Reputation of Faith

Evidence of Grace

by Jacob Abshire, published on Jun 11, 2009

A good reputation doesn’t come natural to any man - not even goodness. In fact, when the rich young man inquired about good works, Jesus responded with the question, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:18-19).

Goodness is not in man. We are not born good. We do not do good (Rom.3:12). Despite all of our strongest efforts, we fall short of goodness. We are stained with evil and so are all of our well intended actions (Rom. 14:23). This is why Jesus responded the way that He did.

Paul understood this. This is why he was thanking God for Philemon’s good reputation. He knew that his reputation was not something he could accomplish on his own. This was an evidence of God’s grace in him (James 1:17).

So logically, Paul draws his attention first to his faith. A good reputation is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). The Spirit alive and working in the transformation of one’s life is proof of genuine salvation and faith. So this good reputation indicated to Paul that Philemon was a man of divine faith. He believed and submitted himself to the Lord.

Paul writes that he always gives God thanks when he mentions Philemon in his prayers “because I hear of the faith you have in the Lord Jesus” (1:5). Good things come from the Lord through the Holy Spirit. A good reputation is one of them.

Not only is this the logical place to begin when assuring the heart with evidences of grace, but it is the most motivational and meaningful. Having Christ and being accepted by the Lord is the greatest gift one will ever have. It is the only one that we will never earn. And, it is the one for which all things were made. So it is special.

However, it is also hard. Jesus said that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:14). Peter advised us to “be all the more diligent to make [our] calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10). Our faith is important to us. We want it to be real and divinely driven. We want assurance that we are not just fooling ourselves. We want to be confident of our salvation. And so nothing could be more motivating to us than hearing that others find our faith to be genuine.

Paul wrote that he was thankful to God for the faith that Philemon had in the Lord. His faith was first to be mentioned because it is the first fruit of the Spirit and at the very center of the  believer’s mind. It is the beginning of meaningful purpose and the fuel for meaningful living. Without faith, we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). Without faith we cannot genuinely forgive. Without faith we are lost and do no good. Without faith is without God. Without faith, we have nothing. And so with faith, Paul begins assuring Philemon’s heart.

Philemon, since he had a good reputation, also has a reputation of faith. How does this motivate him to forgive? Consider at least these three ways. First, it strengthens his desire to obey because he is reassured of his salvation. He knows that through Christ he can do all things (Phil. 4:13). And second, it strengthens his willingness to forgive, because forgiving others pleases the Lord (John 14:15 with Matt. 6:14).

Expressing your acknowledgement of another faith in the Lord will never fail at motivating them to be more Christ-like. It is the foundation of our new life in Christ and therefore, most influential in the motivation of our heart and desires to obey and please Him.

Paul assured the heart of Philemon by telling him that he had a reputation of faith.

Evidences of grace assume genuine faith. So Paul mentions the reputation of faith that Philemon has.