Orange Moon Tuesday, July 8, 2025 "Philemon" - Part 8 - Every Step

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(Over the next few days, we will consider the the Apostle Paul's epistle to Philemon, one of my favorite portions of Scripture, and one of its most Christ-exalting and revealing revelations of truth.)

"Philemon"

Part 8  - Every Step

    

     

    "Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say" (Philemon 1:20-21).

    Where did the Apostle Paul's confidence lie regarding Philemon's faithful response to the request regarding the reception of Onesimus as a brother rather than a slave?  Certainly, not in any faithfulness Philemon might work up by his own ways and means.

    "We are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

    Paul rather based his expectation on directing Philemon to "look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…"

     "Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints, that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2; Philemon 1:5-6).

    Be it the most seemingly minute step of faithful obedience, or martyrdom for the Lord Jesus, the will of God transcends the native inclinations and abilities of every believer by an infinite measure.  "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).  Our obedience is fruit.  It is not and can never be root.  Paul realized this about himself, and just as importantly, about his brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus.  When praying for, or encouraging one another to do the will of God, we focus on "Christ, the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:24).  Rather than act as Pharaoh demanding that God's people make brick without straw, we rather direct attention to an overflowing storage of grace in our Savior whereby His faithfulness guides, motivates, and empowers our own, as well as our fellow believers.  "My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Exodus 5:7; Ephesians 6:10).

   Paul looked unto the Lord Jesus for Philemon, reminding him that Christ served as the author and finisher of his faith.  This elicited much confidence that grace would be revealed in Philemon for Onesimus.  God calls us to the same expectation, basing our confidence for obedience in ourselves and our brethren on the only hope we have for faithfulness to God.  "Christ… is our hope" (I Timothy 1:1).  We require His grace for every step of our walk with Him, no less than we required the same freely given provision for our new birth.  

    "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7).

    Three brothers in Christ long ago walked the blessed path of a faithful Lord making possible faithfulness to the enabling presence of His love.  One beckoned in confidence.  Another, we trust, responded in faithfulness.  Yet another was blessed and overwhelmed by reception as "a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:16).  All doubtless fell before the One who makes possible and actual His character revealed in those He indwells.  In this blessed light of grace, obedience to God ever shines as a joyful prospect of seeing the Lord Jesus yet again revealed as our hope regarding every step along the path of righteousness.  Every step.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."(Hebrews 13:20-21)

"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.  And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

(I John 5:3-5)

Weekly Memory Verse 

     Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 (Romans 5:20-21).

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Orange Moon Monday, July 7, 2025 "Philemon" - Part 7 - "Brothers"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(Over the next few days, we will consider the the Apostle Paul's epistle to Philemon, one of my favorite portions of Scripture, and one of its most Christ-exalting and revealing revelations of truth.)

"Philemon"

Part 7  - "Brothers"

    

     

    "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever" (Philemon 1:15).

    Onesimus left as a slave.  We can surmise Philemon responded well to the Apostle Paul's intercession, whereby Onesimus  returned and was received as a brother, forever bound to Philemon in the bond of Christ's love that dwelt in both men's hearts (Philemon 1:10; 19).  

    Long ago in Eden, the heart of the human race turned away from God by distrusting and disobeying Him (Genesis 3).  The Lord immediately began His working to redeem us unto Himself.  In general terms and personally, we all "departed," but hopefully, only "for a season."  For those who trust the Lord Jesus, we return to be received forever.  In the marvel of God's grace and providence, believers enter into a far greater relationship with God through the Lord Jesus  than ever we would have known had sin not occurred.

    "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).

   In no way does this mean that God determined the sin of Adam, or the sin of any other.  "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man, but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:13-14).  It does mean, however, that God's redeeming work in Christ makes possible a light of grace in our Lord we would never have seen had the darkness of sin not occurred.  Countless hearts and minds have pondered such a wonder of providence through the ages, seeking light that illuminates the mystery of God's ways "past finding out" (Roman 11:33).  Glimmers are seen here and there.  However, the predominant conclusion of even the brightest among us speaks to far more bewilderment than understanding regarding a grace whereby the redeemed discover the love of God in a boundless measure that would have not been possible had we not needed His redemption.  "The love of Christ… passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19).

