Text: Philemon 1:16-17
Philemon 1:16-17 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
I. The Runaway Slave
Paul declared himself to be a Prisoner of Jesus Christ (BOND SLAVE) not Nero!
Onesimus was the fugitive slave of Philemon, the apostle Paul's friend.
Onesimus had robbed his master Philemon and fled to Rome, a large city where he could easily hide.
Onesimus encountered Paul in Rome where the apostle was serving time in prison.
We are to be a LIGHT no matter where we are in LIFE! Paul didn't need a church to spread the gospel!
Some scholars suggest that Paul had led Onesimus to Christ previously in Colossae and that, when Onesimus ran away, he sought out Paul on purpose.
It is more likely that Onesimus became a Christian after running away from Philemon and running into Paul in Rome: "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains" (Philemon 1:10).
We all once were slaves to sin, but NOW we are sons whereby we cry ABBA FATHER!
Paul uses a play on words when he refers to Onesimus in verse 11: "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me."
The name Onesimus means "helpful," "useful," or "profitable." It was a common name for slaves in that day
Before salvation, Onesimus had been useless or unprofitable to Philemon, but now he had become immensely beneficial to both his masters and to Paul
As a believer in Jesus Christ, Onesimus became a BOND SLAVE TO Christ!
Before we're saved, we are useless! After - PROFITABLE! If we spread the message of the Cross
II. Paul's Plea to Philemon
Onesimus had stolen from Philemon as well as causing loss when we ran away from him as a servant
The apostle pleaded with Philemon to accept Onesimus back, not as a slave but as a believer and a brother in Christ.
Paul cared deeply for Onesimus because the young man had been a great blessing to him. In fact, Onesimus had been so helpful that Paul longed for him to stay at his side: "I am sending him - who is my very heart - back to you. 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. 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" (Philemon 1:12-14).
Philemon and his family lived in Colossae, and the Colossian church met at his house.
Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians at the same time he wrote to Philemon. In that letter, Paul mentioned that Onesimus would be coming home. Paul gave both letters to Tychicus and Onesimus to carry back to Philemon (Colossians 4:9).
The heart of Paul's plea to Philemon is summed up in verses 15-19: "Perhaps the reason [Onesimus] was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever - 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. so if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back - not to mention that you owe me your very self" (Philemon 1:15-19).
And Paul promises to pay back anything Onesimus owed. The apostle authenticates his promise by writing in his own hand, essentially demonstrating his commitment to see the relationship between these two brothers fully restored.
III. The Doctrine of Propitiation
As Paul told Philemon to charge Onesimus debt to his account, so has Christ charged our sins to His!
This is the doctrine of Propitiation
We could not pay what we've stolen from God and still can't
Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, we owe a debt we cannot pay
The contract of Paul's word is a type of what Christ did at the Cross in being a Propitiation (Payment) for our sins - Christ paid the debt
"It is finished" - TELEO - "The debt has been paid!"
because the debt has been paid we are forgiven!
[set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood] God has set forth, made, appointed, and published this sacrifice to be a propitiation, or covering for sin.
[propitiation] This is the act of God whereby He becomes propitious or gracious to the sinner through Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:5; 1Jn. 2:2).
[to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins] Mt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:20; Rev. 1:5.
God cannot declare any man righteous or remit one sin without faith in the atonement (Heb. 9:22; Eph. 1:7)
[sins that are past] This refers to two things: 1. Forgiveness of the sins of Old Testament saints (Rom 3:25; Heb. 9:15). 2. Forgiveness of past sins of each sinner that repents (Eph. 1:7; 1Jn. 1:9)
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we oved god, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Colossians 1:20 (KJV) 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or thins in heaven.
Hebrews 9:22 (KJV) 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
9
Comentarios