Merritt Song: #184 Jesus Paid it All Title: Put That on My Account
Scripture: Philemon 1:7, Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
A wife remarked to her husband after church service, "Did you see the hat Mrs. Jones was wearing?"
"No," said her husband, "I didn’t."
"Did you see the new dress Mrs. Smith had on?" she asked.
"I’m afraid I didn’t," said her husband.
“Did you see the new suit Mr. Johnson was wearing?”
“No, I didn’t,” answered the husband.
His wife replied, "Well then, a lot of good it does YOU to go to church!"
Philemon had been a convert of Paul’s, and now Christians worshiped in his house. Onesimus, his slave, didn’t care about church, ran away, likely stealing money to escape far. Onesimus’ name meant useful but he wasn’t. The fugitive went to Rome, about 1000 miles away. Now who of all people should he meet but Paul who was under house arrest awaiting case before Caesar? What are odds of them meeting? Only God’s Providence. Paul led Onesimus to Christ, then Onesimus became true to his name.
Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him, but Paul loved Philemon the master and couldn’t covet his friend’s worker. If you led two people to Christ, which would you love more? Why that’s like asking which of your children you love more. You love them equally! So Paul wrote a letter, Tychicus carried the letter and Onesimus traveled back with him. Onesimus went willingly to seek forgiveness and return to service. Return an escaped slave?! It was ancient legal institution in their day. Christians were to respect laws until a better day dawned, not march streets in loud protest. They taught and waited for God to work HIS power.
Philemon’s name means affectionate. Paul says Philemon is dearly beloved. Paul mentions Apphia, believed to be Philemon’s wife. Archippus means “master of horses,” a fellow soldier in Christ and is believed to be their son. This shows family is important to Paul who wishes them best things, not gold or earthly goods, but grace and peace in Christ. You can be rich yet full of insecurity. Some people have lots of money stuffed inside a mattress, yet they’re miserable with no peace.
SONG: PEACE IN THE SHELTER
A young banker was driving a new BMW on a mountain road. At a sharp turn, he lost control and slid toward a steep cliff. He unbuckled his seat belt, flung open his door, and leaped from the car before it smashed down the ravine. His arm caught by hinge of the door as he jumped and was torn off at the shoulder. A passing trucker saw the accident, pulled his rig to a stop and ran to help. He found the banker looking down at his car, “My BMW! My new BMW!” The trucker pointed at the banker’s shoulder, “You got bigger problems than that car. We got to find your arm. Surgeons can sew it back on!”` Banker looked where his arm was gone, then groaned, “Oh no! My Rolex! My new Rolex watch!”
In prison, Paul was not bitter, never had a pity party over things he lost. “I thank my God,” said Paul, because any good thing in Philemon or any of us comes from God. In a sinful world we expect trouble; where may God’s family look for comfort if not one another? Philemon's love encouraged Paul. Paul doesn’t command Philemon to free his slave, but intercedes. A mother suggests a clean room is better than a messy one. It’s so much nicer, isn’t it, when your room is clean? She says it makes her happy. The child says, “So you’re telling me I have to clean my room?” Mom’s reply, “I think we’d both be happier if your room was clean.” The child insists, “So you want me to clean my room?” Mom says, “I want you to want to clean your room.”
Paul’s letter is extravagant exercise in not telling Philemon what to do. Can you force your husband to buy you a birthday card or do you want it to be from love? “Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,” Paul writes, “yet I rather appeal to you on basis of love.” Paul stresses as an apostle, he could pull rank but Paul wants Philemon to do it from his heart. Though an apostle, Paul asks even begs. Philemon knew exactly what Paul wanted him to do. Years of age mean respect. "If you’ll do anything for a poor aged prisoner, to comfort me in my bonds, and make my chain lighter, grant me this which I desire. In this manner you will do honor to Christ in the person of an aged suffering servant of His, which doubtless Christ will take as done to Him.” A believer and church leader like Philemon would surely regard such a petition! Slaves who were brought back to masters were treated harshly; under Roman law could be killed, so Paul asks Philemon to spare Onesimus’ life.
Israel as a nation were slaves almost 400 years! When they were freed, God gave laws for slaves unlike other nations. Slaves had rights in Israel. Paul asked Philemon to receive Onesimus as he’d receive Paul himself. Onesimus wronged Philemon and was indebted for what he’d stolen. Paul offered to have Philemon charge the debt to him so Paul might repay him. Verse 19, Not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Because of Paul's ministry, Philemon had received Christ as Savior. Paul didn’t want Philemon to be severe with his servant's misconduct, but forgive. Don’t rub it in he wronged you. We women sometimes rub it in, “I told you so!”
Verse 15, For perhaps he therefore “departed” for a season. As overruled by God, it was a departure, even though it was a crime to run away. When we speak of any sin, the evil is not less, but with a repenting sinner, Jesus covers it with His blood and changed the crime into a departure. Onesimus was a new convert, but brave. A master could whip him or kill him. A runaway was branded on his forehead with an "F" for fugitive! Onesimus didn’t know his fate, but returned, which took real courage. “Loving workers are a treasure, have conscience of their time and trusts, and manage all for the best. It will now be for your advantage, Philemon, to receive him, changed as he is, loyal, faithful though in time past he was not.”
