Philemon 1:12-16

Philemon 1:12-16 I am sending him — who is my very heart — back to you. 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. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good — 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.

Galatian 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one IN CHRIST JESUS. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We are all found IN CHRIST if we believe Jesus Christ is our Lord. If we have faith in Christ's work on the cross, we are heirs to God's presence and to eternal life. In the above passage, we see Paul reminding Philemon of his and Onesimus' position IN CHRIST. They are no longer master and slave in God's kingdom, they are brothers in Christ. God sees them as brothers. In God's domain, there is no longer male nor female, privileged or not. (Lands and possessions were passed from father to son if possible in the Jewish community.) Believers are not seen as Jew or Greek, chosen or unchosen. (God chose Abraham and the Jewish people as his people.) If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. As a Christian, you are considered to be chosen, receiving Abraham's blessing, which is Jesus Christ. You are of Abraham's seed, not seeds, AS IN MANY, BUT YOU ARE OF HIS SEED, WHICH IS CHRIST JESUS. Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ, has come to bless the world and to bring salvation to all who put their trust in him.

Paul reminds Philemon that his slave is now a Christian, and Christians look out for each other, for they are IN CHRIST, of the same household of faith. Christians should deeply imbue love, for God is love. Love never fails, but endures to the end. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Therefore, Onesimus was to be loved by Philemon as a brother IN CHRIST. Paul loved Onesimus as a son; Philemon was to love him as a brother. In the body of Christ, we should love each other as brothers and sisters. Our love should be known by all. People should know that we love people, that we are different from the world. John wrote, they will know you by your love. Sadly, sometimes the world knows us by our negative thinking, our narrowness, our complaining spirit, our doomsday face, not by our love. We should be the most joyful, happy, contented, loving people on the face of the earth.

But I suspect if you asked the world about Christians, they often would have an opposite view of us. And many of us have earned it. Many times we are ready to criticize and yet willing to overlook our own faults and failings. We readily discern sin, but not our own hypocrisy. We can tell the world quickly what they should do, but our actions many times betray our mouths. Too often, we do a poor job of portraying Jesus Christ to the world. Are we quick to forgive or are we quick to judge? Do we have a meek spirit or is ours a troubling spirit? Philemon was not to treat his brother in Christ as a slave anymore; he was to treat him as a brother. Neither should we treat the world as a master treats a slave. God did not make us overseers, judging and criticizing everything the world does. If we are loving, does that mean we have no influence over the world? No, we have more influence, for goodness exposes darkness--light drives out darkness.

Do you suppose Onesimus became slothful and lazy because he was treated better by Philemon when he returned? No, Christians reveal Christ by how hard they work. Onesimus would no longer need Philemon looking over his shoulder to ensure that he worked hard as a dutiful slave, for Christians are people of integrity with allegiance to Christ their Lord. They work hard. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 KJV) Paul wanted Philemon to act as a Christian in his dealings with his former slave, revealing Christ's love to Onesimus and to world. I am sure he did right by Onesimus when he returned. For the Lord's sake, may we do right by everyone, even those outside of the family of God who are watching to see light in the darkness.