In this introductory message to the series “That Which May Be Known,” Pastor-Teacher Josh Strelecki explains why the church must give focused attention to knowing God as He has revealed Himself. He highlights the growing ignorance of the true God in the culture and even within professing Christianity, where many construct a “god” of their own imagination. Drawing from Job, 1 Corinthians, and Romans, he shows that humanity cannot “by searching find out God”; unaided human senses, reason, and intuition cannot arrive at a true and full knowledge of Him. Without God’s self-disclosure, we would remain in darkness about God’s identity, our own nature, the origin and purpose of creation, the problem of sin, and the reality of judgment and salvation.

Pastor Strelecki then emphasizes that God has graciously chosen to reveal Himself, and that this is both our greatest need and our greatest privilege. God has unveiled Himself in creation, in history, in Scripture, and supremely in the Lord Jesus Christ. The series will unfold in three parts: “Finding Out God” (revelation, illumination, God’s existence and attributes), “The Determinate Counsel of God” (His plan, will, and purpose in Christ), and “God Hath Revealed” (how He works out that counsel in progressive revelation and redemption). His stated aim is that believers would not merely accumulate facts about God, but truly know Him personally, applying His revealed character to their lives so that gratitude, faith, and Christlike transformation deepen as they behold Him in His Word.

In this lesson, Pastor-Teacher Josh Strelecki revisits the topic of forgiveness, using Matthew 6 and Ephesians 4:32 to challenge a common dispensational chart-style contrast between “conditional” forgiveness in Israel’s program and “complete” forgiveness in the dispensation of grace. He argues from Romans 3–4 that justification has always been by grace through faith apart from works, citing Abraham and David as examples of men who were forgiven all their iniquities without any requirement that they first forgive others. He further shows from various Old Testament passages, the Gospels, and especially the ministry of Christ (e.g., the paralytic in Matthew 9, the thief on the cross, and multiple texts in John) that God’s forgiveness is granted on the basis of faith, not on a prior performance of forgiving others, thus ruling out Matthew 6 as a statement about how a sinner is justified judicially before God.

Josh then turns back to Matthew 6 to explain the “conditional” language in its proper context. He presents it not as a salvation formula but as instruction to a remnant being taught how to live and pray in contrast to the self-righteous Pharisees, who trusted in themselves, despised others, and did not see their own need for forgiveness. The condition—“forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”—functions in the realm of relational life and reward, not judicial standing, paralleling Paul’s principle in Galatians 6 that we reap what we sow. Likewise today, under grace, since we have already been fully forgiven in Christ, our call to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32) is part of sowing to the Spirit; failures to forgive will not jeopardize our salvation but will affect our reward at the judgment seat of Christ.

In this message, Pastor Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher, walks through the closing section of Philemon (vv. 8–25) to show how the gospel shapes obedience and forgiveness. He explains that Onesimus, a runaway servant who had wronged Philemon, has now been saved and sent back with Paul’s intercessory letter. Paul does not command Philemon, but lovingly beseeches him to receive Onesimus “forever,” not merely as a servant, but as a beloved brother in Christ. Drawing from related passages in 2 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, and Philippians, Pastor Josh emphasizes that Philemon’s own unpayable spiritual debt—canceled through the gospel—should govern how he responds to the very real, but lesser, financial and personal debt Onesimus owes him. Paul even offers to repay any loss himself and appeals to Philemon’s proven character: his faith toward the Lord, love toward all the saints, and pattern of refreshing the bowels of believers.

Pastor Josh, Pastor-Teacher, then highlights six intertwined motivations for Philemon’s forgiveness: his own indebtedness to Paul through the gospel, the opportunity to continue refreshing the saints (including Paul), the call to obey God’s clear command to forgive as he has been forgiven, the expectation that he will “do more than” Paul asks, the accountability of Paul’s planned visit and the shared fellowship of other laborers, and finally, the sufficiency of “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” with his spirit to actually do these hard things. He applies this to local church life, warning how unforgiveness breeds schism and gives Satan an advantage, while forgiveness restores joy and fellowship. He concludes with modern stories of radical forgiveness to illustrate how the gospel can free both offender and offended, urging believers to let God’s forgiveness of them become the pattern and power for extending forgiveness to others—even when they do not deserve it.

Forgiveness isn't just a theological concept we affirm—it's the gospel lived out in our everyday relationships. This exploration of Philemon reveals that true forgiveness is 'giving completely,' an Old English concept that captures the essence of releasing someone from their debt entirely. We discover that God's forgiveness flows from His mercy and grace, and remarkably, He is 'ready to forgive' even before we call upon Him. The study unpacks four dimensions of biblical forgiveness: forward forgiveness (being ready like the father of the prodigal son), frequent forgiveness (seventy times seven, even multiple times in a single day), full forgiveness (releasing the entire debt as Paul offered to do for Onesimus), and fit forgiveness (flowing naturally from who we are in Christ). The most challenging truth? When we withhold forgiveness from someone who has genuinely repented, we may actually be committing a greater sin than the original offense. This isn't about minimizing hurt or enabling abuse—it's about recognizing that everything done to us pales in comparison to what we've done to Christ, yet He forgave completely. When we forgive, we don't just talk about the gospel; we become its living reality.

In the sermon, Pastor Josh Strelecki explores the profound biblical concept of forgiveness, using the book of Philemon as a foundation to connect the topic to the broader scriptural theme. Strelecki delves into the nuances of forgiveness, defining it not just as a dismissal of debt but as a transcendent act akin to God's own forgiveness towards humanity. He highlights the Apostle Paul's appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus back not just as a servant but as a brother, illustrating the depth of true forgiveness that is not partial or tentative but complete and final. This forgiveness extends beyond human justice and aligns with divine mercy, inviting believers to adopt a God-like approach in their interpersonal relationships.

Pastor Strelecki also expounds on how the act of forgiving is a reflection of the divine, encouraging Christians to forgive as God has forgiven them through Christ. He references various scriptures, including the teachings of Jesus and the writings of Paul, to show that forgiveness is a key part of Christian living. Strelecki emphasizes that the ability to forgive fully and abundantly stems from understanding and internalizing the forgiveness believers themselves have received. By doing so, they not only emulate God's character but also strengthen the unity and love within the local church, showing that forgiveness is not a mere doctrinal point but a lived spiritual reality meant to transform human hearts and relationships.