Sermon Series: #2

Confidence in Church? - Philemon 1:10 & II Cor. 7:14

Confidence is defined as trust or faith in a person or thing, a trusting relationship, a feeling of assurance, the quality of being certain or without doubt.

We find two examples here of Paul writing to two different churches on two different occasions, about two different men – however both churches share one thing in common; Paul’s confidence. Now you have to ask yourself a as church (and church member) – would Paul, but more importantly God, have confidence in your church (or you)? In order to answer that – we need to know why Paul had confidence in the churches found here in the scripture.

I. Openness to Receive

A. Notice in (Philemon v 12 and 15) Paul asks the church to receive Onesimus into the fellowship of believers. Not only into the temporary home of the church but “to receive him forever.” Paul has faith and trust that Philemon and the church will receive Onesimus just as they would Paul if he came to the church. How many of us would be willing to receive someone who has done us wrong? We know that Onesimus was not just some prisoner in the same cell with Paul – he had a history with the people there in Colosse. I think we would be more willing to take in strangers than someone who had hurt us in the past.

B. Now notice in v.15 of II Corinthians Paul mentions the reception of Titus at Corinth. Here we know that through the testimony of Titus (about Corinth) Paul was encouraged and in turn was able to encourage the church. Through the reception of Titus (and the testimony of Titus about Corinth), Paul knew Corinth was upholding the commandments of God. See: Romans: 15:7 - Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God


II. Obedience in Righteousness

A. Paul also had confidence in these churches because of their obedience. Something we as Christians sometimes lack. In the letter to Philemon, Paul asks the church to receive Onesimus even as would receive Paul. Paul then goes on to thank them in advance because he has the confidence that the church will be obedient to the will of God. A lot of churches would stop there and think they have done their part – but notice Paul have faith that the church will do even more than he asks. How many churches are willing to do that?

B. Again we find that Titus has witnessed to Paul of the obedience of the church at Corinth. Could visitors or past members say that about your church? Paul says that Titus called to remembrance the obedience Corinth had. Can you call to memory the last time you were obedient to God – let alone someone else?

Simply put, Paul had confidence in these two churches because of three things –

1. Their Openness
2. Their Obedience
3. but most importantly THEIR confidence in GOD.
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Philippians: 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:


Philemon 1:10 - I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: ……… 15: For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16: Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? ……… 20: Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord. 21: Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.


II Cor. 7:14 - For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.