Orange Moon Thursday, July 3, 2025 "Philemon" Part 4 - Not Now a Servant

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 4 - "Not Now A Servant"

 

    

    The Apostle Paul's intercession for Onesimus serves as one of the most vivid types of the Lord Jesus Christ found in Scripture.

    "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever, not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account" (Philemon 1:15-18).

    First, the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus makes possible the rescue of wayward human hearts "departed for a season," but received forever by God.  

   "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all… this is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (Isaiah 53:6; I John 5:11).

    Former rebels become "dear children" through Christ (Ephesians 5:1).  Paul sought a similar grace for escaped slave Onesimus, whom he desired to be received by Philemon in brotherly love rather than according to the dictates of earthly justice.  Scripture does not record the reception Onesimus received, although most readers and students of the Bible surmise a reunion graced by the love of the Lord Jesus.  We do know, however, the reception sinners receive in the new birth…

    "As many as received Him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

     As the saying goes, "From dust to glory, what a story!"  Even more, from sinful dust to "Christ in you, the hope of glory" blesses the believer with a salvation for which even eternity will not fully reveal the glory made resident within us (Colossians 1:27).  God receives the repentant and trusting sinner by literally entering his spirit and birthing a "new man, created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).  We can imagine a brotherly embrace when Philemon and Onesimus reunited, and a lifetime of walking as brothers in Christ.  Salvation also provides a family relationship, but with the divine Father whereby an indwelling occurs, namely, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).   As sons and daughters in Christ, we thereafter walk with Him thereafter through the presence and power of His promise, "I will dwell in them and walk in them" (II Corinthians 6:16).  What a story indeed, or rather, what a glorious reality that the redemption of the Lord Jesus rescues us from "alienated from the life of God" to "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 4:18; 1:6).

   Paul's intercession for a spiritual brotherhood to be birthed between a master and a slave stands as a beautiful analogy through the ages of God's redeeming work in the Son whereby He receives "many sons unto glory" (Hebrews 2:10).  We remain servants of our Lord after salvation, of course, but the service of a son or daughter constitutes a far different matter than of a slave.  The matter involves heart, particularly since our relationship with God involves the living presence of His Son in our hearts.  Eternity will not allow our full understanding and experience of "so great salvation" provided by so great a Savior, whose living presence within us means that far more than Philemon and Onesimus knew, "not now as a servant" will grace our primary relationship with God forever (Hebrews 2:3).

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

(I John 3:1-2)

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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Orange Moon Wednesday, July 2, 2025 "Philemon" Part 3 - Every Good Thing"

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 3 - "Every Good Thing"

 

    

    As his epistle to Philemon opens, the Apostle Paul graciously affirms Philemon and his love for God and people.  However, Paul also anticipates his request regarding the receiving of escaped slave Onesimus will greatly challenge Philemon.  He therefore communicates a profound truth every born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ must know in order to faithfully obey God.

    "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 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.  For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels (hearts) of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother" (Philemon 1:4-7)

    Paul does not encourage the reception of Onesimus "as a brother beloved" based on Philemon somehow finding a way by his own dedication to receive his wayward servant (Philemon 1:16).  The Apostle rather directs attention and focus to the Lord Jesus' presence in Philemon.  He hopes his brother will "look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" as the dynamic means whereby fleshly inclinations can replaced and overcome by the divine grace whereby we "serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 2:2; 12:28).  Paul well knew the truth declared by the Lord Jesus to His disciples: "Without Me, ye can do nothing."  He also knew the enlivening and empowering truth of grace God had called him to communicate: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13; emphasis added).

   In and of ourselves, believers can no more live the Christian life according to God's standard than we could have spiritually birthed ourselves at the outset of our relationship with God.  Through the leading and enabling of the Holy Spirit, however, faith and faithfulness can abundantly flow in us, whatever the challenge of obedience may involve.

    "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

    "We also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you" (II Corinthians 13:4).

