When we read books of the Bible we need to always remember that absolutely everything in Scripture is about Christ. Absolutely everything. The short book of Philemon is no exception. Many over the years have used this book to focus on slavery – both in its defense and its abolition. However, we must note here that this small epistle penned by Paul while imprisoned has its focus on forgiveness. Namely, that in Christ a believer now not only has the ability but the desire to be completely forgiving because they have been completely forgiven themselves. It truly illustrates the changed life of a believer and the importance of forgiveness. Did not our Lord remind us that if we are not willing to forgive others that our Father in heaven will not forgive us? (Matthew 6:15) Does this not teach us that to forgive and the desire to forgive no matter the offense is a true mark of a believer. (Matthew 18:21-35) It was Thomas Watson, the great Puritan, who wrote, “We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven. Let us look into our hearts and see if we can forgive others. If we can, we need not doubt that God has forgiven us.” Oh how true this is and we cannot miss how Scripture makes this point clear.

This is exactly what we see in the book of Philemon. The story behind the book is like a small mini movie. Paul is writing to one of his converts named Philemon and his wife and son who apparently oversee a house church. They had a slave named Onesimus who we gather must have decided to run away and in the process apparently stole money or items from Philemon. Onesimus in his desire to hide ran to Rome, a densely populated city in the hopes of staying in the shadows. It was there in Rome that this runaway came into contact with Paul and became a believer. Oh how the grace of God in Christ is freely available to all! This is why we see such loving words of relational affection used by Paul in this letter for he calls both Philemon and Onesimus his children and brothers. Children in the sense that it was through his gospel proclamation that they became believers and through regeneration and adoption into the kingdom they are truly brothers forever in Christ. What a glorious truth.

With that brief background in place let us take a moment to review the glorious words of Holy Scripture concerning not necessarily Philemon or Onesimus but Christ and His love, grace and forgiveness to His elect. A truth that should cause us to pause often in awe of what is truly amazing grace.

Paul opens his letter addressing Philemon and his family. The early church met in houses and followed the Biblical guidelines for elders. It is likely that Philemon was an elder in the house church and his son, Archippus was also apparently a leader in the church. (Col. 4:17)

The opening verses of this this epistle (verses 3-7) give glorious insight into the life of Philemon. He, and all the elect, can rejoice in knowing that grace and peace with God are permanently and fully made available through Christ. Not only is there peace with the wrath of God propitiated in Christ in His death and resurrection, but we also see from these verses that there always is a changed life with regeneration. Paul thanks God in hearing about the love and faith Philemon has for Christ and to other believers. This love to God and the brethren is one of the truest marks of true salvation. Does not John in his first epistle speak over and over again of true salvation being love for the brethren? (1 John 2:10-11; 3:10; 3:14; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11; 4:16; 4:20) This is exactly what Paul is so excited about as he continues to hear about Philemon’s changed life exemplified by his great and continuing love for God and the brethren. Paul experiences joy and comfort in knowing such love and faith exists in one of his converts. (v. 7) Should we not also share in that same joy when we see others growing in holiness and growing more into the image of Jesus Christ? Is not a growing faith and love for the brethren a true mark of regeneration? We see here exactly what James teaches in his epistle that faith without works is dead. (James 2:26) True saving faith produces a changed life and this is what Paul was hearing and likely seeing in the life of one of those he had the joy of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with.

Now we move to the issue at hand in this letter – the importance of forgiveness in the life of a believer. Paul writes in verses 8-16 that he could charge Philemon to do what is right but instead he wants Philemon to do what he knows he should do given he is a new creation in Christ. This is how Paul handles this letter. Paul writes to appeal to Philemon that just in the same way the he is a new creation his once worthless runaway slave has now also been transformed by the power of the Gospel. (Rom. 1:16) Paul, referring to Onesimus as his child, is now reminding Philemon that through the gospel he is now a true child of God and has been perfectly and permanently adopted into the kingdom through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We even see the glorious sovereignty of God in all things in this letter. Notice a fascinating and powerful statement in verse 15. Paul writes that perhaps it was for his salvation that God even worked through the sin of this slave. Do not all things work for good and is not God sovereign over all things? Oh to share with Paul in his letter to the Romans when he writes, “…oh the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33) Written in context concerning God’s sovereignty over the Jews it no doubt also applies to God’s amazing and sovereign control over all things and His ability to turn something meant for evil for good. (Gen. 50:20)

However, there is still something to be done. Onesimus has wronged his master by running away and stealing from him and Paul rightly knows that he needs to do what is right and return to his master and ask for forgiveness and make reparations as best he can. So Paul sends his letter with Onesimus to return to Philemon and in true Christian love even tells him that if his new brother in Christ has wronged him financially that Paul will foot the bill. I believe he makes this statement to cause Philemon and us to meditate on the amazing debt we could never pay to God and yet God in Christ paid the infinite debt we could not pay. Paul even reminds Philemon that it was through Paul that he heard the gospel as well. It is a reminder that all of our salvation is outside of ourselves – that salvation is completely and totally of God. (Jonah 2:9)

This is a call and reminder to us all of grace and perfect forgiveness in Christ. This entire letter, like all of Scripture, is completely about Christ and a reminder to we who have been saved of His infinite mercy, love, grace and forgiveness. It is also a reminder to we who are new creations in Christ that we should also be completely forgiving no matter the cost or offense against us. If our desire as Christians is to be made more like Christ (as it should be) then our desire should also be to forgive as God has forgiven us in Christ. May this epistle also remind us that the gospel not only is the power of God to save but also to transform. As August Toplady wrote in his great hymn Rock of Ages, the cross has a double cure! Both Philemon and Onesimus are now not only brothers in Christ but also new creations with new hearts and new desires that no longer seek to please self but seek to please and be obedient to Christ. It is for this reason that Paul has all confidence that Philemon would do what is right in forgiving Onesimus since he is equally confidence that brother Philemon is a true believer and one led by the Holy Spirit to the glory of God in Christ!

Soli Deo Gloria