Charge It To Christ

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you frequently charge to your credit cards?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To enumerate the ways CHRIST have validated us and exchanged His life for us.

IV. TEXT:

Philemon 1:18 (Amplified Bible)

And if he has done you any wrong in any way or owes anything [to you], charge that to my account.

V. THESIS:

We have a better credit card, we have CHRIST. "charge that to my account."

VI. TITLE:

Charge it to CHRIST

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 60 A.D.

C. Purpose: To appeal to Philemon to receive, forgive and restore Onesimus even as Philemon would receive Paul

D. To whom written: Philemon.

He was apparently a member of the church at Colosse, which seems to have held its assemblies in his house (Philemon 1:2). His benevolence (Philemon 1:5-7), and Paul's request for him to prepare a lodging (Philemon 1:22), indicate that he was a man of some means.

As Paul had never been in Colosse (Colossians 2:1), Philemon must have met him elsewhere, possibly in Ephesus, which was not far away. It would seem that he owed his conversion to the apostle, Philemon 1:19.

—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

E. Main Theme:

A personal plea with Philemon to forgive and restore Onesimus, his once runaway slave, now converted through the ministry of Paul. As a runaway slave, it is inferred that he robbed his master and fled to Rome (Philemon 1:18). There he came under the influence of Paul and was converted (Philemon 1:10). He became a devoted disciple of Christ (Colossians 4:9). Paul would have chosen to detain him in Rome as a helper (Philemon 1:13), but not having the consent of Philemon (Philemon 1:14), he felt it to be his duty to send the slave back to his master. So the apostle writes this beautiful letter of intercession, pleading with Philemon to receive Onesimus as though he were receiving the apostle himself.—Thompson Chain - Bible Book Outlines

F. Keywords: Receive (forgive and restore) him

Philemon 1:12 (Amplified Bible)

1:12 I am sending him back to you in his own person, [and it is like sending] my very heart.

Philemon 1:17 (Amplified Bible)

1:17 If then you consider me a partner and a comrade in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would [welcome and receive] me.

G. Keyverses:

Philemon 1:16-17 (Amplified Bible)

1:16 Not as a slave any longer but as [something] more than a slave, as a brother [Christian], especially dear to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh [as a servant] and in the Lord [as a fellow believer].

1:17 If then you consider me a partner and a comrade in fellowship, welcome and receive him as you would [welcome and receive] me.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Paul speaking to Philemon in this letter about Onesimus. The WORD has come alive and now the LORD JESUS CHRIST speaks to us about ourselves.

A. If you have done any wrong

"And if he has done you any wrong in any way"

Galatians 2:11 (Amplified Bible)

2:11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I protested and opposed him to his face [concerning his conduct there], for he was blameable and stood condemned.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (Amplified Bible)

5:15 See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

Exodus 23:2 (Amplified Bible)

23:2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you bear witness at a trial so as to side with a multitude to pervert justice.

B. If you owe anything to anyone or you owe it to someone else

"or owes anything [to you]"

Psalms 116:12 (Amplified Bible)

116:12 What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for all His bountiful dealings?]

1 Corinthians 6:20 (Amplified Bible)

6:20 You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (Amplified Bible)

8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).

I remember the parable where one slave owes several millions to his master but was forgiven and pardoned but this same slave never forgave his fellow slave owing him just a few money compared to what he owes his master.

Matthew 18:23-35 (Amplified Bible)

18:23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants.