Identity Appeal

Announcements

Mission Trip planning, tomorrow night (Monday), 6pm, Gathering Place.

Prayer tonight 6:30

Hospice seminar tomorrow 2pm.

Context

Letter to Philemon, from Paul.

The context of the letter is the relationship between an apostle, a master and a slave.

Slavery was a wide spread institution in the ancient Roman empire.

About 1/3 of the population was in some kind of servitude.

Some of these slaves had no prospect of freedom. They may have been captured in war or born into slavery.

Others had sold themselves into servitude, as a means by which they could pay off a debt and eventually regain freedom.

Another1/3 of the population were freed-men, who had once been slaves but had gained there freedom.

And the last 1/3 of the population were born free and had never been in any kind of servitude.

So, 2/3 of the ancient Roman population had experience in servitude.

Slavery was a pervasive, diverse, and deeply embedded institution.

From the contents of Paul’s letter to Philemon we know the following basic facts.

Philemon was an influential, generous, Christian leader, who offered his house as meeting place for Christians in Colossae and had strong ties to Paul. He was also a slave owner, one of whom was called Onesimus.

Onesimus has fled from his master, Philemon.

We do not know why Onesimus ran away, but is seems that Onesimus did not want to live as a fugitive.

So he sought out Paul — whom he knew to be an authority figure to Philemon — to mediate so that he could return home.

While interacting with Paul Onesimus becomes a Christian.

Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon with the letter we read this morning.

Text

Philemon 1–25 “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might 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. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Introduction: Identity markers

The most significant identity markers…gender/sex, economic class, political party, nationality?….no.

Who you are in relationship to God.

Christian, belong to Christ.

All those other things shaped by Christ.

This is what we see in the letter.

Exegesis 1: Onesimus gets a new identity

Onesimus has fled from his master, Philemon.

Perhaps Onesimus simply wanted freedom and fled. Perhaps he had been mistreated.

Paul seems to indicate, however, that Onesimus did not have a great track record, he had been “useless” and maybe even taken some possessions of Philemon’s on the way out the door pay his way somewhere else.

However it came about, Onesimus wanted to return home, but was afraid of what consequences might await him.

So, Onesimus seeks out Paul for intercession.

I suspect that in this service of his master, Philemon, Onesimus had heard the gospel message, Paul’s message, at least partially, and sensed that Paul could offer hope and way forward.

Whenever Paul talked about slavery, he always shifted the conversation from earthly terms to spiritual ones. The status of “slave” or “master” — as well as any other earthly condition — is subsumed underneath the primary identification of belonging to Christ.

For example, earliest of Paul’s letters: Galatians 3:27–28 “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

Hearing this message from Paul himself, hearing Paul preach, Luke and Mark writing gospel, Onesimus becomes a Christian in Rome.

This new identity entirely shapes the letter that Paul writes to Philemon.

Paul appeals to the new relationships that now exist because Onesimus is a Christian.

He writes to Philemon, let me reintroduce you to Onesimus:

Philemon are beloved…so is Onesimus…my own heart.

You are like a spiritual son to me because you believed my message…so is Onesimus.

You are an encouragement. You are a co-worker with me in the Lord….Onesimus has been serving me like you would.

Your identity in Christ is rock solid….so is his.

You lost Onesimus as a salve, but I send him back to you as a brother!

If anyone is in Christ the old has gone and the new has come! (2 Cor)

Implication: We have a new identity

Outward state of life most obvious.

Rich, poor. Male, female.

Treat each other on that level. Respectfully.

If we want a deeper relationship, look deeper.

Little deeper

Extrovert, introvert; progressive, traditional values.

Get to know the particular person. Not just a class. A human being.

But Christians are called to see even more.

Spiritual level.

If they are in Christ, a new creation. Child of God.

One in him, united in him.

As church: I see your real identity in Christ. Son, Daughter, brother, sister. That is the most important thing about you. Everything else secondary.

Exegesis 2: Paul asks Philemon to act on identity

The Gospel identity is the way forward for Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon, in this issue of ancient slavery.

