The Ledger, Charge That To My Account - Philemon

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.