   We may wonder about the relationship of Philemon and Onesimus that transpired after Paul's intercession.  Scripture does not provide an account of the slave's return to his master.  Actually, no such occurrence took place.  A brother rather returned to meet a brother, as led by the One who had now become their mutual Father and Master.  The sublime character and nature of the Lord Jesus indwelt the hearts of both men, who must have entered into a bond of brotherhood and friendship that lasted a lifetime (and extended into eternity).  "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (I Peter 1:22).

     The scenario vividly reflects the relationship freely given to all believers, departed for a season from our Lord, but returned and redeemed to forever know our Lord's love, and to love Him in grateful and amazed response.  "We love Him because He first loved us" (I John 4:19).   We have been "received forever," which includes this moment to ponder with fresh amazement the grace whereby former slaves of sin, worthy only of condemnation, return to be greeted as beloved sons and daughters.  

He left a slave, racing toward the grave.

He returned a brother, redeemed by Another.

Another whom his master knew, 

his master's Master.

his brother's Master.

In Christ, they came together,

bound by love and grace.

In shared devotion, faith, and wonder,

they raised their hearts together

to look upon His face.

What they saw, what they see,

united them forever

as sons of the same Father.

Saints, friends, brothers

in His house - in His heart - together.

together forever.

"God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved),  and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

(Ephesians 2:4-7)

Weekly Memory Verse 

     Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 (Romans 5:20-21).

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Orange Moon Saturday, July 5, 2025 "Philemon" - Part 6 - I Have Repaid

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

(Over the next few days, we will consider the the Apostle Paul's epistle to Philemon, one of my favorite portions of Scripture, and one of its most Christ-exalting and revealing revelations of truth.)

"Philemon"

Part 6 - "I Have Repaid"

    

     

    "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account. I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it" (Philemon 1:18-19).

    In his intercession for Onesimus conveyed to Philemon, the Apostle Paul beautifully typifies the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Put that on my account" declared Paul to his brother in Christ, Philemon, for his brother in Christ, Onesimus.  We can imagine the Lord Jesus saying the same thing about us to his Father, who did precisely that:

   "He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

   When the sinner rightly recognizes his sin against God, a vast mountain of debt looms as insurmountable before his guilty heart.    "I cannot repay!" he must acknowledge.  Another party, however, enters the picture.  "I have repaid!" He declares.  "I have paid in full!"  Indeed, God accounts the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as so  effectual that the sinner who receives the gift purchased by the Savior enters into an astonishing place in the heart and economy of God…

    "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Romans 4:8).

    Note the determination of God toward those in Christ.  He "will not impute sin to us."  Why?  Because He so fully, so emphatically, so painfully, and so sacrificially imputed our sins to His beloved Son.  Indeed, can we imagine the Father's remembrance of the Lord Jesus' suffering and forsakenness for us leading to anything other than "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us?" (Psalm 103:13).  As a preacher of old once declared, it would be "a sadistic perversion" for God to place even the most insignificant sin on our account when He poured out His wrath on Christ as He "bore our sins" and was "made to be sin" for us (I Peter 2:24).  Our Father is not capable of sadistic perversions, and thus we can rest assured that once we enter into Christ by grace through faith, the "Paid in full!" of His redeeming work forever stamps the debit side of our ledger.

   Paul, in so many ways, declared and portrayed the beauty of God's saving grace in the Lord Jesus.  At least in type, none more vividly and beautifully illustrate the wonder of grace than his plea to Philemon for Onesimus.  "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account… I will repay it."  Someone else has expressed such mercy, and far more, made the sacrifice that cost Him so much in order to provide our salvation and its eternal wonder so freely.  Indeed, should we ever wonder how God can pardon us, the answer always lies in the truth of no pardon and no reprieve on the cross of Calvary.  As the song goes…

"He paid a debt He did not owe.

I owed a debt I could not pay,

I needed someone to wash my sins away.

And now I sing a brand new song,

Amazing Grace the whole day long.

Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay."

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

(Romans 8:32)

Weekly Memory Verse 

    For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory.

(Hebrews 2:10).

  

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