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Overflowing Grace Philemon. A deeply personal letter To a church and its members From Paul to Philemon about Onesimus Saturated in forgiveness and grace. Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker…. Setting
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Overflowing GracePhilemon A deeply personal letter To a church and its members From Paul to Philemon about Onesimus Saturated in forgiveness and grace
Philemon 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker…
Setting Paul was a VIP Now he is in chains Onesimus is a slave The runaway slave become a convert Paul knows the master He sends the slave back Forgiveness and grace for Onesimus
I am a prisoner I am powerless I can relate to Onesimus who is powerless and helpless but now a brother in Christ
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I could order you to do the right thing However because… You know the love of Christ You know what He did for you You know what Jesus stands for You must do what Christ would do for my son Onesimus
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
Onesimus is of great value to me The same value I place on you I would love to have him work with me But I know he is legally yours
15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
I want you to take him back No longer as the slave he was But now as a brother As a man A family member in Christ
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Whatever he took from you … I am responsible for that debt You owe me You owe God
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Do the right thing I am sure you will do even more than you have to
Grace 1. Elegance of manner. 2. A pleasing or attractive. 3. Favor or goodwill. 4. A manifestation of favor, especially by a superior. 5. Mercy; clemency; pardon.
Runaway slaves When caught Were flogged Sometimes they were killed
Mary Johnson Laramiun Lamont Byrd Oshea Israel 17 years in prison “Nudges from God” “God brought us together” “He is like my son” Her forgiveness changed Oshea
Colossians 3 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Paul helps us to see that Christ died even for people like Onesimus Paul pleads for a world not based on race, rank or learning A world held by the grace of God Where people get second chances Where forgiveness is possible
God forgave everything when we became his children He asks us to forgive To dispense that same overflowing grace to others
Years later History tells us there was a bishop in Ephesus His name? Onesimus
Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel From Death to Life A ministry to promote healing between families Onesimus Defender of the faith Martyr The grace that was shown to them overflowed