Beloved ... It seems right to me ... that we lay the foundation ... the background to this letter to Philemon ... before we look into it ... to behold its treasures.
We know the following ... from the Scriptures ... from both this letter ... and the letter ... to the Colossians:
That Philemon was a wealthy Christian ... who lived in Asia minor ... in the city of Colossae.
He had a slave named ... Onesimus (o-NES-e-muss with long 'o' and 'e').
Apparently, ... some conflict ... arose between them, yet ... the nature of the conflict ... is not known to us.
Onesimus ... then fled from Philemon... and went to Rome.
While in Rome, ... Onesimus came into contact with Paul.
Paul shares the gospel with him ... and he became a follower ... of the Christ.
Onesimus' life ... was transformed ... by the Gospel.
Paul ... became deeply attached to Onesimus ... and wanted to have him stay with him, ... for the sake of the Gospel ... in order that he might serve Paul ... during his imprisonment.
Yet, ... Paul knew ... that it was his duty to return Onesimus ... to his master Philemon in Colossae, ...for Roman law demanded the return ... of runaway slaves.
Meanwhile, ... Epaphras, ... who was the founder and pastor of the church at Co-los-sae (Colossians 1:7), which met in Philemon's home, ... had recently come to Rome ... to seek Paul's insight ... regarding a doctrinal heresy ... confronting the Colossian church (Colossians 4:12).
For some unknown reason, ... Epaphras did not return to Co-los-sae ... with the letters ... that Paul had written.
Instead, ... Paul sent another one of his fellow workers, ... a man named Ty-chi-cus, ... with his letter to the Colossian believers, ... which contained instructions ... on how to combat the heresy ... within the church.
Ty-chi-cus also carried Paul's additional letters to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:21-22) and Laodiceans which has been lost to us. (Colossians 4:16).
Paul also used this opportunity ... to send Onesimus back to Colossae with Ty-chi-cus, ... along with this personal letter ... to Philemon.
Philemon ... was the primary recipient of the letter.
Yet ... Paul also mentioned ... "Ap-phi-a our sister ... and Ar-chip-pus our fellow soldier, ... and the church in ... your house".
Ap-phi-a was probably ... Philemon's wife ... and Ar-chip-pus ... their son.
Most likely they, ... along with the rest of the church in Colossae, ... were mentioned as recipients ...because they also knew ... Onesimus.
And Paul wanted them to be aware ... of what he was about ... to request... of Philemon. (Pause)
Beloved ... This morning we are going to step into the shoes... of Onesimus.
We are going to place ourselves ....in the midst ... of his situation.
And by doing so ... hopefully ... we will have a greater understanding ... of what Christ did ... for each of us. (Pause)
The Great Reformer ... Martin Luther saw the power ...of this short letter... in his statement ... "We are all his O-nes-i- mi ...if we really ... believe it."
Within this epistle ...we will hopefully see... how we are like Onesimus ...in at least ... 3 ways:
(1 Finger) An Undeserved Substitute (Philemon 17)
(2 Finger) An Un-payable Debt (Philemon18)
(3 Finger) And lastly ... an Unbelievable Payment (Pjilemon19)
So (1 Finger) We have ...An Undeserved Substitute. (Philemon 17)
Hear God's Word from the Epistle to Philemon: BIBLE "If then ...you regard me (Paul) as a partner ... accept him (Onesimos) ......as you would me." END (Philemon 17)
Paul begins his discourse ... with ... a condition.
And this stipulation... this condition ... seeks to find ...a common ground.
The common ground that he and Paul ... were partners ...in the faith.
The Greek word Koinonos (Koy-no-nos) used in this text ... meant much more ... than a partner.
For the word itself... is derived from the Greek word Koinonia that is ... a position of deep fellowship with one another.
A Fellowship ... a Partnership ......based on ...their common life ... in Jesus Christ.
In his heart ... and mind... Philemon (Phil-'e'-mon) most certainly regarded Paul... as a Koinonos (Koy-no-nos).
After all, .... it was Paul ... who led Philemon.... to Christ.
Beloved there is a sweet relationship ... a spiritual bond ... that never disappears ... when you lead someone to Christ.
When you are with them ... when they turn their lives over ... to Jesus.
After my college years ... I turned my life over to Christ ... and began to attend St. Andrew's in Mentor Ohio.
I was asked by the Rector Bill Worman ... to help begin a youth group ... at the Church.
In the initial group ... there were 10 high school young men and women.
And I had the privilege ... to be with each of them ... as they individually came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
And it formed a relationship ... that I will always cherish.
And one of those initial ten was a young man... that a number of you at Saint Anne's know ... very well.
His name is Steve Wood ... who is presently the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas.
Well ... This group quickly grew to 30 plus at some events ... and a few years latter my friend Brian Lego ... became a partner with me ... in this great adventure.
And we each were used by God ... to bring many youth to the faith ... and to experience numerous conversions ... that in turn became a spiritual bond ...filled with glorious memories.
A special relationship ... a spiritual bond is truly formed at that moment.
And Paul had that spiritual bond ... with Philemon.
And it is Paul ... who refers to Philemon ....in the opening sentence ...as a beloved brother ......and fellow worker ... in the faith.
Paul indeed ... was a spiritual partner with Philemon ...in the fellowship of faith... and in the ministry ... of the Gospel.
Their common ground ... is their partnership with one another ... in the Faith.
Once the common ground is agreed to ... Then in the culture of that time... Paul can and does make a request of Philemon ... "...accept him (Onesimos) as you would me."
Philemon ... was to receive Onesimus ....as if ... he ...were receiving Paul.
Simply put ... Paul was taking Onesimus' ... place.
He became a substitute ... for Onesimus.
Welcome him .... as you would ... welcome ...me.
Forgive him ... as you would forgive ...me.
And Beloved ... Forgiveness is at the heart of the Christian experience ... for every one of us has deeply experienced ... the forgiveness of God.
None of us come to God ... with any merit ... of our own.
So ... as Philemon was standing ... facing Onesimus, ... he was to see the face.... of the Apostle Paul.
Paul became a substitute, ...taking Onesimus' place.
And Beloved ... like Paul......., Jesus takes ......our place.
Jesus became ... our substitute.
In life, ... Jesus is our standard; ... and in death, ... Jesus is our substitute.
And this analogy ... would not be lost.... on Philemon.
And the Scriptures tell us that Jesus appeals to the Father ...on our behalf ...Father accept them ....as you would me.
At the heart of Christianity ....is the Atonement:
And Atonement is at the heart of ... Christ's death ...for he sacrificed Himself ....in the place of us, ... to atone ... for our sins.
Hear God's Word BIBLE "He (Jesus) ... who knew no sin ... became sin ... on our behalf; ...that we might become ...the righteousness ...of God ...in him" END (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Paul described it to the Galatian believers in these words "Christ redeemed us ... from the curse of the Law, ... having become ... a curse ... for us..." (Galatians. 3:13)
(1 Finger) Beloved... We have an undeserved Substitute.
(2 Fingers) And Secondly ... We also Have an Un-payable Debt (Philemon18)
Paul goes on in his epistle: BIBLE "But if he (Onesimos) has wronged you ....in any way.... or owes you anything, ...charge that ...to my account;" END (Philemon 18)
Onesimus had incurred a debt; .... a debt which he could.... Never ... repay.
The debt .... which Onesimus owed to Philemon, ... included ... a monetary debt. (Pause)
We know that Onesimus ... was a runaway slave.
The price of a good servant in 60 AD... was 500 denarii.
That would be the equivalent to almost a year and a half ... in ... freedman wages.
Almost an impossible amount ... for free man at that time to save ... let alone ... a slave.
In addition, ... it is apparent ... that Onesimus ...stole possessions ... or money ...from Philemon; ... possibly ... to fund ... his flight.
Onesimus ...has incurred ...an additional debt, ... which he also ... could never repay.
For the penalty of theft and abandonment by a slave ... was ... death.
This slave, ... according to Roman law, ... had put himself ... under the death penalty ... for abandoning his master, ... the one ... who purchased him.
This was the debt ... that Onesimus could ... never escape.
No matter how long he toiled, ...or how good he was, ... Onesimus ... had broken... the law.
Justice demanded ... his life. (Pause)
And ... that is the exact picture ... that you and I ...and all of humankind face ... apart ... from Christ!
The wages of sin .... Is ...... (Open Hands) ... Death.
Like Onesimus, ... we have incurred a debt ... which we can ... never pay.
Onesimus ...is in the position ... before Philemon... that humankind is in... before God.
The debt ... which God placed ....as a penalty for disobedience ... for sin ... was more than physical death.
The death which is incurred for our disobedience ... is ... spiritual death.
Spiritual death ... is the separation of the soul ... from God, ... the separation of the creature ... from the Creator.
The Scriptures are clear...crystal Clear, (Slow) "The wages of sin ...is death." (Romans 6:23)
Paul shares with the Believers gathered in Rome: ... Hear God's Word ... BIBLE "Therefore, ... just as sin came into the world through one man, .... and death came through sin, ... so death spread to all .... because all .... have sinned." END (Romans 5:12 )
We all have ... sinned.
We like Onesimus, ... are law breakers, ... under a death sentence, ... a penalty of death, ... a debt which we cannot ... pay.
But Beloved...that is not the end.
Paul continues in his epistle: BIBLE "But if he has wronged you.... in any way ... or owes you anything ... charge that... (to who?) ... To my account;" END (Philemon 18)
(1 Finger) We Have An Undeserved Substitute.
(2 Fingers) We Have...An Unplayable Debt (
3 Fingers) and lastly .... We Have An Unbelievable Payment (Philemon.18)
Paul goes on: BIBLE "I Paul, ....am writing this ...with my own hand, ...(Slow) I will repay it..." END (Philemon 19)
Paul's custom ... was to dictate his letters ... to a scribe.
