Philemon

I recently listened to two sermons by Beau Hughes from the Village Church on Philemon. Philemon is one of the smallest of the thirteen letters sent by Paul and is different from all the other letters. It is a very personal letter and it's message is simple yet very powerful. Before reading this post I would encourage you to read the chapter here.

The context is this: Paul is in prison and somehow he meets Onesimus, one of Philemon's slaves, who has stolen from his master and run away. Paul uses this encounter to share the gospel with Onesimus and he becomes a believer.

One of the first things that Beau pointed out was how different slaves were treated in that day compare to that of the Civil War days. Slaves in Christian households were treated kindly and justly (which is part of the reason Christ says we have been made slaves to Him). They weren't abused, but treated in a godly manner.

One of the coolest things about this book is Paul's role. Paul is giving us a human example of what Christ does for us. Paul is mediating for Onesimus to Philemon, sort of like Jesus mediates for us to God. Paul has seen Onesimus' conversion, he has seen fruit for Christ and he sends this letter to Philemon saying recieve this man back, not as a disobedient slave, but as a fellow brother in Christ.

Another thing is that Paul usually gives commands. He shows the churches what they are doing wrong and corrects them sternly and then encourages them, but here he is giving Philemon friendly counsel. He says I know he has sinned against you, but I want you to recieve him as you would recieve me, with the same amount of joy same enthusiasm, because he is now a brother.

Paul sent the letter back with Onesimus, so this was a hard thing for Philemon. Here comes this man, who has wronged and Philemon, with a letter and Philemon reads this out loud and immediately has a decision to make; to except Onesimus back or to reject him.

Beau said that he believed that Philemon excepted him because otherwise we wouldn't have the letter and also look at verse 21,

"Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say."

Paul was confident in Philemon, not because he would say, ok Paul I'll do it because you said so, but because Philemon had a heart for the Lord. Paul was confident of Philemon's obedience to God. That requires great trust in God and obedience. I would not have wanted to do that. Philemon could have justly had him arrested, but he forgave him.

This is a vague reflection of our relationship with God and Christ. We have wronged God, like Onesimus wronged Philemon. But Christ came down and died, taking away our punishment and now he mediates between us, so that we may have a relationship with the Father.

And the Father accepts us, not grudgingly, but lovingly. That is a forgiveness that should make us cry from sorrow and burst for joy at the same time, because though we are wretched and we screw up all the time, Christ continues to forgive and mediate and God continues to love us.