Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

It’s been a little while since we’ve had our Wednesday Bible Study in Philemon.

We began several weeks ago with “The Prisoner”, then looked at “The Partners”, then “The Prelude”, “The Prayer”, and last time we looked at “The Plea”…Tonight, with the help of the Lord, we will look at “The Payment”

Paul was a prisoner in Rome, his friend Philemon was in Colossae, and the human link between them was a runaway slave named Onesimus.

The details are not clear, but it appears that Onesimus robbed his master and then fled to Rome, hoping to be swallowed up in the crowded metropolis.

But, in the providence of God, he met Paul and was converted!

Now, Paul is writing his friend Philemon on behalf of Onesimus in hopes that Philemon will accept the slave that done him wrong.

In this letter, we see Paul as he tries to help Philemon solve his problems.

At the same time, we see a beautiful picture of what the Father has done for us in Jesus Christ.

Martin Luther said, “All of us are Onesimuses!” and he was right.

In the message tonight, we finally get to the heart of the letter.

In these verses, we see the beauty of Christian love.

There are similarities between Paul and Philemon and David and Jonathan...

Paul and Philemon had a wonderful brotherly love for each other and Paul desired that this same love be extended to his new convert.

Paul desired that Philemon do something unique and supernal, allow Onesimus to come back as a brother in good standing forever.

Verses 15-21 give us a wonderful portrait of what salvation is all about.

Let me remind all of us that we enjoy salvation because of another!

In these verses, we see four truths about salvation…Let’s look at them.

The Sinner

It seems as if Onesimus may have stolen from Philemon upon his departure.

In doing so he would be treated as a criminal in the eyes of Philemon.

The penalty that he would face would be rough and harsh.

I believe that Onesimus had often regretted what he had done in leaving his master.

He ran a long way!

One figure I read shows that the distance from Colosse to Rome would have been 1,500 miles!

We certainly see the nature of the sinner in Onesimus…stealing and running...

Running from God, by the way, sinners run from God, not to God!

Now, according to Roman law, Onesimus would have still been a slave…and this is the same for you and I tonight.

According to the law, we are still sinners!

Onesimus was a thief, robber, and traitor…He didn’t deserve anything, yet Paul said he would take care of the bill!

What a picture of grace!

God’s Riches At Christ’ Expense!

The Saint

In meeting the apostle of Jesus Onesimus had found a friend that would greatly pull for his forgiveness and his reconciliation with his master.

I am so thankful for Jesus triumphantly pulling for me in my salvation and standing with God.

Paul pleaded on behalf of Onesimus...

Christ pleads on behalf of us...

We are no longer servants, but saints…We have been accepted into the family!

Paul willingly stood up for Onesimus and represented him.

It was not the worth of Onesimus that afforded Philemon to forgive Onesimus, but the worth of his representative.

I see the gospel story in this simple illustration.

One day Jesus allowed his worth to get me in good standing with God.

Paul is saying in these verses, Philemon!

Accept Onesimus, take care of him like you would me!

The word receive in Philemon 17 means “to receive into one’s family circle.”

Imagine a slave entering his master’s family!

But imagine a guilty sinner entering God’s family!

The Substitution

Right here is where the payment comes in!

Paul was willing to pay a debt that he didn’t owe...

In this account we see that Paul appealed to Philemon to place anything owed to him concerning Philemon upon his personal account.

In this we see the great doctrine of imputation.

Paul desired that the bill for Onesimus transgressions be placed upon his account.

It did not mean that the sins were to be overlooked, but it did mean that in the eyes of Philemon, Onesimus was completely free of guilt.

It’s the same as if you get a parking ticket…there is a fine associated with that, and anybody can go pay that ticket for you and the judge will declare the fine “paid in full” and let you go free, even though you, yourself didn’t pay the fine…Why?

Because the debt was paid!

It was on the cross that Jesus paid my sin payment!

We owed a debt that we could not pay!

He paid a debt He did not owe!

The debt of Onesimus was placed upon the credit account of Paul and he was in good standing for the payment.

Let me tell you tonight, the debt of my sin has been resolved due to Jesus Christ dying on the cruel cross.

The destiny of Onesimus was dependent of someone else accepting him into the fold.

The day that I got saved it was up to God to accept me into his family and he did this not because of my worth but upon the worth of his precious son.

Jesus willingly paid my debt but it was totally up to God to accept this payment and to declare me in good standing.

The Satisfaction

Paul is simply saying here, let’s rejoice together at what the Lord has done for Onesimus.

This is a personal letter from Paul to Philemon.

The word “refresh” in verse 20 means rest.

Paul’s saying here, “Don’t add to my burdens, but let me rest with you.”

Paul closes in verse 21 by saying he had the confidence in Philemon to do the right thing.

He even says that he has the confidence that Philemon will go even further and do more than Paul had asked.

Conclusion

I am so glad that Jesus Christ stood up for me and then he willingly stood in for me.

I do not understand this type of love but I am so glad that it was afforded to me as a lost sinner.