Philemon's Story - Bible Baptist Church

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Philemon’s Story

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 is remembered gratefully because of his good work toward others. 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.
- Philemon isn’t remembered gratefully by Paul because he identifies himself as a Christian, but because he’s consoled the saints and helped them. He’s used his possessions to minister to needy saints.
- 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.
- Paul appeals to that effective communication of faith through the acknowledgment of every good thing.
- Christianity’s effect on people’s lives comes from Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and example (vs 6).
- 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.
- Jeremiah the prophet around 600 BC is helped by an Ethiopian man named Ebedmelech. Jeremiah is visited in prison and actually is released from the dungeon that he’s in because of Ebedmelech’s help. Was Ebedmelech a Jew? No. But Ebedmelech loved God’s prophet and he was rewarded for it.
- Jesus would explain God’s judgment in this: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- John would explain that if you love God’s people then that is an assurance that you have eternal life.

Christianity is an acknowledgment of your sin toward someone and desire to reconcile that thing (vss 10-15)

Christianity looks like a man seeking reconciliation with someone he wronged.
Onesimus wants to truly be converted from an unprofitable thief to a profitable Christian. The way that will be accomplished is by returning to the man he wronged and making things right.
- 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.
- As people we don’t want to acknowledge our sin against someone else. So what we’ll do instead is pretend nothing happened.
- Husbands and wives do this all the time. You have some arguments. You realize you’re wrong, but you don’t want to say “I’m sorry.” So after a long period of awkward silence, you’ll say something like, hey, have you seen the ketchup? You know, trying to pretend like you didn’t just have a knockdown drag-out argument that you were wrong about.
- The problem is pride. Therefore you can’t be a Christian because you’re not owning your sin. Sure, you say you’re a sinner. But you’re not taking any responsibility for your actual sin. You have to take ownership of the part that’s yours.
- Yes, Jesus Christ died on the cross. But not so that you could pretend you don’t have any sin! He died on the cross so that WHEN you take ownership of your sin you have an ADVOCATE who will free you from the penalty of that sin.

Christianity has higher expectations, not lower (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)
- Paul does remind Philemon how he owes him his life as well. Though he won’t use that to demand anything of Philemon. Just to remind him.
- Paul didn’t pretend to be humble in these matters. Oh, it wasn’t me, it was the LORD. That’s true, but Paul participated with the LORD and Paul’s not going to pretend to be humble, he’s going to use his good works to cause others to glorify the Father in their lives.
- But ultimately there’s confidence in Philemon that he’ll do more than Paul’s asking.