ROUTE 66 - PHILEMON Forgiven! Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor September 17, 2014 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. Great guide for contemporary issues on how we relate to the law Paul writes to man named Philemon prominent member of church at Colosse (Philemon 1:1-2 Colossians 4:9) Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier probably refers to his wife and son which were part of the church which met in your house in addressing this letter to the church in your house Paul was asking him to read it to the entire gathering thus trying to teach a valuable lesson to all and to hold Philemon accountable for his reaction Paul was putting a little pressure on Philemon! Paul is in prison from which he also wrote Philippians and Colossians written sometime between 60-62 A.D. Philemon was probably written at the same time as Colossians and initially both of them were sent by Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21, 22; Colossians 4:7-8) Two issues overlay the book 1) Our response to the law Paul identifies a slave who had broken the law and was taking action to make that right; 2) Forgiveness the larger issue because it dealt with the relationship between believers. I. THE HEART OF FORGIVENESS Philemon 4-9 A. Love for Christ Philemon 4-5 Philemon was saved under Paul s ministry Philemon 19 (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). he was wealthy enough to have servants and a large enough house to accommodate the whole church We also find out something valuable about Philemon in Philemon 4-5 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints Forgiveness is never possible without a heart prepared to forgive Philemon had demonstrated his love for Christ and the church by hosting them in his house B. Love for the saints Philemon 6-9 1. It s communal Philemon 6 Paul had seen Philemon loved Jesus and also his love and faith toward all the saints speaks of the fellowship of your faith koinonia partnership faith in Christ always works itself out in shared lives with other believers this was a hallmark of the early church Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. this was seen in shared meals, worship, ministry, family life, and vocation 2. It s convincing Philemon 6 Philemon 6 also prayed that his faith would become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ s sake. this probably refers to Paul s desire for Philemon to have true, deep knowledge of what he was calling him to do forgive you can read about forgiveness, but until you live it you don t know it This knowledge would become effective energized the knowledge he speaks of was probably the knowledge others would gain as they saw and heard of Philemon s powerful statement of Onesimus forgiveness is powerful stuff! 1
3. It s comforting Philemon 7 Philemon 7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. The Toys, by Coventry Patmore, a 19th century English poet: My little Son, who look d from thoughtful eyes And moved and spoke in quiet grownup wise, Having my law the seventh time disobey d, I struck him, and dismiss d With hard words and unkiss d, His Mother, who was patient, being dead. Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder sleep, I visited his bed, But found him slumbering deep, With darken d eyelids, and their lashes yet From his late sobbing wet. And I, with moan, Kissing away his tears, left others of my own; For, on a table drawn beside his head, He had put, within his reach, A box of [tokens] and a red vein d stone, A piece of glass abraded by the beach And six or seven shells, A bottle with bluebells, And two French copper coins, ranged there with careful art, To comfort his sad heart. So when that night I pray d To God, I wept and said: Ah, when at last we lie with [tranquil] breath, Not vexing Thee in death, And Thou rememberest of what toys We made our joys, How weakly understood Thy great commanded good, Then, fatherly not less Than I whom Thou hast moulded from the clay, Thou lt leave Thy wrath, and say, I [forgive] their childishness. 1 4. It s confident Philemon 8-9 Philemon 8-9 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love s sake I rather appeal to you since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus confidence = parrasia openness, confidence, boldness, frankness to speak out, speak openly Paul was confident that in bringing this issue into the light that Philemon would do the right thing that is a complex issue This was a perfect opportunity for Paul to plead his own case and spark a protest movement to reform the government he was in prison could have lobbied for better conditions reform of the godless government or the repeal of slavery he didn t do any of this 1 James Dalton Morrison, ed., Masterpieces of Religious Verse, (New York: Harper & Bros., 1948), 342. 2
