James

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Epistle to Philemon: Faithful Forgiveness! (Verses 14-18)


Hello Friends!

Welcome to an all-new Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerful little “epistle” of Philemon written by the great “Apostle Paul” as a personal plea to his “beloved” brother – “Faithful Forgiveness!

The Epistle to Philemon: Faithful Forgiveness! (Verses 14-18)

14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever; 16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account Philemon 14-18

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: It would be wonderful if we knew MORE about this man “Onesimus” and his name meaning “profitable” as a nickname of sorts. And this rank RUNAWAY Phrygian criminal “slave” of whom once became so “unprofitable” in his life, had LATER become fully FAITHFUL and powerfully PROFITABLE unto the “aged” ailing “Apostle Paul” himself. In fact, “Onesimus” had indeed become so “profitable” unto a meaningful “ministry” mandate, “Paul” would rather have had him STAY along his side during their imprisonment together in the city of Rome. However, by sweetly “sending” this righteously REGENERATED mighty man BACK to brother “Philemon” proper, “Paul” was somberly – Sending his HEART!

SERVICE of Forgiveness!

This wonderful “work” of forever FORGIVENESS offered from deep within the “heart” boldly begins with a righteous RECEPTION to a right relationship followed by a right RESTORATION unto a meaningful ministry and is finalized in a right RESTITUTION for a willful wrong

A righteous RECEPTION!

Here in these POWERFUL passages, the “Apostle Paul” has been referring to his IMPRISONMENT as he rattles his prisoner’s “chains” of God’s TRUTH within this brief “letter” from the heart:

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly Philemon 14

In other words, “Paul” says to “Philemon” as such: “I’m sending Onesimus back to you because I truly believe in the nobility of your spiritual life of whom God has made righteous. Therefore, I will not presume to keep him here with me in Rome by compulsion nor without your consent. Rather, I want it to be the choice of your own will!” Thus, this “willingly” magnificent “man of God” has DECIDED according to his own Christ-centered – Wonderful WILL!

There is much becoming BEAUTY found here in these poignant passages! The “Apostle Paul” avidly AFFIRMS the gracious and loving core CHARACTER of master “Philemon” himself. And if he only knew just how much “Onesimus” had meant to brother “Paul” and how “profitable” he had became unto him, perhaps “Philemon” would have wanted him to STAY in Rome as a granted GIFT bestowed upon pastor “Paul” in kind. Rather, “Paul” poignantly places “Philemon” in a high POSITION as a mightily MATURE and fully FORGIVEN follower of “Jesus Christ” in boldly “beseeching” him to make a solid SACRIFICE unto his WEAKER brother. Thus, POWERFULLY proclaiming – “I will SACRIFICE for YOU!”

A righteous RESTORATION!

Next, notice how “Paul” rightly refers to the Sovereignty of our great “God” Himself:

For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever Philemon 15

THEOLOIGICAL THOUGHTS: Here “Paul” uses the word “perhaps” as a backdrop for this very PROPHETIC point. WHY? Because NO one can truly “know” the Sovereign solace SECRET magnificent mind and movement of our great “God” Himself! And even though ALL things are known ONLY to Him, it is a reasonable assumption to “believe” that HE had mindfully “meant” to absolutely allow these deeply DIFFICULT and challenging CIRCUMSTANCES of trying “trespass” for a particular “season” in the looming life of this “brother beloved” himself…

So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive Genesis 50:17-20

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose Romans 8:27-28

And concerning FORGIVENESS… Do you remember “Marcus” (A.K.A.) “John Mark” himself? It is in Acts chapter 13 where we find this “departing” dictation directed towards him by Doctor Luke:

Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem Acts 13:13

In other words, when the going got tough, this once spiritually IMMATURE man of God had “departed” by rudimentarily running home to his mother of whom was located in “Jerusalem” itself – Home RUN!

Then later in Acts chapter 15 we find further fall-out brewing betweenPaul” and “John, whose surname was Mark” the “determined” cousin of “Barnabas” in that it was “not good to take him with them” for the ministry “work” appointed by “God” Himself:

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work Acts 15:37-38

However, in one of his Pastoral Epistles the “Apostle Paul” eventually says concerning “Mark” in that “Timothy” should “bring him” along so that they may “take” him back into the Colossian fold. WHY? Because it was now some twelve years later and this man “Mark” having “departed for a season” has now been rightly RESTORED to firm FELLOWSHIP with “Paul” and had also become quite “profitable” for MUCH meaningful “ministry” unto “God” as such:

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry 2 Timothy 4:11

Graciously, our “Lord Jesus Christ” would eventually use this man “Mark” for a mighty “ministry” as a MATURE servant of “God” in kind. HOW? By willingly “writing” the God-inspired Gospel of Mark of which bears his very name – Usefulness FOR God!

Similarly, “perhaps” brother “Onesimus” had direly “departed” from his mindful master “Philemon” as a temporary separation brought about BY our grandiose “God” Himself to one day “bring it to pass” as an eventual eternal union DESIGNED by our Sovereign gracious “God” in kind – GOD’S Wonderful WILL!

