What it Takes to Change The World:
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. The book is a letter of Paul. But instead of a letter to a church, it’s a letter to a person – Philemon – thus the title of the book.
The book probably doesn’t turn heads because of the subject matter. It’s about a slave. Actually, its about a runaway slave named Onesimus who had stolend something from his master, Philemon and ran away to avoid being caught. Paul, in this short letter, is telling Philemon that Onesimus, the slave, has been saved under his ministry, and now he is sending him back to Philemon to see if Philemon will release forgiveness and freedom to Onesimus despite what wrong he had done.
So with the brevity of the book and the subject matter, we can see that obviously this book has little value to the kingdom right? No. In fact, in this book we find a unique picture of the entire Gospel. As our brother gave us a message on Thursday about the gospel in the book of Ester, we see in Philemon an illustration of the grace and mercy of God in the Good news of the gospel. Further proof that all the Bible points to one event in human history, the life, death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. For in Philemon we see the Gospel portrayed in a relevant manner.
MAIN THEME - - - I see in this story a type of Christ in Paul, us in Onesimus, and the reconciliation of Onisemus to Philemon as a type of salvation.
Onesimus is the central figure. He’s the runaway slave.
Onesimus: a runaway thief (like so many of us and so many in the Bible – take for instance: Adam and Eve “I was ashamed and so I hid.” (they had just become slaves to sin). Or how about Elijah – “I am the only one left and so I ran.” (became a slave to fear.) Or how about Jonah. “I knew the people would repent and you would have mercy on them so I ran.” (Became a slave to jealousy). Also, Peter, In the time of Christ’s death he ran away from his identity. “I do not know the man.” Onesimus found himself in good company with many of the Bible’s key figures. The only problem – his story is very short. He stole something from the master/committed a sin against the master and ran away.
WE are the Onesimuses. We all are runaways. We may have a nice home, great children, or a high paying job, but in the final analysis unless we have bowed the knee to Christ, we are only runaway slaves. Slaves to sin.
Onesimus’s name means, “profitable.” But through sin, he became the opposite. Through sin he was worthless, a robbing slave. Who could trust him? Who would take him in? Who would give him a second chance for this “un profitable” thief.
Then there’s Paul: the servant of the Gospel, the bearer of good news and the image of Christ to Onesimus. He leads Onesimus to the knowledge of Christ and uses him for the benefit of the Gospel. Paul’s goal is to reconcile to Philemon the ex-slave runaway. In so doing, Paul commends Philemon to remember mercy and grace as he had received through the preaching of Paul in dealing with Onesimus.
I want us to take a look at the key verses of the book (17 and 18) which will be our text for this morning in the book of Philemon. Paul says, “If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would accept me. But if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.”
First thing we want to look at is this: Paul says, whatever the boy owes you whether stolen or in time of service missed because he ran away I want you to “. . . charge that to my account.”
What great words to hear, huh? “Charge that to my account.” You are at a dinner with a person of great influence and because you are their guest the host tells the waiter or waitress, “Charge that to my account.”
You are a newly graduated high school alumnus and entering into the college of your choice and Mom and Dad if your lucky turns to the admissions office executive and says, “Charge that to my account.”
Nice words. Nice to hear.
And the amazing thing is that we have all heard them from Christ himself on our behalf.
So for us has Christ written home to his father on our Behalf. For even on the cross, the love of God through Christ gave these words, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While saying those words, it is striking that Christ is commending forgiveness for the sins of the world which put him on the cross in the first place. Christ took our offenses and paid our penalty. Christ took upon Himself the price of our sin. And in dying on the cross he paid the debt we could not pay. Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our sins that we, through him, might be accepted, reconciled, redeemed to our original Master, the Lord, God Almighty.
Christ looks to the Father as we see our helplessness and says, “Father, charge that to my account.”
SCRIPTURES:
Isaiah 53:12 (KJV)
“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
John 1:29 (KJV)
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Galatians 3:13 (KJV)
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:”
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
WE see in Paul two things of great importance.
First, that he becomes a type of Christ illustratively. In that he is the type of Christ in this story and so proclaims the Gospel in his actions.
And secondly, that he in fact lives the Gospel that he so eagerly preaches. He is not a “do as I say and not as I do” type of teacher, but rather one who truly lives what he has received from God. We can indeed “follow Paul and He follows Christ.”
Secondly, Paul says,
“. . . accept him as you would me. . .” = Isn’t it amazing that life is life no matter what the actual year is. What was the chief need of Onesimus? Acceptance. Isn’t that the eternal cry of our hearts? Acceptance. In preschool its not that big of a deal, everyone accepts everyone. There’s a little bit of strife and jealousy, but usually after 5 minutes or so all is forgotten. I’m amazed at children. How accepting they will be. For no matter what you do to them, they always find it in their hearts to accept you. A child is an amazing example of Christ’s love. Unconditional. Maybe that is why Christ put such a premium on their attitudes. For Christ repeatedly stated, “Let the little children come unto me and do not hinder them for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3
"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14
“But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 18:6 – causing them to sin:
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:10
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus loved the children. He loved their attitudes. He loved the fact that they freely accepted him. When he was entering the temple and about to be betrayed in the last week of his life, as he was entering Jerusalem, the Bible says, it was the “children” who were crying out and praising him after he overthrew the money changers.