Many expect the Bible to condemn slavery it really doesn t 1 Corinthians 7:21-22 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ s slave. The absence of a diatribe against slavery is puzzling but it has everything to do with the gospel suppose Paul had urged the church to revolt against the institution of slavery suppose that had succeeded what would have happened? the gospel would have been perceived as social protest and the church would have become a political entity. But he didn t do this he urged Philemon to do what is proper what is that? Paul s appeal was based entirely on Christian brotherhood Philemon had every right to punish Onesimus. The message of the gospel is not social reform! It is the salvation of the soul. II. THE ACT OF FORGIVENESS Philemon 10-21 A. A verified offender Philemon 10-22 Paul names the offender Philemon 10-11 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. Onesimus means useful common name for slaves revealed the attitude many had for them play on words Onesimus was useless to Philemon but Paul changes this around now he is useful both to you and to me. Demonstrates the dramatic change brought by the gospel from runaway slave to trusted helper in the church Slavery was widespread in the Roman Empire possibly made up a third of the population it was an accepted part of life during Paul s day slavery was far more common than paid laborers but it was not the type of slavery we saw in the South that prompted the Civil War Slaves weren t legally considered persons they were tools could be bought, sold, inherited, exchanged, or seized to satisfy debt masters had total power to punish them, and sometimes did so severely for the slightest infractions by time of the New Testament, slavery was beginning to change masters realized contented slaves were more productive and so began teaching them their trade and treating them more leniently some even became doctors, musicians, teachers, artists, librarians, and accountants often they became good friends in 20 A.D. slaves were granted the right to a trial when accused of a crime became more common for them to purchase their freedom many enjoyed the care and protection of their masters that assured them a better position than many freemen who existed in poverty (MacArthur Study Bible Philemon) Paul had grown to love Onesimus Philemon 12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart. Philemon 16 a beloved brother in sending him back to Colosse he was giving Onesimus the gift of a free conscience and Philemon the gift of learning and modeling forgiveness. B. Specific initiation Philemon 12-13 Philemon 12-13 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel How many times do you think Paul and Timothy and Onesimus talked this over? The thrust of the book of Philemon is forgiveness but to show how powerful the call was we need to understand this in the context of our response to the law. Paul understood the law and respected it he wrote Romans 13:1-4 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 3
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good... principles of the morality of the law are engrained here: We are to obey the law All governing authorities come from God Obama, Putin, Assad God is sovereign in the rulers of the world Proverbs 21:1 The king s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. Important principle regarding our response to government Matthew 22:21 Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar s; and to God the things that are God s. has led to much debate are Christians, or even nonsaved citizens, to obey secular government no matter what? Kings James I believed this that s the primary reason we have the King James Bible the Geneva Bible, primarily reflecting the views of Calvin in the study notes and chapter and verse divisions added, had been the most popular Bible in the English speaking world since 1561, 51 years before the King James Bible was published James ordered new translation of the Bible because he didn t like Calvin and Knox s views on the role of the king he felt the king was a divine appointment, the king should rule over the church, and that the king s appointed bishops should rule the church Calvin taught that the king was not divinely appointed, the church should rule the state, and lay elders should govern the church. Calvin looked to the Old Testament for teaching on the state and church: Diversified leadership advocated by Moses Exodus 18:14 Now when Moses father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening? led to Moses appointed leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens... (Exodus 18:25) Moses took Jethro s advice, but apparently didn t implement it until after the law had been given. Leaders appointed and affirmed by the people Deuteronomy 1:9-17 Kings were not God s plan 1 Samuel 8:9-18 God told Samuel to warn the people about the problems with having a king 1 Samuel 8:7 God told Samuel they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 1 Samuel 8:10-18 Samuel tells them the king will take their sons and daughters to serve him and will tax them to serve his needs 1 Samuel 8:18 Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day. David Halls points out Calvin s belief in a republican form of government: Hence it more plainly appears that those who were to preside in judgment were not appointed only by the will of Moses, but elected by the votes of the people. And this is the most desirable kind of liberty, that we should not be compelled to obey every person who may be tyrannically put over our heads; but which allows of election, so that no one should rule except he be approved by us. And this is further confirmed in the next verse, wherein Moses recounts that he awaited the consent of the people, and that nothing was attempted which did not please them all. Thus, Calvin viewed the Hebrew republic as being led by elected representatives who ruled by consent of the governed. 2 Calvin saw rebellion against a despotic ruler as permissible under certain conditions Hall notes, A blend of necessary factors, then, determines whether revolution is in order. The following factors are necessary: (a) a tyrant who exceeded his divinely charted boundaries; (b) a tyrant who, in so doing, contradicted some other divine mandate; and (c) lower magistrates to bring constitutional correction. 3 All this factors into examining the biblical basis for any political rebellion against injustice as in the case of American slavery the difficult questions must balance an absolute belief in the sovereignty of God in establishing 2 David W. Hall, Calvin in the Public Square (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2009), 84. 3 Ibid., 82. 4
