Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 26 – July 1990
Dealing With Grace
Sermon by Rev. L. Douma on Philemon 17-21
Reading: Matthew 18:21-35; Philemon 1-25
Brothers and sisters; (boys and girls) in our Lord Jesus Christ,
There was a problem in the congregation. A young man had ‘shot through’. Absconded! People in the congregation had bent over backwards to help him. They had provided him with a place to live. Someone had taken him on and given him some work to help him out.
And now… now the ungrateful young man had got up and left them. Left them ‘high and dry’. Didn’t say a word. Not even a note. Just got up and left. Rent unpaid. Work left undone. Not a word of thanks.
Did you hear? He’s coming back! The cheek of him. And of course he’s hiding behind the minister of one of our churches from another town. He came yesterday with a letter from that minister. You know Rev. ‘So and So’. He is a lovely fellow. One of the most respected ministers in our denomination.
Now Rev. ‘So and So’ writes that we should take this young fellow back and forgive him because he has become a Christian while at his church and has been a marvellous help to him. But now he is sending him back because he really belongs with us and we should have the benefit of him and sort out our differences.
In fact, Rev. ‘So and So’ reckons that we are to receive this young absconder as we would welcome him. Ha! Can you imagine that! The young fellow must have really pulled the wool over the Rev’s eyes… But maybe not… Rev ‘So and So’ is pretty astute when it comes to these sorts of things.
But anyhow… what about the hurt and embarrassment he has brought us? Are we just meant to forget about all that? Pretend that it didn’t happen? Are we just meant to welcome him with open arms as if he was a long lost friend?
Well brothers and sisters; (boys and girls)? What are we to do?
In our text this morning the Apostle Paul teaches us some Gospel-Truths about Christian living when we consider his dealing with Philemon and Onesimus.
The situation is somewhat similar to our introduction this morning.
Remember that Onesimus was Philemon’s slave and that he had run away, possibly with some of Philemon’s goods. In Rome, Onesimus had been converted to the Lord Jesus Christ under the ministry of the Apostle Paul. And now with this letter, Paul was sending Onesimus back to Philemon and seeking Reconciliation between the two on the basis that they were both Redeemed in Christ. They were now both Christians and so their relationship was built on that.
In Our text, verses 17-21, we see how Paul deals with the actual mechanics of the reconciliation of Onesimus to Philemon. And we should notice three things:
1. Reconciliation
Onesimus is to be reconciled as, and because he is, a brother in Christ.
2. Restitution
Paul offers to pay restitution so that nothing will stand in the way of reconciliation.
3. Response
Paul expects Philemon to respond in Gospel-obedience.
1. RECONCILIATION
Here in verse 17 is the crux of this whole letter i.e. Reconciliation. Paul has made his appeal for Onesimus in vs.10, and in vs.12 mentions that he is sending Onesimus, his very heart, back to Philemon and that he could have Onesimus forever as a brother in the Lord in vss.15,16. But now in vs.17 Paul comes to the crux, the heart of the matter. Paul makes the request to Philemon to accept Onesimus back. Completely reconciled. No strings attached. Philemon was to welcome his slave Onesimus as he would the Apostle Paul.
Not only was Philemon to accept Onesimus back forgiven, no grudges held, but he was also no longer to consider Onesimus as just a slave!!! Paul wrote, welcome him as you would welcome me”. As a brother in the Lord. Regardless of social position.
Note the basis of this request, “So if you consider me a partner”. This word ‘partner’ refers to fellowship in the faith. That is, if Philemon regards the Apostle Paul as an intimate friend, who together with him shares in Christ and His redeeming love… then let him also accept Onesimus in fellowship and friendship just as he would Paul.
Onesimus, in becoming а Christian under the ministry of Paul, was now also a brother in full Christian fellowship with Philemon, as Paul himself was.
For their fellowship was in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, who has reconciled us to the Father and also to one another.