Incidentally, from the LOST world’s woefully WICKED perspective, what “Onesimus” had done to DEEPLY deceive “Philemon” would have generated irreparable damage to his TRUST for this man “Onesimus” to be sure, not to mention his very LIFE! However, wherever “God” is wonderfully WORKING through His “servant” sources “both in the flesh” and “in the Lord” succinctly, all of OUR sordid SIN goes “much more” by the wayside

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? Philemon 16

CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: This is NOT a clarion call for an emancipation proclamation of sorts and this is definitely NOT a pious plea for “Philemon” to set “Onesimus” free from his rightful place as a “servant” slave. WHY? Because as “Paul” powerfully PROCLAIMS elsewhere throughout his excellent “epistle” writings…

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God 1 Corinthians 7:20-24

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all Colossians 3:11

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again Titus 2:9

In ancient times, a “slave” was much AKIN to a fine family member of whom is cared for and loved by them. And it was a workable and economic real relevant RELATIONSHIP back in the first century of which absolutely NO character in the Bible EVER attempted to OVERTURN as such. Our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself did NOT try to do so nor did His “Apostles” themselves. And if you were “called” by our great “God” unto His SALVATION of the soul as a “slave” you rightly REMAINED as such, but NOW as the “Lord’s” fine – FREEMAN in HIM!

Conversely, if you are “called” as a FREEMAN you have “become” a sound “slave” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” as such! Therefore, “Onesimus” was indeed a “slave” unto “Philemon” in an EARTHLY sense and a “slave” unto “Jesus Christ” in a HEAVENLY sense. However, these two magnificent “men” are NOW much MORE than simply “master” and “slave” succinctly… They are BOLD Brother’s IN Jesus Christ!

A righteous RESTITUTION!

This “work of the Spirit” through full FORGIVENESS from an honorable “heart” between “Philemon” and “Onesimus” boldly began with a righteous RECEPTION to right relationship followed by a righteous RESTORATION to meaningful ministry. And now there was a righteous RESTITUTION addressing a WILLFULL waning wrong

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account  Philemon 17-18

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Back in that day, there were laws of financial restitution within the nation of “Israel” and the Old Testament laid them out quite succinctly. Justice demanded and deserved a FULL revealing restitution. And in this case, “Onesimus” could NOT possibly pay back this financial DEBT of a thievery dutifully “owed” to “Philemon” his human “master” and spiritual “brother” in FULL account. Therefore, to rightly RECONCILE this rustled RELATIONSHIP unfurled, SOMEONE must legally pay the DEBT in his place…

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry Luke 15:17-24

This deep DISPUTE between “Philemon” and “Onesimus” represents a caring Christ-like act on the part of “Paul” himself. And in this particular scenario, he purposefully PAYS the departed DEBT on behalf of “Onesimus” who had “sinned” against “Philemon” in FULL order. HOW? Here “Paul” offers himself as the substitute settled “account” according to the financial payment of the monetary DEBT rightly “owed” in kind – A matter of LIFE and DEATH!

Therefore, “Paul” in the “Christian” context of full FORGIVENESS brings together a once “wronged” situation through real RESTITUTION of a right RELATIONSHIP between spiritual siblings “Philemon” and “Onesimus” by acting as their – Mindful MODERATOR!

In closing:

FORGIVENESS! This is EXACTLY what our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” did by the “grace of God” for each of “us” in kind! We ALL have a VERY serious “sin” soaked eternal DEBT of which “we” could NEVER pay back! And our Sovereign sweet “Savior” prophetically PAYS our entire dire DEBT that is “owed” unto Him in FULL order to rightly RESTORE us in His “peace” and “holiness” unto our Great “God the Father” in heaven…

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiledHebrews 12:14-15

Beloved brethren, this is Christ-likeness in adamant ACTION! And “we” are never more LIKE our loving “Lord” than when we “diligently” do away with any begrudging “bitterness springing up” within our HEART of which seeks to “defile” our loving “lives” by fully FORGIVING each other – God’s PERFECT picture of PIETY!

REAL REFLECTIONS: Are you a “Christian” who fully FORGIVES other folks? The pinnacle of full FORGIVENESS is the eternal example given by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. And the greatest act of TREACHERY done against anyone was by the HANDS of heinous humans against Him. And yet He “said” to His “Father” on THEIR behalf:

Then said Jesus, Fatherforgive them; for they know not what they doLuke 23:34a

And even though they were DOING what “God the Father” Sovereignly wanted DONE unto “Jesus Christ” the “Son” Himself, it did NOT lessen their – PERSONAL culpability!

REAL REFLECTIONS: Are you a “Christian” who fully FORGIVES other folks? The pinnacle of full FORGIVENESS is the eternal example given by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. And the greatest act of TREACHERY done against anyone was by the HANDS of heinous humans against Him. And yet He “said” to His “Father” on THEIR behalf:

Then said Jesus, Fatherforgive them; for they know not what they doLuke 23:34a

And even though they were DOING what “God the Father” Sovereignly wanted DONE unto “Jesus Christ” the “Son” Himself, it did NOT lessen their – PERSONAL culpability!

Please begin reading through the excellent book of Philemon concerning our “command” to lovingly LIVE out our “lives” in complete Faithful Forgiveness unto others – AMEN!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><


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