SONG: GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD
God worked so great a change in Onesimus who was far gone in evil ways, who had wronged such a good master, had run from a family so devoted, and from the church in his house. That Onesimus should find salvation where once he had fled from it, because he was certainly exposed to Christ in Philemon’s household; for Onesimus to find God in Rome when he’d been hard hearted before at Colossae, what leading of divine grace! Nobody is so mean, stubborn, so far gone for us to despair. God can meet them when they run from Him. God can bring salvation at another time and place. Now it will be Philemon’s advantage. Only God can bring gain out of loss.
Paul does not flex his apostolic muscle. He uses art of gentle persuasion, not rod of authority. It is a loving masterpiece. His words would be like flame in Philemon’s heart. So if you consider me your partner, receive Onesimus as you would receive me. If he owes you anything, charge that to my account. I will repay it, to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. “Could you grant me a big favour in view of, well never mind. Put it on my account; I Paul write it with my own hand.” Martin Luther saw parallel to Jesus. “If the sinner owes you anything, put it on My account, I will bear the penalty.”
Verse 10, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Paul has cast Onesimus in role of the prodigal son, sending him home to ask to return as a slave. Luke 15:19, I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants. Philemon could not ignore what Paul was suggesting. He understood Paul was casting Philemon in this re-enactment of the parable. His role was Father in Jesus’ story, asked to take Onesimus back, to embrace his return as family. Paul says it would “refresh my heart”. He is “confident” Philemon will do the right thing, “even more than I say.”
When an owner sees a slave as brother, position is meaningless. Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as “beloved brother” v.16. When beloved, status is gone. Master and slave are gone. Paul binds Philemon and Onesimus in Christian love so emancipation would become necessary. No document in history has so affected attitude toward slavery as Paul’s letter.
Christian love called for freedom in America. Only after exposure to light of the gospel could slavery die. Difference between law and grace: Roman law and Moses’ Law of the Old Testament gave Philemon the right to punish, but covenant of grace makes master and slave equal in Jesus.
Christians must recognize God holds us accountable for treatment of workers whether they are Christians or not. Colossians 4:1, Masters, provide your servants with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Paul is holding Philemon accountable in God’s higher court to treat Onesimus as Jesus would treat him. Apostle tells his friend, God willing, Paul plans to visit him soon. “Get my room ready” v. 22. Paul would come to ensure all is well. Paul refused to give a direct order, but he’ll be dropping by- soon. Paul even hinted he would very much like to have Onesimus back with him in Rome.
Martin Luther wrote, “We see how Paul lays himself out for poor Onesimus, and so sets himself as if he were Onesimus, and had himself done wrong to Philemon. Even as Christ did this for us with God the Father, Paul does this for Onesimus. We are all God’s Onesimus to my thinking.” Yes, we are ALL God’s Onesimus.
SONG: NOT ONE
We are slaves until we accept Jesus. John 8:34, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 2Peter 2:19, They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. Whatever may have been our story, it doesn’t have to finish that way! Paul said, “For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever.” While things looked bad, as Philemon must have been angry and upset when Onesimus ran away, God has a way of turning things around! Sometimes things get worse before they get better.
Are you praying for someone’s salvation? Don’t let fear make you give up praying. Providence of God is working ways we never dreamed. God caused events to work out for Paul, for Onesimus, and now for Philemon. Divine fingerprints were all over it. How Heaven is able to move human events while honoring man’s freedom of choice is a mystery, but God works in any situation. Onesimus was a native of Phrygia. In history, slaves of Phrygia had nasty reputation. In Onesimus, Paul did not see a worthless cause, but potential, and he was not disappointed. Gospel can work its power in any heart in spite of a horrible background. Verse 12, Paul says, “I am sending him back to you in his own person, and it is like sending my very heart.” When you offer your heart, do you hope they’ll cherish your heart?
Paul’s letter is so small it’s like a postcard yet it packs eternal issues. There’s indication Philemon had affection for Onesimus. “Perhaps he was separated from you for a season, that you might have him forever”. Now Onesimus is a Christian, a different relationship is possible, loyalty, respect, brotherly love. A relationship not of time but eternity! We will recognize loved ones in heaven. Paul wasn’t just speaking of this life. Then we will know even as we are known by others. Onesimus had left as a slave, but returned a son. When time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Daddy, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, Galatians 4:4-7. God the Father accepts you as His son, even though of ourselves we are little better than a thieving, runaway slave.
Charge that to My account. Charge that to my Master’s Card. What fantastic words for Onesimus, who had no way of paying his master back what he stole. What fantastic words for us with no way of paying for our sin. Jesus said, “Their debt of sin owed, charge that to MY account.” Ignatius, writing to church at Ephesus about 40 years after Paul’s letter, makes reference to Onesimus who is overseer or bishop of the church. This is likely the same Onesimus. If so, Onesimus was released from slavery, became a leader in the early church.
It was wonderful for Onesimus, but what did it cost Philemon? Have you ever been deeply wronged? Have you ever been abused, cheated, or hurt by someone? Maybe someone in the church? How was Philemon expected to just forgive and get over his hurt? Paul was saying to Philemon, “I want your love for me to be greater than hurt Onesimus caused you.” I want your love to be greater than your pain. As Jesus hung in agony, His love for you was greater than His pain. As Jesus was paralyzed by nails in His hands and feet, He cried out, “Father, forgive them! Put that on My account!”
SONG: ABOVE ALL