Yet ...in many of his letters, ... he would write a closing greeting ... in his own hand.
Possibly the last seven verses of his letters were written by Paul's hand ... or perhaps ...in this instance ... the entire letter.
Regardless, ...Paul wants to make one point ... very clear... (Slow) ... I will ... repay it!
Paul accepts completely ... the total debt.
Whatever debt Onesimus has incurred ......in his robbery ...and in his subsequent flight ... it will be paid.
Paul ... was so concerned about reconciliation ... that he would pay the price, ... the full price.
Beloved ... Praise God ...That is what Jesus ... did for us.
Because of his great love ....and desire for us to be reconciled ...., he paid the ultimate price ...the full price... to clear the debt ... in full. (1 Peter 1:18)
The debt is paid in full.
There is a wonderful ...yet simple ...worship song... that speaks to this.
(Sing)
He paid a debt ... he did not owe
I owed a debt ... I could not pay
I needed someone ....to wash my sins away.
But now I sing a brand-new song.... amazing grace.
Christ Jesus paid a debt ... that I could never pay.
Christ Jesus ... paid a debt ... that you and I ... could never pay.
Beloved ... It gets better.
Jesus not only nullified that Debt... but he imparted righteousness ... to us.
(Loud) ... Hear God's Word: BIBLE "God made him who had no sin ....to be sin for us ... so that in him ... we might become ... the righteousness ... of God. END (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Years ago ...... when I was a young banker in Painesville Ohio, ...we used large leather-bound ledgers ......where all accounts ... were entered in ink ... each night ... by hand.
These huge ledgers ... in a way ......remind me of God's ledgers ... in heaven.
And we are told.... That these Heavenly books .... These Heavenly ledgers (Slow) will one day ...be opened.
Now picture... your name ...... written in the ledger, ......and in one column is the sum total ......of all your indebtedness ... against God.
Remember what the wages of sin are ... spiritual death ... spiritual separation for eternity.
It is an indebtedness so large... that it could never ... be paid.
Now... picture God ... taking a pen ...and transferring the sum total ......of your indebtedness ... to the account of his son ... to the account of Jesus.
And on Jesus' account ... in the Ledger are the words ... "Transferred from the account of ......and your name is written." (Pause)
Now picture ... one thing further.
Picture.... if you can ...the total righteousness of Christ ...... the total righteousness of Jesus .... and against it ... these words are written, (Slow) "Transferred ...to the account of ......and your name is written."
Beloved ... Not only is your indebtedness fully transferred to Jesus ...... His total Righteousness ......is fully transferred ....to you.
That is ... sacrificial love
Praise God ... That debt, ... that eternal debt ... of spiritual and physical separation, .... Of spiritual and physical death ... is paid in full.
Jesus... is a perfect and sufficient payment ... and sacrifice ... for the sins ...of the whole world.
Jesus went to Calvary's cross, ...and was lifted up ... between Heaven ... and earth.
And when He ...looked to the Father and cried ... Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ... "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46
Immediately after he cried out these words ... a sponge soaked in sour wine was lifted for him to drink. Matthew 27:48
Many theologians believe ... and I concur ... that this sour wine ... was the final wine of the Passover meal ... that began with his disciples in the upper room.
Only then ... after the last wine was taken ... could our Lord proclaim, ... "It is finished."
The debt was paid ... in full.
Beloved Hear me on this ... It is finished.
The work is .... done.
Oral traditions ... often pick up ... where the New Testament left off.
And we find Onesimus as the bishop of Ephesus, ... having been ordained ... by the apostles.
However, ... his Christian faith brought him under fire ... and he was arrested in Rome ... and sentenced to death.
He was tortured ... and then beaten to death.
Martyred for the faith.
Beloved ... Its time.
(Slow) It is time to be mature in the Faith.
Many want to be saved.
Many want a Savior to save them ... from the time of trial.
Yet are not willing ... to yield to Jesus.
Not willing for Jesus ... or anyone else ... to be the Lord ... of their life.
It is time to allow Jesus to not only be your Savior but to be Lord ... (Slow) the Lord of your life.
The Scriptures are clear: "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is: (Open Hands) ... Lord ... and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be ...... SAVED!" (Romans 10:9)
Praise God ... If you confess him as Lord ... You will be saved.
And when you accept him as your Lord and Savior well: ....
You are a new creation.
You have a new destiny, ...
You have a new identity
And Praise God ... You have a new eternity.
(Sing)
He paid a debt ... he did not owe
I owed a debt ... I could not pay
I needed someone ....to wash my sins away.
But now I sing a brand-new song.... amazing grace.
Christ Jesus paid a debt ... that I could never pay.
Amen & Amen!
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Much of the first portion of this Message is based on a Sermon by Christian Zorio titled " Charge that to my account" and I commend it to you.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead" (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings In Christ Jeff
