Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Philemon 1 and following. Indeed, it shows the putting into practice, by Paul and his companions, of the exhortations contained in his epistles. “Clothe therefore, as god’s chosen people, holy and beloved, with the bowels of mercy, goodness, humility…”, he wrote to the Colossians (Col 3:12-14; Eph 1:15-21). It was precisely in Colossi that Philemon remained, a pious man, a friend of the apostle, rich, because he had slaves. One of them, Onesimus, after fleeing his home, had met Paul, a prisoner in Rome, and had been converted. Now the apostle sends him back to his master, carrying this touching message. It was to act contrary to what was ordered by the Law which forbade the surrender of the fugitive slave to his master (Deut 23:15-16). The Law took into account the hardness of man’s heart (Mark 10:2-9). While grace, in the apostle, takes into account this same grace acting in the heart of Philemon. Paul is well acquainted with his love for all the Saints and the proofs he has given of them. Onesimus means “useful”. Once a useless slave, he now deserved his name(Philm 1.1-12).
More than that, he had become a faithful and beloved brother (Col 4:7-9). No name is more valuable than that of this brother and it suits the Christian master as well as the Christian slave. Paul, for his part, puts forward no other title than those of an elderly man and a prisoner of Jesus Christ. If he had thought only of himself, he would not have deprived himself of Onesimus’ services. But he wants the opportunity to be given: to the latter to bear witness in the house where he had once misbehaved; and to Philemon to see the fruits of this conversion and to “confirm his love” (2 Cor 2:5-9).
This story of Onesimus, in a certain sense, is ours. Rebellious slaves, we were found on our way of our own will, and brought back to our Master. No longer to be placed under bondage, but like those He calls His beloved brethren (John 15:12-17). And Paul is here the image of the Lord Jesus, paying our debt, interceding for us. May this epistle teach us to introduce into our everyday lives practical Christianity: self-forgetfulness, delicacy, humility, grace… in short, all the multiple manifestations of love.
The epistle to Philemon has often been referred to as a “private letter.” But the mention of the assembly that met in the recipient’s house seems to indicate that even the personal relations of the Christian cannot be separated from the communion of believers. They are all members of one body (Eph4. 25). Slave of Philemon, Onesimushas been embezzled money before fleeing. During his escape, the slave had met the apostle Paul in the prison of Rome where he was then incarcerated. Through the apostle, Onesimus was brought to faith in the Lord Jesus. For this reason, Paul calls him “my child.” In the meantime, this man had become useful to the apostle in several ways (Col 4. 9).
But Paul wanted to seek reparation for the harm caused by Onesimus to his master Philemon. So the apostle sends Onesimus, accompanied by Tyshica, back to Colossi with a letter. Contrary to his habits, Paul does not mention Christian doctrine, he does not mention at all his apostolate and the authority attached to it. Nor does he ask for the release of Onesimus, but he takes the opportunity to give an example of that spirit of grace and love that allows brothers to resolve among themselves the difficulties that may arise in the affairs of everyday life. This grace renders social differences insignificant (Col. 3:11) and overcomes past faults (Col.3. 13).
We will see later that of all the epistles of the New Testament, none is broader in its application than that of Jude, for it is addressed, not to Christians who have come to a certain degree of knowledge, but to all the called in general, to all those who belong to the Lord. The epistle to Philemon is in this respect, the counterpart of that of Jude. What is said of Philemon shows him as a very pious man, and there can be no doubt that he did not exercise, by grace, a Christian influence around him, for his house had become the place of a local assembly. He expended himself for others, and the bowels of the saints were continually refreshed by the way he devoted himself to all. Why was this love for the Saints so alive in Philemon? It was the consequence of the faith and love he had for the Lord Jesus.
This faith, which is the sharing of every Christian, is not here, as in the epistle of Jude, the Christian doctrine, but what grace has put in the heart to make him grasp Christ, this gift that allows the soul to seize the object that God places before it. But Philemon’s faith had brought him to the center of love from the outset. It was not, as with so many Christians, a faith that responds only to the needs of a sinner and accepts Jesus as Savior. His faith had grasped the divine essence itself, love in the person of Christ. Philemon, following the direction of his faith and going back to the love of Christ, had received him into his heart through the Holy Spirit, and from there this love had poured out upon all who belonged to the Lord. This is the secret of our individual Christian life.
