Philemon Series Week 2: Forgiveness Extension

  There are several memes that go around the internet that joke about Paul’s letters. There’s the one that reads, “General Pauline Letter Outline: Grace. I thank God for you. Hold fast to the gospel, For the love of everything holy, stop being stupid. Timothy says hi.”

Another one is the a video where it’s the Blue’s Clues song, where they sing, “… we just got a letter, wonder who it’s from,” to which the video changes and it’s a screaming marmot with the word Paul over its head. 

This is the idea of what Paul is about. Always yelling, or trying to fix situations because people are stupid. When in reality, Paul’s desire is for Christians to follow Christ ever closer. And this is why Paul writes to Philemon. So if you have your Bibles, we’re going to go back to Philemon and pick it up in verse 8 of the letter. 

As we jump back into Philemon verse 8, for our second week, let’s talk about last week. 

In our first week in the letter to Philemon, we talked about how Paul sent out two letters to the Colossian Church. The first was the general letter to the church, that included theology about Christ, and practical application. We also talked about how Paul mentioned Onesimus, who was a slave of Philemon, who had runway. Following this, a second letter, the letter that was specifically addressed to Philemon was most likely read right after the first, because it too addressed the general church. 

Paul did this to challenge Philemon in a public matter on issues that were brought up in the general letter to the church. 

This is why Paul begins the letter by recognizing all the work God had done through Philemon. Philemon had given the church a place to meet, and he had been a refreshment to the believers. This showed us how we should approach people. Instead of seeing all the bad they have done, we need to view them first and foremost and Christ sees people: as image bears of God. If they are unbelievers, that image is marred by sin and they are lost, we need to love them as Christ does, and his loved led him to die for sinners while they are still in their sin. For believers, we are saved but still falter in sin, so we need to remember that we are all growing in our relationship with Christ, and we need to extend grace to others. 

That’s what we see Paul doing with Philemon. Even though Philemon had been growing in his love of God and love of people, there’s something that is hindering his faith being shared from being truly effective. Paul’s desire here is that this area of Philemon’s life will be transformed, and this is why he writes.

So let’s read together Philemon verses 8 through 21.

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

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

Every believer has a realm of authority that Christ has placed them over. Most of us it’s first our own lives, followed by the people we interact with. In cases of Christian leadership, it’s the ministries that God has called us to be over. For me and the other elders, it’s this local congregation. So there is a sense of submission that has to happen within those who choose to be in the congregation.

But just because someone is given authority in an area, it doesn’t mean that they are allowed to be harsh with that authority. That’s one of the lessons we learned in both 2nd Corinthians and Titus. Here, Paul gives us a glimpse of how to apply the authority Christ has given us.

Paul says he could command Philemon to do what he is going to ask of him, because of the position Paul holds in Christ, subtlety pointing to his apostleship. Yet, to command someone to do something they are unwilling to do, is religion without grace, which leads to seeds of bitterness. So instead, Paul makes an appeal. That word means to encourage, invite, even beg. Paul is inviting and encouraging Philemon putting into practice, what has been said in places like Micah 6:8, Mark 12:29-31, and his own letter to the Colossians that was just read. 

So what is it? What’s the problem? From what can be gathered, Onesimus was Philemon’s slave or a better word is bondservant, which will discuss next week. Onesimus ran away from Philemon to Rome, where a lot of slaves would flee to, because they could get lost in the metropolis. But while there, through God’s grace, Onesimus found Paul and accept Jesus as Savior.

Onesimus was apparently unproductive for Philemon, most likely because slaves  would despise their master. Yet after coming to Christ, Onesimus became productive. So productive it seems, that Paul wanted to keep him because of how useful he was. 

Yet because Paul wanted to do everything right, the first thing that had to happen was for Onesimus to restore his relationship with his master, Philemon. Who, just so happened, was a brother in Christ to Paul.