And that is how we are to deal with one another, congregation. Our relationship with one another is based upon the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. Therefore we are to deal with one another as partners in the faith!!! And in being partners in the faith together we need always to be seeking Reconciliation.
Completely. No strings attached. No excuses. No: “Yes…but”.
Imagine two boys sitting together in the worship service and all the way through this service they push and elbow each other. You would think, “How irreverent. How could they be so insensitive?” Yet that is how we act when we don’t resolve our differences together as partners in the faith.
In Galatians chapter 3:26 we read:
“You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all of you who were baptised into Christ have been clothed with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.”
So Paul writes to Philemon applying this truth,
“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.”
Welcome him as a brother in Christ, for we are all one in Christ!
2. RESTITUTION
However, things were not just left at that.
In the next two verses Paul looks at the need for restitution. (Our second point).
“If he has done anything wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.”
Notice how the Apostle Paul so completely identifies himself with Onesimus by being willing to settle his debt with Philemon himself. Paul was ready to give satisfaction for Onesimus’ crime – which at the very least was that of running away and depriving his master of his services.
Restitution was to be made. Onesimus’ crime was not to be overlooked or glossed over. It was not to be ‘swept under the carpet’. Onesimus had done wrong towards his master and that wrong needed to be set right. Nothing was to stand in the way of the complete reconciliation of Onesimus with his master Philemon.
And so Paul not only asks for the forgiveness of Onesimus, but now he also offers restitution for the wrong done. Philemon is to charge it to Paul’s account. And to prove that he was ‘fair dinkum’ about this Paul appeals to the fact that he has written with his own hand!!!
In verse 18 Paul writes:
“I Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will pay it back.”
Paul here gives a promissory note.
An I.O.U. Here he was ‘signing’ for Onesimus’ debt.
And as Paul takes the whole debt on behalf of Onesimus and signs for it – so we see Christ who has taken over our entire debt of sin. Paul imitates the actions of Christ as He so completely identified with us by becoming a man and He took upon Himself our entire debt of sin and guilt in His death upon the cross.
Restitution had to be made. Our guilt and sin had to be dealt with. And Jesus Christ made that restitution on our behalf. He satisfied God’s wrath against our guilt and sin by taking upon Himself the very punishment that we deserved. Our account was settled with God at Calvary. No more debt. Account paid in full. Justified..! Made right with God. Just as if I had never sinned.
And so Paul reflects the action of His Lord and Saviour Jesus when he, in turn, underwrites the debt of Onesimus. Nothing was to stand in the way of reconciliation. Restitution was to be made. The crime was to be fully dealt with. Things needed to be put right.
Now this may only be the need to ask for forgiveness. But it may involve very much more. For example, if someone steals from you and seeks your forgiveness then you would expect as part of their repentance a restoration of the things stolen.
Or if someone slurs your name publicly then you would expect upon repentance a public apology.
When truly seeking forgiveness there must be a desire and preparedness to put things right as far as it is possible.
For true reconciliation nothing must stand in the way! Things need to be put right as far as it is possible. The Apostle Paul in seeking the reconciliation of Philemon and Onesimus desired to remove anything from the mind of Philemon that might hinder him from genuinely receiving Onesimus back. He was willing to put right the wrongs that Onesimus had done. “Charge it to my account.”
However, in the second half of verse 19 Paul goes on to point out that Philemon really owes himself to Paul. Here Paul brings to Philemon’s notice that besides whatever Philemon may charge as a debt that is due from Onesimus, Philemon owes his very Own self to Paul. And in view of that Philemon may well charge this debt of Onesimus to himself and not to Paul!!!
Besides, we presume, owing his conversion to the ministry of Paul, Philemon also owes Paul for the return of his runaway slave who is better than the slave that he had lost!!! Remember that Onesimus had gone as a rebellious slave but had now returned an industrious, willing slave.