The apostle does not speak here of the love that is addressed to sinners to proclaim the Gospel to them. Of this one he says elsewhere: “The love of Christ embraces us” (2 Cor 5. 14), but here we are talking about the saints. Alas! this love among Christians has cooled in such a way that they no longer want to hear today but about love bringing to men the good news of salvation. They know little but the natural sympathies that unite together the members of the sects they have formed, and when their Christian heart occasionally seeks to overcome these limits, it is quickly brought back by sectarian prejudices that have more power over it than the freedom of the Spirit.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Philemon’s love and faith:
- Suffering for Christ
Acts 5:41 The apostles withdrew from before the Sanhedrin, joyful that they had been judged worthy of outrage for the name of Jesus. Rom 8:17 Now, if we are children, we are also heirs: heirs of God, and co-heirs of Christ, if we suffer with him, so that we may be glorified with him. 2 Tim 2:12 if we persevere, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He too will deny us; 1 Pet 5:10 The God of all grace, who has called you in Jesus Christ to His eternal glory, after you have suffered a little time, will perfect you Himself, strengthen you, strengthen you, make you steadfast.
- Spiritual reputation
Acts 16:2 The brothers of Lystra and Icon bore a good witness to him. Rom 1:8 I first give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ, about all of you, that your faith is renowned throughout the world. Rom 16:19 For you, your obedience is known to all, so I rejoice in you, and I desire that you be wise in concerned to good and pure in regard to evil. Hb 11.2 For possessing it, the elders obtained a favorable testimony.
- Men tied up with chains, shackles
Jer 40:1 The word that was addressed to Jeremiah on behalf of the Lord, after Nebuzaradan, head of the guards, had sent him from Rama. When he had him searched, Jeremiah was bound by chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were taken to Babylon. Mt 27:2 After binding him, they took him away, and handed him over to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Acts 22:25 When he had been exposed to the whip, Paul said to the centurer who was present: Are you allowed to beat a Roman citizen with yards, who is not even condemned? Acts 28:20 That is why I have asked to see you and to speak to you; for it is because of the hope of Israel that I carry this chain.
- The Power of Prayer
Depends on faith Mt 21:22 Whatever you ask for in faith through prayer, you will receive.
-Is unlimited for those who dwell in Christ Jn 15:7 If you dwell in me, and my words dwell in you, ask what you will want, and it will be granted to you.
To be effective, must be accompanied by praise Acts 16:25-26 In the middle of the night, Paul and Silas prayed and sang god’s praises, and the prisoners heard them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; at the same moment, all the doors opened, and the bonds of all the prisoners were broken.
Manifested in the life of Elijah Jas 5:18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Examples:
# Jacob Gn 32:27-29 He said to her: What is your name? And he answered: Jacob. 28 He says again: your name will no longer be Jacob, but you will be called Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have been victorious. 29 Jacob questioned him, saying, “Please do to me, know your name. He replied: Why do you ask my name? And he blesses him there.
#Elijah 1 Kings 17:21-22 And he stretched out three times upon the child, invoked Jehovah, and said, Eternal, my God, I beg you, that the soul of this child return within him! 22 The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child returned within him, and he was brought back to life.
# The evildoer on the cross Lk 23:42 And he said to Jesus: Remember me, when you come into your kingdom.
# The first disciples Acts 4:31 When they prayed, the place where they were assembled trembled; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they confidently proclaimed the word of God.
From all the above, we note that thelove of saints and love for sinners, far from harming each other, should work together. The Assembly of God, which we find in all of Paul’s epistles, was the great subject of the Apostle’s solicitude. When he proclaimed the Gospel, even running through dangers and enduring suffering of all kinds, his heart was deeply rejoiced rather than saddened, and if he sowed with tears, he reaped with songs of triumph. But when it came to the Church he suffered in his heart. Concern for all assemblies besieged him every day. If he learned that the saints, wherever they were, walked according to the thoughts of Christ, he would kneel and give thanks; if they were in danger or walked badly, again, he would kneel, but crying, and fight for them with his prayers. Moreover, the forces to walk there increase as one progresses there, and the spiritual freshness is renewed to the end, when the heart is occupied with Christ, with his person, with his unfathomable riches, with Christ, love itself, in its fresh, radiant and supreme beauty. Demas had abandoned this path! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ keep us all there. Let it be with our mind. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow”Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is superior to angels.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.