- Matthew 22:15, “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who wer drying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” . . .”
You know what I think Jesus loves about children? Their acceptance of those who them wrong.
You can do so many things that may hurt a child accidentally, but they always find it in their heart to accept you back.
It makes me wonder . . . what happens to us when we get older? How do we become so exclusive. Why do we hold forgiveness and acceptance as commodities people must earn from us? It really gets bad in high school. Suddenly you are either in or out. The number one struggle for teenagers today is not their grades, or their schedules, or their classes, or the tests or even the Almighty MCAS exam. The number one struggle for our teens is Acceptance. All they really want is acceptance. In fact, you and I were the same way. When we go to high school reunions, we tag people with a label (either they accepted us or not).
But 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.
WHAT IS MORE – the lengths we will go 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, breast augmentations, etc....
Why do we do it? What is at the heart? 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 “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 believe that you must be reincarnated over and over and over and over again until you finally get it right enough for the god of heaven to accept you.
I see the Muslim trying to live up to a standard that Allah would possibly be pleased with in order to be accepted. But at the same time, he or she 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. From David Koresh to Heaven’s gate offering people acceptance with a higher power through morbid and terrifying acts of obsessioin.
I see the Catholic church instilling in people that in order to be accepted you must do this or that for Christ to have mercy on your sin riddled soul.
I see the legalistic Pentecostal church that tells people you must fit into this certain mold on the outside in order to be accepted on the inside.
But thank God I see in the Bible a Loving a gracious savior who is drawing all men unto Himself and a Passionate lover of our souls who FREELY ACCEPTS whosoever calls upon His name.
I see in the Name of Jesus the name by which men can finally be accepted. For since the days of the tower of Babel mankind has been trying to find a name for himself to no avail. We reach for the stars, we create our weapons. We build our empires, we find our wealth and we lord it over the world as it to presume 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? Paul’s letter to Philemon. 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!
NOTE: Do you know what the most common punishment for stealing was in this time period of the Roman Empire? CRUCIFIXION! Jesus was hanged between two “THIEVES.”
Isn’t the Gospel amazing. Here we have a useless man of disrepute venturing to start all over and worthy of crucifixion 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. If he had to take a break from walking, I’m sure he never went far without it. I’m sure it didn’t only come off the shelf for Sunday Morning!
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 America trying to make all faiths 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.
But I’m so glad this morning that my Jesus accepts me. You can’t find acceptance anywhere else on this earth except for in the arms of Christ Jesus.
Not only that, but God’s word tells us that we are accepted as co-heirs with Christ. God has made us brothers with the Lord Jesus Christ. And His inheritance from the father, is our inheritance.
Third: "you will do more than what I say"
Paul tells Philemon first:
1. If he owes you anything, charge it to my account. It is a picture of the work of Christ, that when God’s righteousness calls for us to be accountable, Jesus’ blood pays the final price of our sin.
2. Accept him as you would accept me. It is picture of What faith in Christ accomplishes for us. Not only are we accepted, we are accepted as Christ is accepted.
Now thirdly:
In Verse 21 Paul writes this, “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.”
Paul was familiar with Philemon. He was not stranger to the attitude and heart of this servant of Christ.
You see, Paul knew that Philemon always went the extra mile in love for Christ. 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.
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 to the body of Christ. 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.
Philemon was an “extra mile” type of person.
You know that God is an “extra mile” type of God?
Paul says, “I know that you will do even more than what I say.”
Don’t those words sound familiar? Isn’t that the same phrase that Paul uses when He writes about what God is going to do for those who believe on Jesus Christ?
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all thing?”
Ephes. 3:20
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”
Romans 8:18, “For I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
God is going to do more for us than what we can imagine. He has a place in store for us that will exceed our expectations. We have no idea what awesome things God has for us.
As if forgiveness of sin and redemption weren’t enough, God gives us more. More than what we can see, God gives to us all things with Christ!!!
Paul says to Philemon – “I know that you will do even more than what I say because you are the “extra mile” type of person.”
Well our God is the “extra mile” type of God. He always goes to the extra mile for us.
For some of us to be saved today is only because of His extra mile attitude. For some it took him two extra miles. For some it took him three. For most, it took him a few hundred or maybe even a few thousand of those extra miles to get our attention. Thank God He never runs out of gas!!!
And lastly, Paul writes to Philemon, in verse 22, “at the same time also prepare me a lodging; for I hope that through your prayers I shall be given to you.”
It’s a picture of what the chief end of this earthly pilgrimage will be for those who Believe on Christ. When we are sent home to our master, Christ will be there also.
Jesus told his disciples, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:2, 3
But in the story there is also a commandment for us. As Paul received the runaway slave, and as he commanded Philemon to receive him as well, so we as the church of Jesus Christ must be accepting of the people of this world and mostly of each other.
WE have got 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 – NO – NO – 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."
The Bible commands us, Romans 15:7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
Church, 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 a 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.”
I can’t wait for heaven, I’m dying to go to be with Christ, I look at the world and my heart is sickened by what our world calls good and what it calls evil. We allow for abortion, homosexuality, and we are calling what the Bible calls evil good. It’s time to live as children of the light, “and to live a life of love just as Christ Jesus lived a life of love and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrifice for our sins!” Ephesians 5:2
If we are to be world changers, then we must change the world through living the Gospel of Good News to those we see in need.
