Untitled Sermon (7)

Philemon 8-21

Philemon 8–21 NRSV

8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 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. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 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; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 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. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

This is the word of God, for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

In the film The Judge, Robert Downey Jr. plays Hank Palmer, a successful lawyer estranged from his father, Judge Joseph Palmer, played by Robert Duvall. For years, their relationship was broken — filled with bitterness, pride, and silence.

But when Hank returns home because his father is on trial for murder, they are forced to face one another.

Slowly, through arguments, memories, and painful honesty, the walls begin to come down. By the end of the movie, Hank sits with his dying father, finally reconciled.

The story reminds us that no matter how deep the hurt or how long the distance, reconciliation is always possible — but it takes humility, grace, and love.

That same truth lies at the heart of Paul’s letter to Philemon.

He urges Philemon to look beyond the past hurt with Onesimus and to embrace him not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.

Just like Hank and his father had to move past bitterness to find healing, Paul calls the church to move from brokenness to reconciliation through the power of the gospel.

Paul calls the church to move from brokenness to reconciliation through his interaction with Philemon.

Paul writes a very short letter to this man named Philemon and this letter is definitely Paul’s shortest letters.

But despite the brevity of the letter, this letter that Paul has written to Philemon is one that is deep from a theological standpoint because it really points us to the point of all Paul’s letters to the Gentile churches.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. We are all one in the body of Christ.

We see this theological truth throughout this very short letter.

Now after reading this short letter, I found myself wondering who is Philemon.

Philemon was likely someone Paul helped convert. Evidence suggests that Philemon was a prominent member in the Colossian church.

He was also thought to be pretty well off.

The reason we can assume this is because of who this letter to Philemon is about.

This letter to Philemon is about a man named Onesimus. Onesimus is a slave of Philemon. So, the fact that Philemon owned a slave suggests that Philemon was a man of pretty decent wealth.

Onesimus has done something to wrong Philemon.

We don’t exactly what it is but it had to be something that could lead to death because Onesimus has run away from Philemon’s household. This indicates that Onesimus has done something to violate the relationship between he and his master Philemon.

Paul in verse 18 sort of alludes to this as he writes, “if he has wronged you.”

This statement alone, indicates that all was not right between Onesimus and Philemon.

Philemon has run away and he encounters Paul who at this time is much older and imprisoned. Paul ministers to Onesimus and utilizes Onesimus for the purpose of the gospel.

Onesimus becomes a convert and Paul sees much use for him

But Paul knows that he cannot proceed with drafting Onesimus into service without Onesimus repairing the broken relationship he has with Philemon.

Paul knows the danger that Onesimus is in.

He knows that Onesimus can’t just return to Colossae, at Philemon’s doorstop alone.

You see, slaves in the Greco-Roman world had little to no rights.

They were essentially the lowest class of that society.

If Onesimus had returned to Philemon alone, based on Roman law, he could be put to death; especially since he ran away.

Paul knows this and so he intercedes on behalf of Philemon.

He intercedes through a letter.

He tells Philemon of his encounter with Onesimus and how useful and helpful he had been to him while he was imprisoned.

He then asks Philemon to do something totally radical.

He asks Philemon to not only forgive Onesimus, but he requests that he sets him free.

Now, what Paul was asking here was unusual.

Paul is asking a man in the Roman world, who was wronged by his slave. Not only was he wronged by this slave but this slave ran away thus costing him money.

Then not only does Paul want Philemon to forgive him but he wants Philemon to set him free and embrace him as a brother.

The scenario that Paul is painting here puts Philemon in a bad spot. Philemon is the only one in this equation who is losing something.

Onesimus gets to keep his life and gain his freedom.

Paul gets another person to serve alongside and Philemon is the one taking the loss and the fact of the matter is, Philemon is the one who had been wronged.

This thing that Paul is asking Philemon to do is not radical but it certainly can’t be an easy thing to do.

I think that Paul knows this so he offers to cover the loss.

Paul will essentially allow Philemon to recoup any damages caused by Onesimus.

I want you to see something in this story.

I want you to see yourself.

You see my sisters and brothers, we have all been Onesimus in this story.

The most beautiful thing about this short letter written by Paul is that Paul doesn’t mention Christ or God like he does in his other letters.

But, he embodies both in this letter.

Just as Christ interceded on our behalf to bridge and repair humanity’s relationship with God; Paul intercedes on Onesimus’ behalf to bridge the relationship with Philemon.

Just as Christ covered our debts, Paul covers the debt of Onesimus.

Paul is reminding Philemon of what Christ did for Philemon by doing that very thing for Onesimus.

And notice how Paul appeals to Philemon, he does it with love.

In this letter, we can really see the close-knit relationship between Paul and Philemon. Paul could’ve easily said to Philemon, “when I first met you, you were an idol worshipper who was destined for eternal separation from God. I took time out with you just as I have done with Onesimus and as a result, you were saved. You owe me Philemon.” I’m coming to collect this debt.

But no, Paul doesn’t do that. Paul appeals to Philemon in the most loving and humble of ways. And guess what.

Philemon got the point that Paul was trying to make without Paul ever mentioning the cross. He got the point without Paul never having to mention what Paul had done for Philemon.

And because of later evidence, we know that Philemon granted Paul’s request as Onesimus became a vital part of the early church. Onesimus is mentioned in Colossians 4:9 as he served alongside Paul. Onesimus continued the work of Paul as he became the bishop of Ephesus.

Paul intercession for Onesimus literally changed the church.

When I look at the news and I look social media, I see conflicts like the one that exists here between Onesimus and Philemon.

We live in a world that is divided and the division seems to be caused by closed mindedness, the propensity to play the victim, a lack of love for neighbor, and a lack of empathy.

If someone doesn’t agree with our stance on something, then that person is evil.

I wonder how different the world would look if we reflected upon the truths found in this tiny letter Paul wrote to Philemon.

I wonder how different the world would look if we recognize that we all have been Onesimus at some point.

I wonder how different the world would be if we recognize that Jesus interceded for us.

This is what communion Sunday is all about.

It is about Christ paying our debt and freeing us from death.

As a result of Christ’s payment, we receive an invitation.

This invitation is a standing invitation.

It is one that will not get lost in the mail.

Everyone gets that invitation.

But before the invitation is extended. Allow me to share this story with you.

There’s a story told about two brothers who lived on neighboring farms. They had a falling out and didn’t speak for years.

One day, one of the brothers hired a carpenter to build a fence between their properties to keep his brother out of sight. When the carpenter finished the job, the brother came back to find not a fence—but a bridge.

The carpenter said, “I thought you wanted a way to get across, not a way to keep apart.”

The brothers looked at each other for the first time in years, walked across the bridge, and embraced. What years of silence could not heal, a simple bridge of reconciliation did.

Paul, in writing to Philemon, was acting like that carpenter—building a bridge between Philemon and Onesimus. And Christ has done the same for us, building the ultimate bridge between us and God, and between us and one another.

“Church, what fences have we built in our lives? And will we, by the grace of Christ, let Him turn them into bridges of reconciliation?”

Our bridge of reconciliation is Christ and he invites all to His table. Those who love him and earnest repent of their sin and seek to be at peace with Christ with others.

Let us share together in the Great Thanksgiving found on page 12....