Paul makes a significant request of Philemon.

Receive Onesimus back not as an earthly slave, but as a heavenly brother.

Don’t punish him, embrace him.

free his body to serve spiritually.

Paul appeals to Philemon with great urgency.

I could command…but rather I appeal to you (Philemon 9)

You have the opportunity to do something completely counter-cultural. Unexpected. Take it.

It is the right thing to do (Phile 8)

loving thing to do (Phile 9)

it would be a good deed (Phile 14)

It would be cooperation with God’s action, who has arranged this separation and reunion (Phile 15)

Act of gratitude for your own salvation. (Phile 19)

I am confident you will do even do more than I ask (Phile 21)

Paul is exhorting clearly and convincingly.

But Paul is not commanding Philemon. He stops short of that.

He wants Philemon to act freely, just like he wants Onesimus to be free.

Paul is appeals to Philemon to freely act upon his own identity in Christ.

Philemon: You can live according to the institutions of the Roman Empire…everyone would expect that…you would be in your rights…or you can live according to the gospel of Christ, which is love and reconciliation. Who do you really want to be? For the love of Christ, choose your Christian identity. Higher identity.

Implication 2: God appeals to our identity in Christ.

The gospel calls us to recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

A great service we offer to each other is to empower to each other to live out our gospel commitments.

We do not need to force each other and command each other and control each other.

Forcing values on people just doesn’t work, creates resentment.

We just need to remind each other…

Christ sacrificed himself for us

Christ forgives us our sins

Christ gives us eternal life in his kingdom

Christ is our one, common, Savior and Lord.

With all of that being true, free each other to do the right thing

That person hurt you…and by earthly standards, you could injure in return…but in Christ, you are free to make another choice: to turn the other cheek, and it that way show that you really believe the gospel.

They talked about you…you could malign them..but in Christ, you have another choice: bless and not curse, show you really believe.

They took from you…could sue…let them have it…show you believe the gospel.

What we need is a brother or sister to come alongside, you are a Christian. Higher calling. Act on it, I know you can. Rise to the challenge. Show who you really are..

For the love of Christ, this church should be a community in which we appeal to identity in Christ for our actions.

Exegesis 3: An appeal to the whole community

Philemon was the leader of a house-church.

Church grape-vine of chatter was active: the congregation knew Onesimus had run away.

Onesimus returns bearing the letter. In person to Philemon.

Suspense: what is Philemon going to do.

Philemon, in response to Paul’s letter, did exactly what Paul had hoped.

Philemon set Onesimus free.

Exclamations throughout the community.

Did not punish Onesimus.

Did not demand payment for freedom.

Embraced him as a brother and fellow-servant in Christ.

This outcome is referred to by Paul in another letter he sent from Rome, the letter to Colossae: Colossians 4:8–9 “I have sent Tychicus to you … that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. …”

Some church tradition suggests that Onesimus went on to be the Bishop of Ephesus, and died a martyrs death.

The entire church community of Clossae received a powerful sermon through action by Philemon and Onesimus: The gospel transcends all social structures with love and reconciliation. Not just in theory, in practice.

Some other Christians may have followed suit and freed their slaves. Some perhaps did not. But everyone had to acknowledge Onesimus and Philemon were serious about the implications of the gospel.

Implication 3: Identity appeal beyond the congregation

Sadly slavery endured down through the centuries, even to modern America.

Sadly Christians have been complicit in that institution.

Complicit in other forms of oppression or marginalization.

Not always lived up to the gospel.

But Philemon and Onesimus have always stood as a witness to us all that it is possible to live out the gospel in counter cultural ways.

And by Gods grace that is what we strive toward.

What people look for in a church: authenticity.

We ALL want something real, authentic.

The authenticity of our faith is up to us in concrete decisions every day.

Who do you need to reconcile with? Set free? Join in ministry?

Shockwaves through the community…maybe also real when you look in the mirror.

Forgive and reconciliation: wow it is a real gospel.

Conclusion

The most essential aspect of our identity is who we are in Christ.

Paul appeals to us: everything else under that identity.