Paul then sends his two letters, with the intention of putting Philemon into the mindset that Onesimus isn’t just a slave, but a fellow brother in Christ. This harkens back to Paul’s words in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Paul is giving real world application for the idea that, though there are roles we live, in this case master and slave, we should recognize that when we accept Christ, those distinctions matter less, than the love we are to show towards each other.

Paul could have brow beaten Philemon and ordered him to be restored to Onesimus, he had the authority to do so, but instead, Paul seeks Philemon to willfully put into practice the words of Christ, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. (Matthew 12:50)” Onesimus, though had runaway, had come to Christ and now the relationship needed to be mended, because restoration of relationships is Christ’s desire. 

All of this has to be done in Christian love and cannot be forced. 

It’s here in verse fifteen, that Paul sees God’s hand in working all of this out. Paul sees how Onesimus running away led him to being saved. This was done by God for two purposes. First, that a lost one would be found; which is the very reason Jesus came (Luke 19:10). Second, that Onesimus would then return to bring a greater work in Philemon that he might grow in his faith and become a greater witness for Christ. And through these two, the Church at Colossia, would have a greater impact in their community. This is the real world application of Romans 8:28, where Paul previously wrote, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Paul loved God and was called according to his purpose. Philemon loved God and was called to his purposes. Now Onesimus loved God and was called according to his purpose. All three are now in a position where they have to trust that God will work things out for good. Paul is sending back Onesimus hoping that God will restore the relationship. Onesimus returns to his master hoping he would be restored. 

To put it in perceptive, Onesimus was returning to an unknown consequence. He and Paul were hoping for a godly outcome, but it could have turned out that Philemon exercised his Roman right to beat, brand, amputate a limb, increase the work load, sold to gladiator games, or put Onesimus to death. This wasn’t just another awkward situation were you have to say, “I’m sorry.” The ramifications of an unrestored relationship here meant that Onesimus would be in a worse position than before.

It’s because of this that Paul brings the debt to himself. Paul’s final appeal, if not of the sake of Christ, is then for the sake of the one who brought Christ to Philemon. Though Philemon doesn’t owe Paul, if there is a debt Paul wants it to come from him and not Onesimus. Paul would take on the debt of Onesimus if it meant that was the only hurdle to overcome for Philemon to accept him as a brother in Christ. How much is one soul worth? How much cost is the restoration of a relationship worth? Paul is basically saying, he would put himself on the hook for Onesimus, because the temporary physical bondage is worth the spiritual freedom of restored relationship. 

This is what God is calling us to. To desire restored relationships above even our own temporary hurts. Forgiveness, both to seek it and to give it are hard things to do. It’s hard to forgive someone who has done us wrong, because we are in our right to hold a grudge and to get what we deserve. 

Yet Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Jesus speaks in Mark 11:25, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” 

Extending forgiveness to people is hard, yet it is a sign of maturing faith in Christ. If our Lord forgave us while we were still in sin, then how, if we confess to follow him, do any less?

On the other side, it’s hard to seek forgiveness too. By doing so, we have to first recognize our wrong, and then humble ourselves in front of the person we harmed. We have to trust that whatever the situation, our love for God and his purposeful call to seek forgiveness, will be worked out by his grace. The fear of what could happen, should not stop us from doing what is godly. Is the consequence of our sin greater than what could have happened to Onesimus? 

My challenge for you this week is that you divided a paper into two: Those who I need to forgive on one side, and those to whom I need to ask forgiveness from on the other side. You might only write on one side, that’s okay, seek the Lord in to working things out for good, because of your love for him, and your desire to walk in his purposes. If you don’t have either, then praise God, and pray for your brothers and sisters as they walk in seeking or extending forgiveness.

God is a forgiving God, who’s forgiveness knowns no bounds. So let us be his people who experience that forgiveness and extend it to the world around us. Amen.

Philemon Series Week 1: Looking at the Image Bearer

  Since the advent of the newspaper, cartoons have been a way to communicate the political landscape in an exaggerated form. It could be a picture of General Jackson slaying the monster with many heads of his day. It could be a commentary on the British swallowing up other countries like Egypt. Or it could communicate the fear of foreigner immigrants taking over the U.S.A.

