF US IS A RUN-AWAY SLAVE. AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE A PICTURE OF OURSELVES IN THIS LITTLE BOOKLET. [MUSIC] FIND THE EPISTLE TO PHILEMON JUST BEFORE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS, YOU’LL ALMOST MISS IT, IT’S ONLY 25 VERSES. WE CALL IT A LETTER; IT’S MORE LIKE A POSTCARD. I WANT YOU TO FIND IT. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PERSONAL AND INTIMATE LETTERS IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT.
AND I’VE CHOSEN IT TODAY FOR THE LAST DAY OF THE OLD YEAR, THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE OLD YEAR, RATHER, AND THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR. AND I WANT TO BE SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY ON THIS SUBJECT, “A NEW YEAR WITH THE RECORD CLEAR”, A NEW YEAR WITH THE RECORD CLEAR”. NOW SIN HAS A WAY OF DISORIENTING AND, AH, RUINING OUR LIVES.
THERE’S THE DEFILEMENT OF SIN. HUH, HUH. THERE’S THE SEPARATION, THE DISTANCE THAT SIN BRINGS. THERE’S THE DEBT THAT SIN INCURS. BUT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST DEALS WITH DEFILEMENT. IT DEALS WITH DISTANCE. IT DEALS WITH DEBT. AND WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT AS WE STUDY THIS BOOK. LOOK IN THE FIRST FEW VERSES, “PAUL, A PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST, AND TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER, UNTO PHILEMON OUR DEARLY BELOVED, AND FELLOWLABOURER, AND TO OUR BELOVED APPHIA,” NOW APPHIA WAS PROBABLY PHILEMON’S WIFE, “AND ARCHIPPUS OUR FELLOWSOLDIER,” I BELIEVE THAT WAS THEIR SON, “AND TO THE CHURCH IN THY HOUSE:
GRACE TO YOU, AND PEACE, FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I THANK MY GOD, MAKING MENTION OF THEE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS.” AND THEN, SKIP DOWN TO VERSE 10, “I BESEECH THEE FOR MY SON ONESIMUS, WHOM I HAVE BEGOTTEN IN MY BONDS: WHICH IN TIME PAST WAS TO THEE UNPROFITABLE, BUT NOW PROFITABLE TO THEE AND TO ME; WHOM I HAVE SENT AGAIN: THOU THEREFORE RECEIVE HIM, THAT IS, MINE OWN BOWELS;” OR MY OWN HEART.
