Reconciliation

The Letter to Philemon

(It is a widely held view that scar tissue is stronger than the original skin before the injury. Actually the truth is rather different – but of course the scar is thicker than the wound – perhaps that’s where the idea originated.[1]

However in the spiritual world it is true – that that which has been injured and healed is stronger than the original state.   Where God has been at work there is not just healing but a state better far than the sinful state that originally existed.)

This little letter is a gem!  It contains so much on so many different levels. At its simplest it is the story of a runaway slave who becomes a Christian and has to go back to the master he wronged.  Paul includes in this little letter so many essential truths – but tonight we are concerned with one: RECONCILIATION.

We will focus on three verses in particular:

V9     I appeal to you on the basis of love.     (The appeal of love)

V15   Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.                                     (Reconciling grace)

V18  If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.

                                                                (Settling the debt)

First of all we need to have the background to the letter firmly in our minds:

ONESIMUS the slave of Philemon a Christian has run away – presumably taking some of his master’s property.

He makes for the great city of Rome – a journey of about 1000 miles in the hope of losing himself in the city underworld. Many slaves did just that. Instead he meets Paul and becomes a believer.

Now – having proved his usefulness to Paul – he must go back to his master, and Paul – to whom Philemon is spiritually indebted – writes this letter to accompany the returning runaway.   (It has that theme in common with the story of the prodigal.)

Going back – and reconciliation is not easy – it has to be based upon a new kind of trust and a very real love.

To be truly successful it must produce not just a settling of old scores – but something much better and deeper.

The possibility of a deeper relationship arising from the mending of a broken one is the central theme of the letter.  It is only possible because God has been at work in the lives of all concerned.

In that respect this letter is not just about a returning runaway slave – it is a statement of what Jesus came to do – a RECONCILING WORK.

As we look at it this evening we need to APPLY its teaching to ourselves.  We are well removed from the world of slaves and masters – but the central work of healing and reconciling is essential to our faith.

This is about reconciliation within the family of God

It is about the reconciling work of Christ.

(a)    LOVE’S APPEAL    v9

(b)    RECONCILING GRACE  v15-

(c)    SETTLING THE DEBT  v18

A.                 LOVE’S APPEAL

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.

Philemon could have responded to Paul’s request out of DUTY – even out of RESPECT – but would such a response have been enough?

Often we do do things out of duty and for respect – there is a place for such responses – but the real response of the believer’s heart is out of LOVE.

That which arises from duty might have produced a grudging acceptance only – a superficial mending of wounds.

More is required of believers than “Sorry…” and a rough hand-shake!

    When it comes to our being reconciled to God a grudging obedience will not work – LOVE is essential

(a)            Love for the one who failed:

10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,a who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

(b)            Love for the one who was wronged:

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow-worker,

7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do will be spontaneous and not forced.

Clearly Paul is part of the equation of reconciliation – it is a three way process involving Paul and Onesimus and Philemon – and that which binds all of them together is the redeeming work of Christ. 

So Paul who loves Onesimus – appeals to Philemon whom he also loves in the Lord.

(c)             Love between the sinner and the sinned-against

you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

It is this comprehensive love that is at the heart of the comprehensive reconciliation required.

    It is so for us who are reconciled to God in Jesus Christ

Love to the loveless shown

That they might lovely be…

Christ’s work is AN APPEAL ON THE BASIS OF LOVE

    It is so for believers who may have wronged each other

Christ’s forgiveness of us demands our forgiveness of others.  He loved us – we must love one another.

And so there is also a need for reconciliation – a healing of wounds – and even more.

B.  RECONCILING GRACE v15~

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

One of the characteristics of this letter is the way Paul plays with words.   He makes much of Onesimus’ name and its meaning, and here in these verses he makes play on the word dear  - but he does so for a very serious reason.

He wants Philemon to recognise that there is something deeply significant about these circumstances and his appeal:

(1)            Something has changed

Grace has transformed a loss into a greater gain.

Grace has brought about a new relationship.

16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.

Grace holds the prospect of a deepening relationship.

These things are true of this story, of our reconciliation with God, and for relationships within the Church.

(2)            A loss is made good

Grace transforms Philemon’s loss into a greater reward than mere repayment – it is repayment with INTEREST!

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

That is one of the great wonders of God’s work.  He is about healing wounds – but much, much more – He makes it better after the injury than it was before!

That is true of our reconciliation with God – we have something much better!

Not just the settling of the Law’s demands – but a new nature!

And as reconciliation works itself out in the Church it must have that added value quality as well.

(3)            There is now something very precious

Playing with the word DEAR Paul reminds us and Philemon that we are:

    Dear to God

    Dear to one another

C.  SETTLING THE DEBT v18

18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

RECONCILIATION COSTS

It has cost Philemon

It will cost Onesimus           BUT PAUL SETTLES THE ACCOUNT!

Paul takes the pen from the amanuensis and scribbles his own IOU

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back

Paul is in a unique position – he can write off the debt Onesimus owes to Philemon, and he goes so far as to actually render a “cheque” in payment –

What a precious picture of Christ’s work  -  Col 2:13

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,a God made youa alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.a[2]

When Christ settled our debt He left NOTHING UNSETTLED

Our works of reconciliation are much lesser things – but necessary none the less.

Christ does not simply mend – He makes better.

    HE LOVES

    HE RECONCILES

    HE SETTLES THE DEBT

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[1] http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071003071650AAEpUrW

a Onesimus means useful.

a Or your flesh

a Some manuscripts us

a Or them in him

[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1984; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996 (electronic edition.) (Col 2:13). London: Hodder & Stoughton.