Onesimus
The book probably doesn’t turn heads because of the subject matter. It’s about a slave. Actually, it’s about a runaway slave named Onesimus who had stolen something from his master, Philemon and ran away to avoid being caught. The Book of Philemon is very interesting. Its probably a book we hear quoted the least out of all the books of the Bible and probably one that we look at the least. This book is a letter from Paul. But instead of a letter to a church, it’s a letter to a person – Philemon – thus the title of the book.
Paul wrote the letter to Philemon in approximately 57-60A.D. probably during his first imprisonment in Rome. This letter was written at about the same time that he wrote his letters to the church at Ephesis (Ephesians) and to the church at Colosse (Colossians).
1-3 The Greeting-“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, (2) to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home: (3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)
Paul identifies himself and mentions Timothy .He Addresses Philemon as a “dear friend and fellow worker” which shows there was a warm personal relationship already established between Philemon and Paul. Paul knew that Philemon always went the extra mile . He was not just a brother to Paul and the head of a household of a Christian Family. In verse 2 we find out that Philemon also held a church in his own home.
Verses 4-7. Prayer and thanks-“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, (5) because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. (6) I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (7) Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (NIV)
Paul reminds Philemon that he is thankful to God for him because, even in Rome he has heard of Philemon’s faith in Jesus Christ and his love for the believers. Paul prays that Philemon will be active in sharing the faith. To us this would sound like witnessing or preaching. Being active, “so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Again Paul mentions the joy and encouragement he has received because Philemon has refreshed the hearts of the saints. (Probably both spiritually, financially and physically.)
Now, if you were going to write a letter to someone requesting a huge favor wouldn’t you use a beginning format like this? A warm greeting, a prayer of thanksgiving for them which builds them up and encourages them to read the remainder of the letter with warmth and a smile in their heart.
Let’s start by looking at the 2 main men mentioned in this letter.
1. Philemon- He was a rich man. A Man of considerable wealth with servants. The church at Colosse met in his house. He was a very benovolent person who is said to have helped many people after the earthquake of 60a.d. Philemon was a righteous man. He was a convert under Paul’s ministry at Ephesus. He Later became bishop of Colosse. Philemon hosted a church in his house, - this was a dangerous occupation. But more so, it was a symbol of the gracious acts of kindness he willingly showed. Philemon loved the people of God and always went the extra mile for them. In offering his home, he was risking invasion by the unruly crowds, and condemnation from the Roman government opposed to this new found religion. Paul held him in high esteem calling him "dearly beloved, and fellow laborer." He was Commended for his faith & love for Christ, and the saints. "Philemon" means "affectionate one". He lived up to his name and brought joy and encouragement to other believers. It is said that he died a martyr at the hands of Nero.
2. Onesimus- His name means "useful." He was the slave of a Christian named Philemon. Whoa! Hold it right there. What’s a Christian doing with a slave? Isn’t slavery wrong? Actually, the Bible never condemns slavery. In fact the apostles Paul and Peter encouraged slaves to obey and respect their masters, even the ones who weren’t nice (2 Tim. 6:1, 2; 1 Pet. 2:18). Of course slave owners were, in turn, to love and care for their slaves. The Golden Rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself” applied to them as it did to everyone else. Millions of people were slaves throughout the Roman empire.It is said that he stole from his master Philemon and then ran away. He tries to get as far away as possible. He goes from Colosse to Rome which is a distance of over1000 miles. Why would he try to get so far away ? He was a fugitive. If he were found as a runaway slave, he could have possibly been executed. Slaves were hated in the Roman empire. In 73 B.C. Spartus led some 70,000 slaves in a revolt which created much havoc, and brought much bloodshed to Rome. After the revolt, Roman officials would crucify 6,000 slaves side by side along a 130 mile stretch of road leading out of Rome ! There would be no more revolts .
When Paul first met Onesimus and found out that he was the runaway slave of a Christian he knew from Colosse ,he recognized that his heavenly Father was at work. And so Paul went to work on Onesimus. He pointed out Onesimus’ sin of running away from his master, and then he followed that up with the good news of how Jesus had already paid for that sin. As a result Onesimus was not only converted to the faith, he became a trusted and reliable helper to Paul.