governments and laws and the biblical rights of the people to rebel against leaders and laws that are unjust the question framed by Paul s writings in Philemon is, Was the Civil War biblically justified in an attempt to free American slaves? There is much controversy over when we should obey Romans 13:1-2 or when we should observe Acts 5:29 the chief priests had told Peter and the apostles that they should stop preaching about Jesus they replied, We must obey God rather than man. Romans 13:1 tells us Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities Who are the governing authorities for us? THE CONSTITUTION! this is a document that is above all three branches of government but the rule of law today is totally decided by judges despite what Congress passes as law and despite what is passed by referendum by the people, the justices of the Supreme Court are de facto the governing authority for us. What are we to do when our own Department Of Justice says they will not enforce the Definition Of Marriage Act law passed by Congress? or when Supreme Court of the United States tells us to recognize the rights of gay marriage? should the church capitulate? Wayne Grudem comments, These justices are not being subject to the system of government that they have sworn to uphold. It seems to me that when they do this, they are disobeying the clear principle established in Romans 13... It is important to realize how broad the powers of the court have become. All the important legal issues of our time are now decided by a small group of nine judges, none of whom has ever been elected by any group of voters in the United States, and none of whom is accountable to any group of voters in the entire United States. They are unelected, unaccountable, and they decide nearly all the important issues of our nation today. Is this the kind of government we want to have? Is this really what a democracy is supposed to be? Is this how our nation was set up to function? Certainly not. 4 C. A desired outcome Philemon 14-17 Philemon 14-16 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason 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. Forgiveness isn t just a vague feeling it asks for specific actions and attitudes: Mutual consent Paul wanted Philemon to feel the same way he did. Voluntary not by compulsion but of your own free will Release from debt no longer a slave attitude and action required had to regard him as a brother this is the basis for all forgiveness of a fellow-believer but this also could cost Philemon money had possibly bought Philemon he would also lose income off his services if he gave up his ownership. A greater calling moves past release to full relationship. This is how God desires forgiveness not out of compulsion, but from the heart rules and commands are necessary at times but they don t solve the issue of the heart appealing to Philemon s free will meant that he was asking him to take a radically different view of the situation not by the standards of Roman law and not for his own retribution and profit Philemon had full legal right to punish Onesimus and to put him back in position as a slave so he could profit from him. 4 Wayne A. Grudem, Politics - According to the Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2010), 145. 5
D. A verified offense Philemon 18-19 Philemon 18 But 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 (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). we don t know what Onesimus did, but evidently he owed something to Philemon it s possible that he stole from him and fled. Forgiveness is necessary for real offenses not a difference of opinion or someone getting offended by a comment. A non-specific will you forgive me doesn t help must name the offense Will you forgive me for gossiping about you? Will you forgive me for assuming your guilt and not checking the facts? E. A call for obedience Philemon 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. Would Paul have that kind of confidence in you? In my experience it is a rare thing to encounter a Christian who forgives like that the teaching of Matthew 18:21-35 is critical a slave owed the king ten thousand talents impossible number no ability to repay king ordered his possessions and family to be auctioned to repay him slave begged for a chance to repay impossible, but the king felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:27 but the slave went out and found a fellow slave who owed him a hundred denarii paltry sum in comparison to what he had been forgiven the fellow slave also begged but he would not forgive his fellow slave it was reported to the king Matthew 18:32-35 You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart. 6