Love Your Brother

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Love your brother

(Love One Another by Joe Hons)

Text: Philemon

Imagine someone stole from you. If it’s ever happened you probably feel betrayed. You feel vulnerable. This was the situation in this letter. A generous Christian man has a hired employee named Onesimus who has stolen quite a bit from him. Onesimus was arrested and thrown in jail where he coincidentally met Paul the apostle. At some point in time serving his sentence, Onesimus trusted Jesus Christ wanting to become a real Christian. Philemon is one of the finest pieces of early private Christian correspondence in existence. This little letter is correspondence between Paul and Philemon about restoring the relationship between Onesimus and Philemon.

Hospitality shown to God’s people (vss 4-9)

• Christianity has changed Philemon into a loving and hospitable man for God’s people.
• In the early days of Christianity, churches met in houses and wherever else they could. That house-to-house model is the way to grow people in Christianity. And it works for a lot of reasons.
• Philemon provided tangible relief for fellow Christians as opposed to “thoughts and prayers.”
  • There is a place for thoughts and prayers. But if you’re a Christian, you’re beyond the “prayers” if you have it in your ability to physically provide for a brother or sister in Christ who has real needs.
  • A Christian is created unto God for good works. These are works that Jesus Christ himself would be doing if He were here.
• Philemon is a generous Christian man because of what Jesus Christ has done in his life.
  • Christianity’s effect on people’s lives comes from Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and example (vs 6).
  • Paul said in his letter to the Romans, I beg you by God’s mercy that you offer yourselves a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, because this is your REASONABLE service. It’s reasonable because this is what your LORD did!
  • Jesus said to Peter, When you’re converted, strengthen your brothers. In other words, when you’re done denying me, and you’ve changed your mind, and your faith is restored, be an encouragement to other believers.
• This hospitality toward God’s people has been showing who God’s true people are for centuries.
  • Jesus would explain God’s judgment in this: (Matthew 25::35-40)
  • John would explain that if you love God’s people then that is an assurance that you have eternal life.

Reconciliation in personal matters (vss 10-15)

• Christianity looks like a man seeking reconciliation with someone he wronged.
• Onesimus will return and make right what he’s done wrong
  • Does that sound like works to you? Absolutely. It’s good work. It’s the kind of work God wants!
  • Reconciliation is the ministry. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
  • Paul puts the decision squarely in the hands of Philemon. I’m pleading with you, not instructing you. Paul says please do this old man a favor. You won’t regret it. Onesimus is a changed man. And he’ll be helpful to you.
  • So Paul vouches for Onesimus.
• Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus restores what he owes and Jesus says salvation has come to this house today. You’re no longer what you were. You’ve restored what you’ve stolen. You’ve made right those you’ve sinned against. Therefore, real transformation, true salvation has come to this house!
• Where two or more are gathered in my name there am I in the midst of them. It’s true reconciliation. That’s where Christ is. That’s Christianity. 
• Our biggest hindrance to reconciliation is pride.

Going the second mile (vss 16-22)

• Jesus said one time if someone compels you to go a mile, go two with them. It’s second-mile Christianity.
• Paul says to receive Onesimus not just as an employee but receive him now as family. The man who once stole from you is a brother.
• Paul offers to pay whatever debt is owed by Onesimus. But this is an important note.
  • Paul isn’t vouching for someone who is still crooked. Paul is vouching for a changed man.
  • It’s like forgiveness in this sense. If Jake owes Brady $10K. And Jake decides to forgive that debt. Jake’s forgiveness cost him $10K. That’s the price he pays to forgive Brady.
  • Paul pays the price probably because Onesimus has no way of doing so and Paul wants to reconcile the relationship.
  • In the case of a Christian, your debt as a sinner doesn’t go away, it is transferred to the LORD Jesus Christ!
• Paul is confident that Philemon will go above and beyond what’s required (vs 21)