Just as God guided and directed Onesimus’ steps to Rome, he still leads us today. It’s no accident that we are here this morning. God brought us here to learn that, even though we often run away from him and our responsibilities as children, parents, employers, employees, and congregational members, he has forgiven us and has plans for us. Through the gospel God makes us useful again. How does God plan to use us?
Let’s first see what plans he had for Onesimus. Although Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus on as a trusted servant of the gospel, he sent him back to Colosse. After all Onesimus was still Philemon’s slave and if he was truly repentant of running away, he would return and take up his place again as a slave in Philemon’s household. Still, Paul wanted Philemon to know that he was sending Onesimus back a changed man. From now on Onesimus wasn’t just Philemon’s slave, he was his brother in the faith and Paul wanted Philemon to treat him as such. Paul went as far as urging Philemon to receive Onesimus as if he was receiving Paul himself (Philemon 17). Paul could have demanded these things because it was the right thing to do, but Paul didn’t command, nor did he beg, he simply expressed his confidence that Philemon would do what he had encouraged him to do and even more.
WE have to get beyond hurt feelings and disgruntled attitudes and get down to the basics of Christianity – Love for one another. For Jesus told His disciples, they aren’t going to recognize you for your good looks. They won’t notice you for the huge building you will build for worship, or the amazing miracles you will perform, they didn’t listen to me for those, they certainly won’t listen to you for them either. Jesus didn’t say they are going to know you are mine if you preach in the King James English, if you pray five times a day and fast twice a week. Jesus didn’t say they will know you are my disciples because of your poverty and willingness to stay poor for my sake. NO. Jesus told them in John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
That’s the power of the gospel. Although Onesimus was a changed man, he still must have been nervous about going back to Philemon. After all Roman law gave slave owners the right to brand the forehead of runaway slaves, lock them in chains, or simply execute them. Onesimus knew he deserved any one of these punishments because he had not just run away from Philemon, but had probably stolen from him as well. Paul must have sensed these fears and so he wrote to Philemon that he would pay for any damage Onesimus had done. This promise allowed Onesimus to go back and serve his master free of the fear of punishment.
Do you see the parallels between Onesimus and us? Although we should be punished for our sins, Jesus told his heavenly Father to charge those sins to him. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross so that we now can serve our God without fear of punishment. Not only that, Jesus also provides for all of our daily needs. We’re like the man who was arrested for stealing bread. He admits his guilt but begs the judge for mercy explaining he stole the bread to feed his children. Because the man pleaded guilty the judge has to assess the fine. He fines the man $100 but before the man can be taken away, because he doesn’t have the money to pay the fine, the judge goes over to the clerk’s desk and pays the fine for him. The judge then gives the man a check for $1,000 to feed his children! That’s what Jesus does for us. He forgives us and then he equips us. With a Saviour like that how can we not eagerly serve him?
We are living in the last days, it is time for us to forget whatever we may have against one another. I believe the time is short. Like never before the world is getting evil and not looking any brighter. Our government doesn’t know what’s right any more. And God forbid even our own faith may become illegal in some way or another. It is time to start acting like the people we claim we are. If we claim to be accepted by God, then we must accept one another in the same way. I don’t want God to find me fighting or quarreling over the minute details of church life but rather freely giving love and acceptance to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
We are brother and sisters in Christ, we must go the extra mile, we must be willing to receive one another no matter how they hurt us. And in this small Book of Philemon, the Apostle Paul’s plea for Philemon to accept the wayward slave is the plea for all of us, “freely you have received, freely give.” Everyone needs acceptance. It doesn’t change when you go to college, or when you enter the work force. People want to feel like they really and truly belong to something greater than themselves.
People will go to great lengths to feel acceptance. According to the American Society of Plastic surgeons almost $7,500,000,000 were spent on physician/surgeon fees in the year 2000 on plastic surgery’s. This doesn’t even include anesthesia, operating room facilities and other related expenses. I’m talking about face-lifts, tummy tucks, liposuction, etc....
Why do we do it? What is at the heart of this ? Acceptance. Acceptance that we are still worthwhile. That even if life has chewed us up and spit us out there is still something inside of us that gets accepted. And So Paul pleads with Philemon. In fact, though Paul could command Philemon to accept him, he pleads with him “for loves sake” (verse 9) to accept back the former runaway slave and thief.
