Paul's Epistles – Philemon - Part 2:
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Philemon, unlike some of Paul’s other
epistles, was not written to a church, rather a friend.
Although the shortest of Paul’s letters,
Philemon is one of the most coveted by readers.
A slave of Philemon (who was an important
member of the church at Colosse), Onesimus by name, had escaped, and made his
way to Rome with the aid of money stolen from his master.
There he was brought under the influence
of Paul, was converted, and endeared himself to the Apostle by his grateful and
devoted service.
However, he was still Philemon’s lawful
slave, and Paul could not think of retaining him permanently in his service, as
he could not use the servant, and benefit by his labors without his master’s
knowledge.
In other words, this servant was in debt
of service to Philemon, and also stole from him which that debt would also have
to be returned in labor.
Paul could not hire Onesimus because he as
still in debt to Philemon.
In modern days, this would be known as poaching,
when you take the employees for your company from another.
Paul wanted to save the runaway slave from
the severe and cruel punishment he earned by leaving a debt and stealing, which
was against Roman law. He also wanted to make peace with Philemon without
humiliating Onesimus.
This epistle will address the situation,
and in doing so, Paul will give us the message of the practice of Christian
forgiveness being enforced and illustrated.
TODAY’S SERMON
“Paul’s Plea for Onesimus”
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Philemon 1:8-25
Therefore, although in Christ I
could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as
none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was
in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you,
but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back
to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him
with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without
your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be
voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was
separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a
dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to
you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would
welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or
owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to
mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some
benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.21 Confident of your obedience, I write to
you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room
for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to
your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you
greetings.24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with
your spirit.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“The practice of Christian forgiveness being
enforced and illustrated”
I. THEREFORE
a. Paul greeted
Philemon in this letter and his family
i. A reminder that Paul was friends with Philemon
ii. And knew his family intimately, not just casual
acquaintances
iii. If Paul was to plead to Philemon’s heart, he had to
show that he knew his heart
b. Paul tells
Philemon of how he prays for God’s blessing for him
i. Paul wanted to let Philemon know that he prayed for him often
ii. He was not just trying to butter Philemon up, but
actually cared for him and his family
iii. Praying for God’s blessings on someone takes time,
and thought, and genuine concern
iv. Paul wanted Philemon to know he actually cared for
him
c. Paul then makes
mention of Philemon’s keeping of the Faith and Loving as all followers of
Christ should
i. Paul mentions that Philemon was influential in the Christian community
ii. We learn from this epistle that church services
were actually held in Philemon’s home
iii. Being a man of power, money, resources, and leading
Christian events, his influence could have positive or negative effects on the
followers in his area
iv. We, as followers, must always be mindful of our
actions and behaviors, because we are all a living testament to our faith and
love, and the things we say and do reflect Christ and His Kingdom.
1. We do not care what others think when we want to
live for Christ
a. i.e. don’t let what others think effect you obeying
the Word of God
2. We DO care what others think when we are living for
Christ
a. i.e. if we claim to be followers, then we care what
kind of life we are living
v. I hate seeing people post on Facebook showing they are a walking
contradiction.
1. One post has a beautiful scripture
2. The next post filled with swear words
3. James 3:11 “Does a fountain send forth at the same
place sweet water and bitter?”
vi. Or some will continuously post scripture, and talk about God and
His blessings, but live a life full of sinful choices, even lifestyles which
are in direct opposition to what the Word of God teaches.
1. Proverbs 4:14 “Do not set foot
on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.”
vii. All they are doing is causing confusion, and we know from
scripture that God is NOT the author of confusion.
viii. They are not being the light of the world, they are living
a contradiction, as waves tossed to and fro, not leading others to Christ, but
causing others to question, “What is the difference?”
1. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
ix. If you still live as the world…you have not yet submitted
to the Lord
x. If your thinking has not been transformed, you are not submitting to
the Lord
xi. If you live as the world…You are NOT able to know what
God’s Will is
II.
USELESS TO USEFUL
a. “Although I
could be bold and order you”
i. Paul being a founder, Elder, and Apostle of the Christian faith had the
authority to order other followers.
1. Which he had done on occasion when instructing
churches to get in line with the teachings of Christ in some other epistles
ii. However, Paul, like Christ, wants people to do the
right thing “because they know it’s the right thing”, not because they are
forced.
1. This exercise of free will is what makes a great
follower
2. Our obedience to Christ is because we know the
right thing to do, and we do it.
3. This is “how” we show our love to Christ.
4. John 14:15 Jesus says; "If you love me, keep my commands.”
b. “Onesimus
became my son while I was in chains”
i. Paul led Onesimus to Christ while in a Roman prison
ii. Paul knew firsthand that Onesimus was a true
convert
iii. Paul considered him a son because Onesimus was a
new convert and needed guidance, Paul taught him as a loving father teaches his
child.
c. “Formerly he
was useless, but now he is useful to you and me”
i. Onesimus actually translates “useful”
ii. This allegorically speaks of our condition before
and after coming to the Lord
iii. We are of no use to the Kingdom until we are “true”
converts.
1. We can sing praises in church
2. Even be in the choir
3. We can pray, hold healing services, preach on TV
4. We can evangelize, do mission work, travel the
world for Christ
5. We can do all things in Christ’s name…
6. But if are not true converts, He does NOT know us.
iv. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the
one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on
that day, ‘Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your
name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them
plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
1. ONLY those who do the Will of my Father
a. How do we know the Will of the Father?
2. Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
a. By NOT conforming to the pattern of this world
b. By allowing the Holy Spirit to transform your mind
c. THEN you can know God’s Will
d. THEN you can DO God’s Will
e. THEN you can enter the Kingdom of Heaven
III.
CONSIDER ME AND DO THE RIGHT THING
a. “I would like
to keep him”
i. Paul, showing Onesimus’ usefulness by stating he would like to keep him
ii. But Paul doesn’t want to make it look like Philemon
had no choice in forgiving and releasing Onesimus, so Paul would send him back
iii. “Knowing” Philemon would make the right decision
b. “So if you
consider me your partner”
i. Basically meaning, look, we are on the same page, we both know what is
right here, so let us both do the right thing, I’ll send him back, you can
forgive him and consider him a brother now.
c. Whatever he may
owe, I will pay it
i. Paul carefully words his letter
ii. Vs 18, 19 “If he has done you any wrong or owes you
anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with
my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you
owe me your very self”
1. Meaning, if you forgive him, but not his debt,
charge it to me, I’ll pay it.
a. Oh, and by the way, remember you owe me, and I
never collected.
2. Some scholars believe that Philemon’s livelihood as
well as his influence was due to the working of Paul in Philemon’s life and
ministry.
CONCLUSION – Forgive, especially to brothers and sisters in
christ
There are two clear lessons in the epistle of
Philemon.
1) Anyone who has done wrong,
and confessed to the Lord, repented and asked God for forgiveness, becoming a
follower of Christ, and then confessing their wrongs to others, repenting and
asking forgiveness, MUST be forgiven if we truly are followers of Christ,
keeping the Faith and living in Love as we should.
2) We must be sure that the
lives we live truly reflect the Kingdom, and that we have truly submitted to
our Lord and savior, else all we say and do in this life will be meaningless on
the Day of Judgment when we stand before the Lord.
Confess your sins, repent (turn away from, stop doing them),
ask the Lord for forgiveness, submit to Him.
Then Jesus said to
his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and
take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew
16:24
Stop living like the world, allow the Holy Spirit to change
your mind (or thinking), THEN you will know the Will of God, and obey it, and
then you will be worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven!
Want to hear the audio to this sermon? CLICK HERE!
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