   Paul called Onesimus to obedience in the light and life of "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."  Our Heavenly Father calls us in this day and forevermore to the same "life… more abundant" empowered by the same glorious means (John 10:10).  First, God supplies His enabling presence.  Then, we acknowledge and affirm His promise and provision.  "I will strengthen thee… The Lord is my strength… Thou art my strength" (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 118:14; 31:4).  In the light of such grace received by faith, the divine and the human unite to perform wonders of the love of God only possible as He works and we trust.

    We can surmise that Philemon responded well to Paul's request, based on a faithful brother likely responding well to the truth of God's enabling presence in his heart.  Our own response of faithfulness hinges on the same, namely, "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus," along with our conviction of faith that affirms the truth.  Appearances may belie.  Emotions may counter.  Contrary thoughts may flit in our minds.  The flesh may and will resist (Galatians 5:17).  The truth abides nevertheless.  The Spirit of the risen Lord Jesus lives in us.  He walks in us.  He works in us.  "Every good thing" of His character and nature dwells in the spirits of believers to make possible miracles of faithful obedience that could not happen in any way other than the power of Christ being resident and active in us.  "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

   Long ago, the Apostle Paul directed a brother in Christ to do a difficult thing.  He did not do so, however, by calling that brother to find the strength in his humanity for the loving reception of a slave, now a brother.  He rather pointed Philemon to the Savior who redeemed us not only from sin, but unto a life He alone can inspire, motivate, guide, and empower.  Paul would direct us to the same regarding our own callings to the life of goodness that results from "every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work."

(II Corinthians 9:8)

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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Orange Moon Tuesday, July 1, 2025 "Philemon". Part 2 - The Intercssion

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 2 - The Intercession

    

 

    The Apostle Paul wrote the epistle to Philemon as an intercession on behalf of an escaped slave, Onesimus, whom Paul desired Philemon his owner to receive "not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved" (Philemon 1:16).  Paul had led both men to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and sought to establish a relationship based on the fact of their shared spiritual being and standing in God's grace and truth.

   The letter is rich in typology of the Lord Jesus and His redeeming work on our behalf.  "He ever liveth to make intercession" as "the one mediator between God and men" (Hebrews 7:25; I Timothy 2:5).  His grace made possible our new birth into family relationship with God, wherein believers are "no more a servant, but a son," even as Paul sought Oneimus to be received by Philemon in the same acceptance and family favor (Galatians 4:7).

    "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

   Had Paul never been imprisoned in Rome, he likely would never have met Onesimus, nor would he have led him to faith in the Lord Jesus.  The Apostle's sufferings made possible Onesimus' salvation, as well as the epistle that would not have existed apart from God's working to enable Paul to serve as the intercessor of the slave who became a brother.  Christ's work on our behalf vividly shines in the account of a grace whereby the loss of one results in the gain of others.  He became human for us, and even more, became something far more in sorrow, suffering, loss, and death:

     "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).

    The Son became sin, that sinners might become sons.  God is not content that human beings exist merely as His creations.  He rather made us to be spiritually birthed into a relationship nearer than we can presently realize.  "Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be" (I John 3:2).  Indeed, when the Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Our Father, which art in Heaven," He presaged a coming day when those who trust Him would by His sacrifice be birthed into a bond with God even angels desire to examine (Matthew 6:9; I Peter 1:12).

   No believer feels worthy in and of ourselves to be sons and daughters of God in Christ.  Our worthiness, however, is not based on ourselves or our doings.  We rather find ourselves "accepted in the Beloved," whose intercession for us grants a relationship and fellowship with God foreshadowed by Paul's intercession for a slave we trust was received as "a brother beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).  A reading of Philemon tells us of such grace and mercy.  It does not reveal the greeting Onesimus received when returning to the master we can surmise received him as a brother.  But we can imagine, even as we can ponder our entrance one day into our Father's presence, discovering how near He has drawn us to Himself through the Son "made to be sin" that He might forever serve as the glorious intercessor of "many sons" (Hebrews 2:10).  

"For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

(Ephesians 2:18)

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."

(I John 4:9)

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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