I look around at the world and I see so many religions. And you and I are more or less ignorant to the doctrines of most of these religions. But really, what is at the heart of religion is man’s desire to be acceptable to something greater, some higher force. Look at what they offer – religion is nothing more than people trying to fit in with God or the “gods” of the unseen world.
I see the Hindu and Buddist believing that you must be reincarnated over and over and over again until you finally get it right enough for the god of heaven to accept you. I see the Muslims trying to live up to a standard that Allah would be pleased with in order to be accepted. But at the same time, he has absolutely no guarantee that they will go to heaven no matter what they do, that Allah is a subjective and decisive god that would send you to hell because he had a bad day. I see the cults of the United States,offering people acceptance with a higher power through morbid and terrifying acts of obsessioin.
But thank God I see in the Bible a Loving and gracious savior who is drawing all men unto Himself who FREELY ACCEPTS whosoever calls upon His name.
I see that in the Name of Jesus ,men can finally be accepted. We reach for the stars, we create our weapons. We build our empires, we find our wealth and we lord it over the world, presuming that what we can do on our own earns us acceptance above. But the Gospel is GOOD NEWS because it is never about what we do, it is about what Christ did. And because of What Christ did – I’m Accepted! Ephes. 1:6 “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
What makes Onesimus acceptable? The Word of the Apostle that Onesimus, though he may have been a slave and a runaway. Though he was worthy of punishment as a thief, is acceptable now because what the devil tried to destroy through sin, God raised up to life through the blood of Christ.
Remember, he needed that letter from Paul because to Philemon, he was not just a slave, he was a runaway thief! Do you know what the most common punishment for stealing was in this time period of the Roman Empire? CRUCIFIXION! Jesus was hung between two “THIEVES.”
Isn’t the Gospel amazing. Here we have a man of disrepute,worthy of crucifixion ,venturing to start all over and the letter of Paul is the only hope he has of making it home alive!
I’ll bet he held tight to that letter the whole way home. I bet he never let that letter out of his sight.SO SHOULD IT BE with our letter from God. This Book, the Bible is our standing assurance that what we have believed is not in vain. That though sin and the devil tried to disgrace us, God saved us and set us free and wrote a letter to us reminding us along the way, YOU’RE ACCEPTED. YOU’RE ACCEPTED.
This is why I get so upset when I see people saying that all faiths are the same. They are not the same. IN the final analysis, there is one major flaw with all religions except pure Christianity, they don’t offer an unconditional acceptance of faith into the presence of God. And I’m so glad that Jesus accepts me. You can’t find acceptance like that any where else.
So what is it that God would have us do? Like Onesimus we begin by undoing any harm our sins have caused.Onesimus wasn’t content just to let his light shine before Philemon; he wanted his light to shine before the world.
We have that same opportunity too, don’t we? We can all get involved in the work of our church. “Sure, that’s what you think. But I don’t have the energy I used to have. I can’t get around that well anymore so how can I do anything that will be useful to this congregation, or to anyone else for that matter?” Have you heard yourself say those things lately? Well, I wonder if that isn’t how Paul first felt, when he was put under house arrest in Rome? That’s where he was when Onesimus met him. I wonder if Paul didn’t think to himself, “What good is a missionary who can’t even leave his house?” If Paul felt that way, he quickly got over it and went on with the business of preaching God’s Word to whoever came to see him. As a result, the whole palace guard came to know about Jesus (Philippians 1:13). Paul not only shared God’s Word with unbelievers, he spent his house arrest praying for and writing letters to encourage his fellow Christians. It was during this time that Paul wrote to Philemon, to the Colossians, Laodiceans , Ephesians, and Philippians and we still benefit from those letters. So you see, even if God has taken away your mobility, your eyesight, or your energy, you aren’t useless. You can pray for the work of the church. You can write letters of encouragement to the congregation. And you can tell those who come to visit you about Jesus. No matter what the quality of your life, through Christ Jesus you are useful and acceptable .
Therefore we can go forward boldly and joyfully with the work and challenges God has set in front of us, no matter what our life is like.