With the words, “…not that I should mention…” Paul only suggests that Philemon might consider his own debt to the Apostle Paul and therefore not place any charge on Paul’s account for Onesimus. Let me hasten to make clear that Paul is not trying to get out of paying an account that he has promised to pay here. Paul will most happily pay this payment of restitution.
What Paul is getting at is that he wants to remind Philemon of the pardon that he himself had received to make Philemon understand how, when one has so freely received grace, he in turn needs to be willing to grant the remission of debt when а fellow sinner comes to conversion.
Paul continues with this in verse 20,
“I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord;
refresh my heart in Christ.”
Calling on the debt that Philemon owes him, Paul expresses the wish that he may reap some benefit of Philemon being a Christian. That is, that having received the grace of God in Christ through the ministry of Paul, Paul now calls on Philemon to grant him some joy by acting in a truly Christian manner. Which is to accept and forgive Onesimus as a brother in Christ – cancelling all debts as Christ had cancelled his.
“Philemon – you have the right to call in that debt of Onesinus but I urge you to be gracious and forgiving. Don’t legalistically count off every wrong against you. Instead, refresh my heart. Continue on this gracious work for which I have already commended you by putting it to work in your own personal life with regards to Onesimus your slave.”
Having made his appeal for the reconciliation of Onesimus to Philemon, and having made the offer of restitution – while reminding Philemon of a more gracious way – Paul then in verse 21 expresses confidence that Philemon will respond in obedience.
3. RESPONSE
And so we see in the third place that Paul can rely on Philemon’s cooperation because he expects Philemon to respond in Gospel-obedience.
Paul wrote to Philemon confident of his obedience. And yet Paul has not given any commands. So what is this obedience that Paul expects?
Well, it is Gospel-obedience. It is the responding to the demands of God as expressed in the Gospel. It is that the Gospel as proclaimed by Christ demands that those who have been greatly benefited by it will also show that kindness to others.
As we read in Matthew 18, we see in this parable of the Unmerciful Servant that those who receive the grace of the Gospel must show this grace in their Own lives. Paul had already pointed out to Philemon the grace he had received in Christ under the ministry of Paul himself. And now Paul writes that he fully relies on Philemon to act in а truly Christian way. He expects it. He does not even have to wait until he hears whether or not Philemon has acted according to this letter of appeal. He fully expects Philemon to continue in his life of Gospel-Obedience – even where this matter is concerned.
I wonder, if the Apostle Paul was writing to us today whether he would have so much confidence. Today is a time of sticking up for one’s rights… of looking after ‘number one’. Of exacting everything we are owed; a time when ‘the self’ is very much emphasized.
Brothers and sisters, how do we respond to the expectation to act in Gospel-Obedience?
In our dealing with others, are we like the ungrateful servant who refused to deal with others as he had been dealt with???
You see, God has dealt with us mercifully in Jesus Christ. And as we have been dealt with in grace, so we must deal with others. It is expected. It is expected that we reflect the love of God in Christ in the way that we live. It is expected that we deal graciously with one another as God has done with us. God expects it. And we may expect it of one another as believers.
And so when others wrong us we need to deal with them graciously. Not legalistically exacting every ounce of restitution. But with the love that God has shown us in Christ.
CONCLUSION
In these few verses then, we find the crux Paul’s whole appeal to Philemon to accept Onesimus back as a fellow brother in the faith, with no strings attached. All debts paid. Nothing to stand in the way of a complete reconciliation.
RECONCILIATION… RESTITUTION… RESPONSE…!
These were Paul’s steps to remedy the situation between Philemon and Onesimus:
– The appeal to Philemon to be reconciled with Onesimus
on the basis that they were all one in Christ.
If Philemon considered Paul as partner in the faith then
he also must consider Onesimus in the same way.
– The offer of restitution for the debts of Onesimus
so that nothing would stand in the way of reconciliation.
– And the expectation that Philemon would respond in Gospel-obedience.
Those who have experienced the grace of the Gospel need also to share that grace as they deal with others.
Are you sharing the grace of the Gospel in your dealings with others?
AMEN