The power of the gospel

Introduction:

The apostle Paul writes a very personal and persuasive letter to his beloved friend Philemon. The subject of this letter is an extremely delicate one: slavery. This letter is a wonderful example of “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4: 15). It is a letter of courtesy, warmth, and politeness, but its message is weighty and its persuasion is powerful. The keyword is “receive.”

Background:

To more fully understand this short epistle, a discussion of slavery in the 1st century is essential.  Slavery was taken for granted by most people. From an economic standpoint, slaves were treated as property, to be disposed of as the owner wished, bought or sold, and could even be killed at the discretion of the owner. Slave owners had legal rights under Roman law to do this. The Romans were also very concerned about the possibility of a revolt by the slaves. Runaway slaves were often made an example of to the rest period to keep slaves under control and in their place. Anyone found harboring a runaway slave was under severe penalty if he did not return the slave immediately. He could even be found liable for the lost time of the slave.

Our particular case: Onesimus, a slave belonging to Philemon, runs away from his master in Colosse to Rome, where he visits Paul and is converted to Christ. Paul wishes to keep Onesimus with him because he is very useful to him. But he sends him back, hoping Philemon will receive him back as a brother, not a slave.

Theme:

The gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful. It changes people.

Text: Philemon 8-22

body:

1.      The presence of Christ drastically affects every relationship in life.

Philemon and Onesimus are now both Christians, having been converted by Paul. They share something now that they couldn't before: they have something in common, which is Christ (Galatians 3: 26-28).  The same gospel that saved Philemon also saved Onesimus. Their faith in Christ had led them to be baptized, thus putting them into Christ. Their relationship in the Lord changed their relationship with one another Forever. (VS 15,16).  Paul does not deny that Onesimus is a slave; he just tells Philemon not to treat him like one, vs. 5-7,16.  They need each other to participate, share, and have fellowship as equal partners in Christ.

Paul himself is a great example of how Christ changes people. Paul was a pharisee of Pharisees and hated Christianity. Paul made havoc of the church; Acts 8:3. But on the road to Damascus, he meets Christ, then is baptized into Christ by Ananias, and begins to preach Christ; Acts 9. Paul becomes the greatest defender Of Christianity.  The gospel of Christ changes people.

2.      Reconciliation, according to the gospel of Christ, requires repentance.

Onesimus's conversion to Christianity did not remove his status as a slave under Roman rule or his obligation to repay Philemon (Verses 17-19). Paul said that he would repay Philemon because he knew the obligation was still there.

·         Several lessons to be learned:

·         If a man steals some money in his young days and is later converted to Christ, his conversion does not cancel out the money that he owes. He must give the money back. He must repay!

·         Consider the example of Zacchaeus Luke 19: 8.  Zacharias made restitution.

·         Consider the example of King Herod in Matthew 14: 1-4. Doing good in the present does not compensate for wrongs done in the past; if it could, we wouldn't need Christ. Paul knew he had to send Onesimus back; verse 12.

Part of being reconciled is doing whatever is possible to make reconciliation a reality. This is even true in our worship; Matthew 5: 23, 24.

3.      The gospel of Christ is a gospel of love

Biblical love is far different than the world's concept. Biblical love is not a sentimental emotion or spiritual high but a person's willingness to seek the happiness and welfare of another at the sacrifice of themself.  We can choose to love; Titus 2: 4. Paul admonished young women to love their husbands. In our text, Philemon is said to be one who loves all saints or brethren, verse five. Onesimus is a brother, verse 16. Therefore, Philemon must show love to Onesimus! Remember this lesson well.

4.      The gospel of Christ is the only solution to man's problems.

The book of Philemon repudiates the so-called social gospel. One thing the social gospel tries to do is to change man by changing his environment. It teaches that supplying all of man's physical needs will rid Society of all ills; Child abuse, rape, murder, stealing... God, through the apostle Paul, tells us that to rid Society of these problems requires men to 1st be changed on the inside and experience a change of heart. Christ taught this same principle in Matthew 23: 25, 26.

Our text stresses the fact that the real way to rid Society of slavery is not by rebellion or by violence or by armed force but by making brothers of both the slave and master. For us today, the best way to change the course of our nation is not through politics, government, or public education, but through the gospel of Christ! This is done one person at a time. If we desire the evils of our society to be changed, then this can only happen when people change their hearts and minds. By becoming new people, 2nd Corinthians 5: 17.

Yes, the gospel of Christ can change men. It is God’s power unto salvation.

Conclusion:

Each of us today has a choice to make. Salvation has been made available to all men. Even a runaway slave can be saved; you, too, can be reconciled to God. Faith leads to repentance, which includes restitution, followed by a confession of Christ. Then immersion in water to cleanse you of sins. Then you are a new person in Christ, on equal footing with all others in Christ. Maybe some in Christ need to repent of their sin publicly and come forward.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford

October 13, 2024

The church of Christ at Granby

www.granbychurchofChrist.org

www.granbychurchofChrist.com