These political cartoons are draw in such a way as to distort the look of an individual or idea with the purpose of dramatic commentary. But it’s that purposeful distortion that we’re going to talk about today, as we open up to the letter of Philemon. So if you have you’re Bibles we’re going to open up to the first verse of the letter to Philemon which has only 1 chapter. 

As we do, let me give you a little background to it.

The letter to Philemon is the third shortest book in the Bible, clocking in at about 335 words. The letter is written by Paul as he sits in Rome under guard awaiting his trial. It’s a personal and universal letter that was most likely sent at the same time as the letter to the Colossians, because their destinations, and some of the information within both letters, reference the same congregation.

So let’s read the first seven verses of Philemon.

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

v.1-3

From Paul’s opening we can glean a couple of things. First, Philemon is wealthy enough to be able to provide a big enough home for the church in the city meet. Secondly, if we were to read Colossians with this letter, we would see that Archippus is being given a place of honor in the greeting, while in the Colossian letter, he’s being encouraged to fulfill the ministry that God had given him. This overlap shows us that the two letters are connected. Finally, we’re given Paul’s desire for the Church in general: grace and peace. 

Over this past summer, we’ve made our way through both 2nd Corinthians and the letter to Titus. We have seen Paul’s desire for grace and peace to be poured out on the Church. In 2nd Corinthians that meant that grace and peace happened when we confront bad situations and move forward in our Christian walk. In Titus we saw that when there are godly elders, and we all strive to have godly character, grace and peace can be experienced in more ways.

Here, as Paul sends this personal letter to Philemon, again, his desire is that through the situation he’s going to address, the grace and peace of God will be experienced. 

Now to put the letter in it’s intended context. Picture with me if you will. Tychicus (tick-a-kiss) arrives to the Church gathering in Philemon’s house, holding two letters from Paul. The first is a letter to the whole Church, what we now call the letter to the Colossians. The second is a letter for Philemon himself. However, because the greeting of Philemon’s letter includes “the church in your house” both are going to be read in front of the congregation. The first letter and general letter is written with Paul’s thanksgiving and praise for the Colossians’ Church. Paul gives deep theology about how Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, and that through Jesus all things were made. Paul calls the Colossians to be rooted and built up by Jesus as they walk with him. They do this by rejecting the philosophy, traditions, and spiritual ideas of the world. He encourages them to not let things like food and drink get in the way of their relationship with Jesus, but instead put on the new self. Reject sexual immorality, impurities, passions, evil desires, and covetousness. And instead walk in kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Paul calls everyone in the Church to be bound together in harmony for the sake of Jesus who dwells within each believer. 

Within the Colossians’ letter, at this point, where Paul switches to how that harmony looks in relationships. Wives submitting to their husbands, husbands loving their wives. Children obeying their parents, while fathers are called to not provoke their children. Slaves are to obey their earthy masters and masters to be just and fair. All this is done under the Lordship of Jesus, that all things might be in harmony with the influence of the believers’ life.

Finally, Paul calls the Church to be in prayer and walk in wisdom among those outside the Church. Having their speech be gracious as to give answers to people about the Faith. Then Paul ends his letter as he usually does, with encouragement and calls for helping others.
However as the letter is read, one name stands out among the rest. As the Colossians listened to the reading this is what they would hear. “8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. (Colossians 4:8-9)”

The Church would have recognized that name, Onesimus. He was the slave of Philemon who stole and ran off, and yet, he’s back, and Paul is calling him “faithful and beloved brother.” What do you think the feeling in the room was?

Then, more than likely, after the first letter’s reading, Tychicus would have taken out the second letter, the one that was written primarily to Philemon, but the whole congregation was about to hear as well. 

Knowing that the public reading of the general letter to the Colossians proceeded the reading of the more personal letter to Philemon, as being the most likely course of events, you can feel the uneasiness in the moment, and the way in which Paul seeks to address the needs of both the congregation as a whole and individuals in particular.

