I think it’s the only time you’ll find the phrase in your bible. And here’s the thing, it’s not talking about witnessing, it’s talking about works.

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

(Philemon 1:4-6 ESV)

The sharing of your faith . . . That’s the phrase I’m chewing on this morning, and this is the only place it’s served up.

Context? Paul’s writing and Philemon, a rich guy and slave-owner, is receiving. Writing how come? Paul’s gonna appeal to Philemon to take back an AWOL slave, Onesimus. A lost slave who Paul led to the Lord when, “by chance”, they crossed paths in Rome. How radical is the ask? Pretty radical! Runaway slaves would have normally been beaten back into forced labor not welcomed back as brothers in family love.

So, why does Paul think there’s even a chance of Philemon honoring his request? Because Paul’s heard of Philemon’s love for the saints and his faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows about every good thing that is in us now that “us” is in Christ. And he’s counting on that every good thing in Philemon to be the fountain from which good things flow from Philemon. Paul calls it the sharing of your faith.

The old King James refers to it as the communication of faith. It’s the exhibiting, the embodiment, the proof of faith.

Communicating the faith . . . that’s what Philemon would be doing by not only reconciling with Onesimus but by regarding him also as a beloved brother (v. 16). Philemon would be embodying the gospel by receiving a sinner for the sake of another who was willing to pay for any wrongs and make right any debt that was owed (v.17-19a).

Sharing his faith not only through “a reason for the hope” that is in us (1Peter 3:15), but also sharing his faith out of the store of every good thing that is in us. In us because Christ is in us.

James would have supported Paul’s ask.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

(James 2:14-18 ESV)

Sharing your faith. Sometimes it’s as simple (or as hard) as living out the faith. As straight forward as witnessing through our works. As mundane as stewarding every good thing that is in us as service to others around us. For the sake of Christ.

By His grace. For His glory.