Doing the Right Thing
Notes
Transcript
Doing the Right Thing
Doing the Right Thing
Philemon
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Doing the Right Thing requires:
Confrontation
Confessing
Making it right
Asking for forgiveness
Getting involved
Confronting a friend
The absence of taking action can be devastating
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
God will reward you for your service!
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
God will reward you for your service!
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
These are the hard things we have to do.
Background
Onesimus - he was an escaped salve that stole from his owner prior to excepting Christ .
He ran to Rome to hid and met Paul and received Christ. He was helpful to Paul in the ministry.named Onesimus who, having helped himself to some of Philemon’s wealth, had run away to bury himself amid the multitudes who thronged the streets and slums of Rome.
Rome, a cosmopolitan melting pot, provided a convenient hiding place for anyone wishing to disappear from public view. There, Onesimus was sure that he would be safe. Instead, he was destined to be saved!
Philemon - he was the salve owner of Onesimus living in Colosse who had been converted through the Apostle Paul (v. 19). One of his slaves, Onesimus, had run away from him (vv. 15, 16) and there is a hint that Onesimus might have helped himself to some of his master’s possessions as well (v. 18).
Philemon - he was the salve owner of Onesimus living in Colosse who had been converted through the Apostle Paul (v. 19).
One of his slaves, Onesimus, had run away from him (vv. 15, 16) and there is a hint that Onesimus might have helped himself to some of his master’s possessions as well (v. 18). Philemon was a friend of Paul ..
Paul - was a prisoner when he wrote Philemon (vv. 1, 9). This epistle is therefore included among the so-called “prison epistles,”Philemon was the recipient.
But Paul realized that Onesimus had a responsibility to Philemon and should make restitution for his thievery. Thus Paul deemed it right to return Onesimus to Philemon. Tychicus was given the responsibility of carrying Paul’s letter from Rome to the Colossians, and Onesimus evidently traveled back with him ().
In this letter to Philemon Paul explained his situation and asked Philemon to treat Onesimus not as a runaway, thieving slave, but now as a beloved brother in Christ (; cf. ).
9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
Doing the Right thing
Paul got involved and did the right thing but advising Onesimus to return over the goods he stole. he wrote a letter on his behalf the book of Philemon.
Paul did the right thing by advising Philemon to forgive his former salve and treat him not as a slave but as a bother in Christ.
Onesimus - hard the hardest decision he had to return to Philemon and regarding items he stole. He faced a possible death sentence but did the right thing.
Because Paul had never been to Colosse (as far as we know), the likelihood is that Philemon had been saved sometime during Paul’s remarkably successful evangelistic crusade at Ephesus.
The occasion for writing is almost identical with the story of the epistle itself.
Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, had run away, having evidently robbed his master (). His travels somehow brought him to Rome where, in the providence of God, he came in contact with Paul. Through this contact Paul led Onesimus to know the Savior. Then Onesimus in some way became useful to Paul (vv. 12–13).
Look at Pauls letter:
In this letter to Philemon Paul explained his situation and asked Philemon to treat Onesimus not as a runaway, thieving slave, but now as a beloved brother in Christ (; cf. ).
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16 not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
The reality of becomes evident here in Philemon: “There is neither … slave nor free … in Christ Jesus.”
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
So Paul wrote this Letter to Philemon, interceding for Onesimus and presenting strong reasons why he should be graciously restored to his master’s favor (v. 17). It was at this time that Paul also wrote the Letter to the Colossians. He assigned Tychicus to act as postman and sent Onesimus back to Colosse with him ().
[1] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 2148). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
In this text we find:
I. Faithful Friend
I. Faithful Friend
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Paul and Philemon had more than likely become friend in Ephesus while Paul was there planting the church
This is the only one of Paul’s epistles in which he referred to himself in the salutation as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.
Paul writes a letter to a friend.
God divinely put in his path two men he had lead to the Lord.
Philemon - the wealth slave owner
Onenismus - the thief and runway slave
A friend saw on both sides areas that needed to be addressed.
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
We see friends -
Can a friend just sit by and not address injustice ?
Can a friend just sit by and not address sin?
Can a friend sit by and not offer help?
Roles of a friend
Unconditional love - A true friend loves at all times. Regardless of what you do, what happens, or where life takes you, a true friend loves at all times.
Unwavering support – True friends are in it for the long haul. Even when you’ve fallen—or agree with you completely—a true friend is in your corner.
Unwavering support – True friends are in it for the long haul. Even when you’ve fallen—or agree with you completely—a true friend is in your corner. When you call—even when you’re in trouble—they come. True friendships may only be for a season. I have many of those. But if we run into each other again we pick up where we left off. Trust is already established. The relationship is just as strong. True friendships are consistent.
When you call—even when you’re in trouble—they come. True friendships may only be for a season. I have many of those. But if we run into each other again we pick up where we left off. Trust is already established. The relationship is just as strong. True friendships are consistent.
Willingness to challenge – Love and support is not ignoring the words you need to here.
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
I have a number of friendship I would consider true friendships. Of course, Cheryl and my boys make the list, but there are others. We’ve been through life together. I can’t imagine my life without them.
Unconditional love - A true friend loves at all times. Regardless of what you do, what happens, or where life takes you, a true friend loves at all times. On your worst day—when you aren’t even fun to be around—a true friend still takes you to lunch. (And likely pays.)