Let’s unpack the first seven verses.

v.5-7

As the letter is read, they hear Paul’s usual greeting to the Church, but then the opening turns very specific. Paul talks about Philemon. Paul thanks God for him, for Paul specifically prays for this wealthy man who allows the Church to meet in his home every week. Paul communicates that he hears great things about Philemon’s love and faithfulness towards Jesus and to the believers. 

Paul also hears that Philemon shares his faith with unbelievers, so Paul’s prayer is that that sharing would become effective as Philemon grows into full knowledge of the good things of Jesus. This fuller knowledge is what the rest of the letter is about.

Then Paul gets even more personal. The example of Philemon gives Paul joy and comfort, because through him the other believers are refreshed. Because of this, Paul calls Philemon his brother.

From here, Paul’s going to address the elephant in the room, which is the return of Onesimus. But for now, let’s just understand Paul’s approach to the situation. When dealing with difficult situations, we can have a tendency to create a bad guy. We do this because, it’s easier to deal with someone who had ill intentions, than to deal with someone who’s just like us. 

In war, we turn the enemy into caricatures of who they are. We give them exaggerated features, or depict them in dark and non-detailed colors to make them less human. A lot of time when people are leaving each other, they pick a fight to make the parting easier. Then there are those times when people hurt us in some way and we infer bad motivations behind the action.

But going into dealing with a hard situation, Paul recognizes all the good things of Philemon. In a sense, he gives the man the benefit of the doubt. For the most part, this man does all the right things for the Church, and even more so than other believers. Yet, he hasn’t gotten to the full knowledge of Christ in everything, and needs some instruction. Paul is giving the Colossians, and Philemon specifically, an opportunity to put into practice the very words they just heard through the letter addressed to them. But he starts it with a desire for grace and peace to prevail, and recognizing the good that God is doing in their midst at the moment. 

God is calling us to the same approach when dealing with people. We are called to look at them as Christ does. People are image bearers of God first and foremost. That image might be marred because of sin, but people, no matter their ethnicity, their social standing, their appearance, their political affiliation, or their past actions, they are a bearer of God’s holy image. We degrade that image by purposely or un-thoughtfully overlooking the good things they do. By doing this, we will hamper the work of Christ in their lives. 

This doesn’t mean we gloss over things, and not deal with evil, or bad deeds, but we always remember why we deal with those things. We stand against evil, correct bad conduct, argue for Christ, not because that person is worthless, but because they were worth enough to God for him come down from his throne and die upon a cross for them. 

We are called to speak to goodness, though we might have to search far and wide to find something worth speaking good about. We must recognize when things are in a position that God wants them, so that we might have an opportunity to call out to the evil of this world, and actually be heard.

We see this in Jesus’ words to the seven churches of Revelation, where he speaks kindness to the majority before addressing their issue. Paul told the Colossians this when we wrote, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…(4:6)” 

As we step into this letter that addresses the topics of slavery and reconciliation, let us first realize, that we are to treat people as image bears of God. That at the bare minimum Christ’s loves them and desires for them to know him as Savior. Our words and actions need to reflect that reality as we deal with the evil of this world. For Paul would write to the Ephesians, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (6:12)” Out battle is not against the image bears of God who are lost to sin, so let us not treat them in such a way that would hamper our opportunities to speak the life giving message of Christ.

My challenge for you this week, is to find someone that you don’t really care for; who’s mere presence infuriates you. First, begin to pray for your heart to be soften to them. Then, write a list of things that they do well. Finally, seek God to give you an opportunity to do something kind for them.

Whatever they have done, if they were to turn to Jesus, he would forgive them. We need to come to a fuller knowledge of Christ that if they were to ask for the forgiveness of God, we would be ecstatic that we get to praise Jesus alongside them in eternity. That’s Jesus’ righteous desire, and since we are his people, it should be our desire as well. Amen.