WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY (3 OF 3)
by Tim Badal
Scripture: Philemon 1:17-25
This content is part of a series.
We All Have a Part to Play (3 of 3)
Series: Philemon: Reconciliation Through Forgiveness
Tim Badal
Philemon 1:17-25
Today we finish up our three-week series from the one-page letter of Philemon, which is between Titus and Hebrews at the end of the New Testament. We come again to the subject we've been looking at: reconciliation through forgiveness. We've been learning about this letter the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison in Rome. The shortest of his letters, this was not written to a church or to a group of churches but to one individual, a man named Philemon.
Philemon was a man who lived in Colossae which was located in modern-day Turkey. He was a man of great means, a master of servants and slaves. He was also a prominent member in the church of Colossae which met in his home. He no doubt was one of the leaders of that church. Paul wrote this letter because of something that took place in the life of Philemon.
Philemon had one particular slave or servant, whom he had provided and cared for, named Onesimus. Onesimus had made a decision for whatever reason-which we're not given-to steal goods and maybe money from Philemon and flee to the city of Rome, where he disappeared to start a new life. Philemon was hurt and offended by it, no doubt. If someone were to steal from us, we would feel that sense of betrayal and loss.
While in Rome, Onesimus tried to build a new life apart from Philemon and the people he had known in Colossae. In doing so, he came into contact with the Apostle Paul. Not knowing that Paul and Philemon had a relationship, Onesimus heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and was transformed by it. Through Philemon's friend Paul, Onesimus realized not only that he needed a Savior in Jesus Christ, but also that trusting Christ wasn't just a vertical relationship. Receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ changed his horizontal relationships as well.
Because of these changes, Paul told Onesimus he had to do the unthinkable: go back ...
Series: Philemon: Reconciliation Through Forgiveness
Tim Badal
Philemon 1:17-25
Today we finish up our three-week series from the one-page letter of Philemon, which is between Titus and Hebrews at the end of the New Testament. We come again to the subject we've been looking at: reconciliation through forgiveness. We've been learning about this letter the Apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison in Rome. The shortest of his letters, this was not written to a church or to a group of churches but to one individual, a man named Philemon.
Philemon was a man who lived in Colossae which was located in modern-day Turkey. He was a man of great means, a master of servants and slaves. He was also a prominent member in the church of Colossae which met in his home. He no doubt was one of the leaders of that church. Paul wrote this letter because of something that took place in the life of Philemon.
Philemon had one particular slave or servant, whom he had provided and cared for, named Onesimus. Onesimus had made a decision for whatever reason-which we're not given-to steal goods and maybe money from Philemon and flee to the city of Rome, where he disappeared to start a new life. Philemon was hurt and offended by it, no doubt. If someone were to steal from us, we would feel that sense of betrayal and loss.
While in Rome, Onesimus tried to build a new life apart from Philemon and the people he had known in Colossae. In doing so, he came into contact with the Apostle Paul. Not knowing that Paul and Philemon had a relationship, Onesimus heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and was transformed by it. Through Philemon's friend Paul, Onesimus realized not only that he needed a Savior in Jesus Christ, but also that trusting Christ wasn't just a vertical relationship. Receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ changed his horizontal relationships as well.
Because of these changes, Paul told Onesimus he had to do the unthinkable: go back ...
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