Christian Integrity

CHRISTIAN INTEGRITY

PHILEMON 1:10-17

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, June 15th, 2025)

I would like to talk to you today about “Christian Integrity”. In my preparation for this message I stumbled across an article by a man named Mark Stinnet. In it he says:

“Frustration? That’s an understatement. Times have changed. There was a time when a man’s word was his bond. A gentleman’s agreement meant something. A firm handshake sealed the deal. It was a time when integrity and honesty were held high as marks of true character. Nowadays everything needs a legal document …because so many people are not trustworthy. Frustrating, to say the least. What changed? People still make claims. People still desire for their word to be their bond. Yet, words are spoken, promises broken.”

We all know what it is like to be let down and even lied to by individuals whom we are supposed to be able to trust, even those who profess to follow Jesus. Though Philemon is one of the shortest Books in the New Testament, it provides us with several examples of integrity in the lives of God’s people. This letter shows us the importance of doing what is right and keeping our word even when it is not easy.

Webster’s dictionary provides several entries for the word “integrity”; one definition is “uncompromising adherence to moral and ethical principles.” Another definition is “uprightness (or soundness) of character.”

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for integrity is “tummah” which means “the condition of being without blemish, completeness, perfection, sincerity, soundness, uprightness, wholeness.” In the New Testament, integrity means “honesty and adherence to a pattern of good works.”

Writing to Titus, Paul said, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8).These characteristics are not just expected of Pastors and church leaders; they are attributes that should mark the lives of every person who belongs to Jesus.

- King David does a wonderful job of describing a person of integrity in Psalm 15:1-4. There he says:

“LORD, who can dwell in your tent?

Who can live on your holy mountain?

The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness,

and acknowledges the truth in his heart—

who does not slander with his tongue,

who does not harm his friend

or discredit his neighbor,

who despises the one rejected by the LORD

but honors those who fear the LORD,

who keeps his word whatever the cost”

If you are a Christian, each of these attributes should be seen in your life.

- As we examine Paul’s letter to Philemon we can observe several examples of Christian integrity. In verses 10-14 we see:

PAUL’S INTEGRITY

Onesimus was a slave, as a result he belonged to Philemon. However he ran away from his master, departed Colossae, and headed to Rome where he encountered the Apostle Paul and came to faith in Jesus Christ. Now this rebellious slave of Philemon had become a willing servant of the Apostle Paul. Though he had previously been “unprofitable”, Paul now declares that he is “profitable”; so much so that he says, “I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.” However, upon learning that Onesimus legally belonged to Philemon, Paul knew that it would not be right for another man’s servant to be serving him without his permission. This is why he said in verse 14 “But without your consent I wanted to do nothing”.

Around this same time Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians. In it he said, “Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ.”(Ephesians 6:4) It would have been exceedingly hypocritical for Paul to write these words and then selfishly keep Onesimus without Philemon’s permission. It would have also been illegal. Roman law stipulated that slaves were the property of their masters and that anyone who harbored or aided a runaway slave could face legal consequences.

Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison and he would have greatly benefitted from Onesimus’ service and companionship; it is clear that sending him back was something of a personal sacrifice. However, instead of attempting to justify doing what was wrong, Paul acted with integrity and did what was right.

I am sure that his actions were a positive example for Onesimus and served to motivate him to respond to his situation with integrity as well. Let’s take a moment and examine:

ONESIMUS’ INTEGRITY

I would imagine that this new convert was not excited when Paul informed him that the proper thing to do was to return to Philemon and make amends for the wrongs he had committed against him. Remember, before his conversion he had rebelled against his master and possibly even stolen something from him.