Adding the words and Timothy our brother strengthened the weight of Paul’s sympathy and love.
Adding the words and Timothy our brother strengthened the weight of Paul’s sympathy and love. Timothy’s name was also joined with Paul’s in the salutations to five of Paul’s other epistles (2 Cor., Phil., Col., 1 and 2 Thes[1]
Timothy’s name was also joined with Paul’s in the salutations to five of Paul’s other epistles (2 Cor., Phil., Col., 1 and 2 Thes[1]
Paul also mentioned another individual that Philemon knew - Timothy
Timothy had been with Paul at Ephesus (), was one of Paul’s most loyal and diligent coworkers (), and was a man whose praise was in all of the churches.
Probably, if Philemon had met Paul at Ephesus, he had also met Timothy. Possibly he had a warm regard for him as well.
So Paul would write this letter on the behalf of Onesimus. He introduced a common friend Timothy as well ...
Doing the right thing requires a friend that will make the hard choices.
Paul could have
Kept Onesimus with him in Rome
Ignored the fact the best thing for Onesimus was to make it right with Philemon for the goods he stole and ask Foregiveness
This was hard on both fronts
Onesemus
and Philemon
more here
II. A Family Affected
Lets look at the affected Family:
II. A Family Affected
II. A Family Affected
II. A Family Affected
II. A Family Affected
2 and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Unto Philemon our dearly beloved and fellowlabourer, and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier.…
Paul now speaks of Philemon’s family in the highest terms of praise. .
Paul mentions “our beloved Apphia.”
The word for “beloved” is taken by some to read “sister,” which could be more in keeping with Paul’s habitual guardedness in addressing women.
There can be little doubt, however, that she was Philemon’s wife, just as Archippus was Philemon’s son.
Paul calls Archippus a fellow soldier.
Archippus was evidently one of the ministers of Colosse. In the absence of Epaphras (), temporarily with Paul at Rome, and whom Paul later describes as his fellow prisoner (), no doubt the full burden of the ministry at Colosse had fallen on this young man’s shoulders.
Notice the letter not to addresses to just Philemon but the family.
The whole family was involved in this.
Notice the letter not to addresses to Philemon but the family.
Paul knows that this issue of forgiveness is not just Philemon but a family issue.
They are all involved...
They all knew Onesimus … he would be coming to confess the items he took.
They were knee deep in this as well
What would be their spirit
What be their countenance
For God to be honored they had to be brought in ...
What a wonderful time to express forgiveness and reconciliation ...
The example that Philemon would take would have profound effects on his family.
How do you think getting his pound of flesh from a runaway slave affect his family
Conversely - forgive and reinstating Onesimus into the church would be a radical departure from past behaviors in the community .
Illustrations - how does your ilife affect your family.
more here about he family
III. The Example for the Church
III. The Example for the Church
2 and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon
… and to the church in thy house.
IV. Grace and peace
IV. Grace and peace
No buildings the church was in homes....
Philemon’s house was one of the gathering places of the church at Colosse.
Probably, it was the chief meeting place, perhaps the only one, in light of the fact that Colosse itself was only a small town.
We gather from all of this that Philemon was an active and influential member of the Colossian church.
Paul is laying his foundations with care.
If Philemon was such an outstanding and leading member of the Christian community, it would not be too much to ask, at the appropriate time, that he act like it in his treatment of Onesimus.
What an opportunity Philemon had to show true Christianity to the Church that meets in his house.
What our church needs is leaders and members that act out their faith in real life issues.
… and to the church in thy house.
the appropriate time, that he act like it in his treatment of Onesimus.
How would this church that meets in his house:
Paul is laying his foundations with care. If Philemon was such an outstanding and leading member of the Christian community, it would not be too much to ask, at the appropriate time, that he act like it in his treatment of Onesimus.[1]
reflect forgivness
reflect compassion
reputation of slavery
This church will not stand if it does not rest on truth and its being acted out in real life situations.
What our community needs is sincere Christians living out their faith.
See this issue was not just between Philemon and Onesimus!
Philemon’s Family was at risk
Church was at risk.
The desired result was
IV. Grace and Peace
IV. Grace and Peace
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you, and peace.…
Not just grace, although grace alone would be all of the argument that was really needed.
Grace in the New Testament is unmerited favor; getting something we don’t deserve. Grace is the very essence of the gospel, what we have all received through Christ.
Paul uses the word because, in a paragraph or two, he is going to ask Philemon to treat Onesimus on this very principle of grace.
He is going to ask him to give Onesimus something that he did not deserve.
Forgiveness for the theft
Freedom from a slave
Give an undeserved favior
But it is not unaccompanied grace here. It is grace and peace. Peace means that the war is over. We have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Once we were rebels, runaway slaves, and our hearts were filled with harsh thoughts against God.
We had declared war on God’s claims, but now the war is over. We have peace.
Grace and peace - the war is over between Philemon and Onesimus (there is peace)
The war is over ...
Again, Paul uses the word deliberately, carefully laying his approaches to Philemon’s soul. He is going to tell him that whatever state of war existed between him and Onesimus is now over.
Doing the right thing is not an option.
The holy spirit will convict you to step out of your comfort zone and take action
ask for forgiveness - from those you hurt and stole from.
Be forgiving when someone comes asking
Be confronting when God has told you to intervene like Paul .......
Great close intervention