D
DWJL511
Guest
It may be Paul’s shortest epistle, but as I read Philemon, I couldn’t help but sense the gracious Spirit and work of Christ.
Philemon was an effective leader in the Colossian church, and a fellow laborer and brother to Paul. But the epistle really revolves around Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon. It’s not clear how Onesimus came to be with Paul, who was under house arrest in Rome for the gospel’s sake. But under Paul’s care, he became a believer of Christ.
Paul now feels that the proper thing to do is to return Onesimus to his rightful master, Philemon. It’s not an easy thing for the apostle to do, as Onesimus is now like a beloved son to Paul. He has also become indispensible to homebound Paul, running errands for him and the ministry. Onesimus, whose name means “profitable,” is now living up to his name.
Paul in his letter beseeches Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would him. And to welcome Onesimus back, “no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother” (Philemon 1:16). He also tells Philemon that though Onesimus may have been unprofitable to him in the past, he is now most profitable to both of them, where their ministries are concerned.
I’m quite certain Onesimus felt apprehensive about being sent back to Philemon. Some Bible commentators believe that Onesimus took stuff from his master’s home when he ran away. So does Onesimus have the courage to face his master?
I believe that one of the most reassuring and comforting statements for Onesimus found in Paul’s letter is this:
Philemon 1:18
But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.
When I read this, I saw in my spirit Christ saying the same words for me to the Father:
“If Andrew has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.”
Haven’t we all run away from God and wronged Him? Don’t we all owe Him something, like a huge debt we can never pay?
Yet, in our rebelliousness—and in His graciousness—we came to know His Son, Jesus. And Jesus has reconciled us to God by putting all our wrongs against God and all that we owed God on His account (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18). Then, He crossed out all our debts at Golgotha and stamped on our ledgers “Paid In Full” in bright bloodred!
Today, you and I can go back to the Father with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). We can approach Him with full assurance that He will receive us as He would His own Son, Jesus, and treat us as fruitful sons, not fruitless slaves. And it’s all because Jesus said to Him, “PUT THEIR SINS ON MY TAB!”
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”—Apostle Paul, Galatians 4:7
More here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347451218740450/
Philemon was an effective leader in the Colossian church, and a fellow laborer and brother to Paul. But the epistle really revolves around Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon. It’s not clear how Onesimus came to be with Paul, who was under house arrest in Rome for the gospel’s sake. But under Paul’s care, he became a believer of Christ.
Paul now feels that the proper thing to do is to return Onesimus to his rightful master, Philemon. It’s not an easy thing for the apostle to do, as Onesimus is now like a beloved son to Paul. He has also become indispensible to homebound Paul, running errands for him and the ministry. Onesimus, whose name means “profitable,” is now living up to his name.
Paul in his letter beseeches Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would him. And to welcome Onesimus back, “no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother” (Philemon 1:16). He also tells Philemon that though Onesimus may have been unprofitable to him in the past, he is now most profitable to both of them, where their ministries are concerned.
I’m quite certain Onesimus felt apprehensive about being sent back to Philemon. Some Bible commentators believe that Onesimus took stuff from his master’s home when he ran away. So does Onesimus have the courage to face his master?
I believe that one of the most reassuring and comforting statements for Onesimus found in Paul’s letter is this:
Philemon 1:18
But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.
When I read this, I saw in my spirit Christ saying the same words for me to the Father:
“If Andrew has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.”
Haven’t we all run away from God and wronged Him? Don’t we all owe Him something, like a huge debt we can never pay?
Yet, in our rebelliousness—and in His graciousness—we came to know His Son, Jesus. And Jesus has reconciled us to God by putting all our wrongs against God and all that we owed God on His account (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:18). Then, He crossed out all our debts at Golgotha and stamped on our ledgers “Paid In Full” in bright bloodred!
Today, you and I can go back to the Father with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). We can approach Him with full assurance that He will receive us as He would His own Son, Jesus, and treat us as fruitful sons, not fruitless slaves. And it’s all because Jesus said to Him, “PUT THEIR SINS ON MY TAB!”
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”—Apostle Paul, Galatians 4:7
More here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/347451218740450/