I The Return of Onesimus 1. The Epistle of Paul to Philemon was prompted by the conversion of Onesimus, Philemon’s wayward servant, [Philemon:1:1-12]. 2. Paul desired to retain Onesimus with him but recognised Philemon’s rightful claim for his services, [Philemon:1:13-14]. 3. Paul advised Philemon that whereas Onesimus had departed for a season as a servant, he was returning to him as a brother in the Lord, and that forever, [Philemon:1:15-16]; [Titus:2:9-10]; [Ephesians:6:5-9]. 4. Philemon was asked to receive Onesimus as he would have received Paul, [Philemon:1:17]; Mathew:10:40-42; Mathew:12:48-50; Mathew:25:40. 5. Paul requested Philemon to place the debts of Onesimus on his account, thereby exemplifying the great principle of the Gospel wherein Christ took upon Himself our wrongdoings, and pleads with God to forgive us for His sake, [Philemon:1:18-19]; [Isaiah:53:5], [Isaiah:53:12]; [Romans:3:24]; [Romans:4:25]; [Romans:5:1-21]; [2 Corinthians:5:18-19]; [Ephesians:2:13]; [Colossians:1:14]; [1 John:4:10 ]. 6. Paul felt confident Philemon would receive Onesimus favourably, [Philemon:1:19-25]. Notes: Conversion of Onesimus The Epistle of Paul to Philemon can be compared to the story of the prodigal son in that within its message is epitomised the complete Gospel story. Repentance, salvation, restitution, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for men’s sins, the forgiveness of God -– all these things are to be found in this story of the converted slave. The gist of the Epistle to Philemon revolves around the slave named Onesimus. His name means “profitable,” but he had proved himself to be most unprofitable to his master, Philemon. He had committed a number of criminal acts and then had finally fled from his master’s service and presence. In Rome, Onesimus had come into contact with Paul the Apostle. It is believed, on good authority, that Onesimus was caught while in Rome as an escaped slave, was placed in the Roman army for service, and that in the Roman army he was assigned duty to help guard Paul. Thus through the workings of Divine Providence, Onesimus, while fleeing from the house and service of a Christian master, found himself chained to the person of Paul. While Onesimus may have seemed to have been an incorrigible to his master Philemon, Paul was not dismayed by Onesimus’ past record. Paul could look back to his own past, his attitude, his state of mind toward Christ. Although Paul was not a criminal in the sense that Onesimus was, still Paul had committed crimes of such magnitude against the Gospel that he said of himself he had been the chiefest of sinners. Paul further said: “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” [1 Timothy:1:16]). Onesimus, being thrown into such intimate association as he was with Paul, soon became converted to true Christianity and was born into the Kingdom of God. A New Creature in Christ Jesus The Prophet Jeremiah once asked the question: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” [Jeremiah:13:23]). This was certainly the predicament of Onesimus, and is equally true of every unconverted and unregenerated soul. Onesimus could not change his propensities toward crime, and we do not know that he even possessed a desire to change them. However, God in His mercy led him to one who could stir up his dead conscience, and at the same time give him a desires to be something different. When desire is aroused in the human heart, then God will give the power to be alive and righteous, instead of dead and eternally condemned. The Scriptures say: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” [John:1:12-13]). The very qualities that were so sadly lacking in Onesimus’ character before his conversion were found in him immediately after his conversion. He had been untrust-worthy, unfaithful in his duties, a thief, and a fugitive from his crimes. After his conversion he was the exact opposite: he was faithful, honest, a loyal worker in the cause of Christ, and an exemplary Christian. Paul was then a prisoner of the Roman government, and of course had no liberty. Onesimus made himself so invaluable to Paul that he could hardly part with Onesimus when he desired to return to his old master. Restitution “God requireth that which is past” [Ecclesiastes:3:15]). Onesimus soon felt the desire to return to his master Philemon and make amends for his wrongdoings. God freely forgives men their sins but He does not permit them to go on in life without confessing their past crimes and making right, if at all possible, what they have wrongfully done. The willingness of one to make amends for his misspent past is a sign of real salvation. The Law required that past misdeeds be corrected, the principal restored, and a fifth of the amount of the principal be added thereto. (See [Leviticus:6:2-5].) When Zacchæus, a dishonest tax-gatherer, was converted, he at once promised Jesus to make amends. He said: “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” [Luke:19:8 ]). God’s mercy, through the medium of the Gospel, warns all men to avail themselves of the opportunity of repenting and having their sins forgiven through the death and resurrection of Christ. The Word of God cautions: “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” [1 Timothy:5:24]). It is God’s will that through the efficacy of the Blood of Jesus Christ, all men’s sins be open beforehand. That is, that they be confessed and acknowledged to God, so that they can be forgiven by God. If they come after us through life, then we shall have to acknowledge them before God at the Judgment Bar; but there will be no forgiveness then, nor mercy preventing the righteous judgment of God from falling on those sinners who refused the Blood of Christ. God requires us to make restitution in this present world for our wrongdoings if we hope to meet Him in peace in the hereafter. To fail or refuse to make restitution when possible will insure our exclusion from the Kingdom of God and make our judgment sure and certain. When the salvation of God is received in the human heart, there soon arises a desire and prompting from God to go to make restitution. Onesimus was proving the quality of his salvation when he desired to return to his old master and face his evil past. No longer would he flee from his sins, because they were gone and to be remembered no more against him. Paul, despite his longing for the fellowship of Onesimus and his much-needed assistance in the labour of the Lord, sent Onesimus back to Philemon with many prayers. His letter to Philemon is a most beautiful and touching plea for Philemon to receive again his slave, Onesimus, who had once been unprofitable but now was profitable indeed. He had left as a slave, but was returning as a servant and a brother in the Lord. Paul suggested that perhaps Onesimus had left only for a season that Philemon might receive him forever. Under the Old Testament Law the servant, after serving for a time, was released to go his way. If he desired to stay in the service of his master his ear was bored by his master. This ear boring, or having his ear digged, was notice to all that the servant had freely chosen to serve his master for life. (Read [Exodus:21:1-6 ]; [Psalms:40:6].) Onesimus was indeed choosing to return to his old master that he might serve him with a willing heart and mind, and as to the Lord. It was not a servitude of bondage, but a service and labour of love. On Mine Account The letter Paul sent to Philemon asking him to receive Onesimus charitably was more than just an ordinary plea for clemency and forgiveness. In a few short sentences Paul beautifully expressed the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Philemon had been converted to Christianity by Paul’s preaching, but Paul did not ask Philemon to forgive Onesimus on the basis of friendship. Paul’s wording of his message was a forcible and pointed reminder to Philemon of Him who had paid His all that Philemon might be set free from his sins, and that he should freely forgive Onesimus as Christ had forgiven him. (See [Matthew:18:23-35].) Paul’s words, “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,” were inspired by the Holy Ghost and portray in a few words all the meaning of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which was sufficient for the sins of all mankind. The sinner, cleansed of his sins, can return to his Master’s house, bearing with him the message of reconciliation, received of Christ. Does not Jesus Christ say to His Father, in behalf of any and all sinners who have claimed the Blood of Christ for their justification, “Receive him as myself”? “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.” Through the efficacy of the Blood of Jesus Christ, God receives a repentant sinner as He does His own Son, Jesus Christ! The merits of Jesus Christ are reckoned to the sinner, and the demerits of the sinner are paid and atoned for by Christ. If he “oweth thee ought -–“ What sinner is there who does not owe God an infinite amount that he cannot pay? Who has not sinned and come short of the glory of God? Yet Jesus has said, in effect, regardless of the wrong done against God’s government and God’s name, that He will present Himself in their stead before His Father to plead their cause. Jesus Christ can plead the cause of the repentant sinner successfully because He has borne the penalty of all men’s sins upon Himself. “He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” [Isaiah:53:12]). He was the Lamb of God -– a Lamb without flaw or blemish -– slain from the foundation of the world; and because of the offering of this perfect Sacrifice, God does impart righteousness to those who believe that the virtue of the shed Blood of Christ avails for the forgiveness of sins.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 09:11:56 +0000
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