"PAUL AND ONESIMUS: REPENTANCE TO FAITH"

(NO RESTROOMS/PDA/AIRPODS)

>>>Studying the book of Philemon.

>>>Last week was about Philemon’s reputation of faith. This week is titled “Repentance to Faith”.

>>>Left off that there was a reason Paul was writing to Philemon, a reason that Paul was not going to order Philemon to do but appeal (“strongly encourage”) him to do.

Philemon 10–16 “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I fathered in my imprisonment, who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel; but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will. For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

===============================================================

Philemon 10–11 “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I fathered in my imprisonment, who previously was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”

>>>(v.10) This verse introduces a new character to the story: Onesimus.

*This is the reason Paul was appealing (strongly encouraging) Philemon.

>>>Paul said that he “fathered” Onesimus while a prisoner.

*What “fathered” means is that Paul “fathered” him spiritually. He led Onesimus to Jesus.

>>>(v.11) There is now the explanation of Onesimus’ salvation and also a glimpse into his relationship with Philemon.

>>>Onesimus used to be useless to Philemon but is now useful to both him and Paul. His salvation brought a change. Onesimus is now greater than before.

*He was PREVIOUSLY useless but NOW is useful.

*Onesimus was led to Jesus by Paul and is now useful to him in his gospel ministry, while being useful in other ways as well.

*His previous relationship with Philemon was one of no value but now has value and more so in a spiritual sense.

===============================================================

Philemon 12–14 “I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wanted to keep with me, so that in your behalf he might be at my service in my imprisonment for the gospel; but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion, but of your own free will.”

>>>(v.12-13) Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon but look at the attachment Paul had in his relationship with Onesimus.

*He describes him as “his very heart”. There was a deep love Paul had for him.

>>>Paul needed to send Onesimus back, but he did so reluctantly, because of the benefit he has been to the gospel while Paul was in prison.

>>>(v.14) Notice the end of these verse. Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon in order for Philemon to not do anything by compulsion but out of his own will.

*Going back to verse 9 of the book, Paul was not ordering Philemon to do anything.

===============================================================

Philemon 15–16 “For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

>>>(v.15-16) As he is sending Onesimus back, Paul is challenging Philemon to think about the greater picture. But he also reveals the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus: Onesimus was a slave, and Philemon was his master.

*Onesimus had run away from Philemon.

>>>Though Onesimus had run away and likely caused a rift with Philemon, Paul tells Philemon that all of this may have been for Onesimus to be saved.

*There is no clarity about how Onesimus knew/found Paul. But he did, and he was eternally changed.

*This was a temporary separation for an eternal salvation.

>>>Paul says that Philemon could have Onesimus back not just as his slave but as a beloved brother.

*“Beloved” means “cherished”. This is the same word Paul used to describe Philemon at the beginning of the letter. Onesimus would be part of God’s family with Philemon.

===============================================================

>>>Next week will go deeper into Philemon’s response and Paul’s reason for writing the letter.

SALVATION BRINGS CHANGE.

>>>The change of the gospel in our lives brings about a newer and greater meaning/purpose just like with Onesimus. We are no longer who we were previously. We are who Jesus has made us now.

GOD CAN ORCHESTRATE EVENTS TO BRING SALVATION.

>>>God somehow, in a divisive and hurt situation, worked all things to bring about the good of Onesimus inheriting eternal life.

*God may allow things in your life to show you His love and for you to experience His salvation. Nothing is an accident in God’s plan.

THERE IS HEALING IN SALVATION.

>>>Paul reminds us as well that those who come to Christ are apart of His body with us. There is nothing but healing and grace, cherishing our new brothers and sisters in their eternal life regardless of what their life was before.

===============================================================

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.) Coming out of the message, what are some things that resonated with you?

2.) What change has God made in you? What circumstances in your life brought you to that point?

3.) How can you be intentional about welcoming/helping new believers?

*Have a student close in prayer.