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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) |
PHILEMON 1-3
(Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7; Philemon 1-25)
From The Bottom Up!
Congregation in our dear Saviour, and Lord, Jesus Christ…
This is a type of letter from Paul which is quite unique.
And that’s not because it’s personally written to someone.
There are letters like that which he wrote to Timothy and Titus.
Rather, it’s a rare type of letter from Paul because it’s written to someone about another person altogether!
You see, Paul is writing to Philemon about a slave of his called Onesimus.
He was a slave who had run away from his master.
Yet - far more importantly - he was a slave who had become free in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There has come about the most tremendous change in the life of Onesimus!
He who had heard the Gospel while in Philemon’s household, and who may well have been baptised when Philemon came to faith, has himself been touched by the Lord’s saving grace!
You see, he had run away from his master.
He had gone to the big city.
And by whatever influence, whatever move of the Holy Spirit, he had heard Paul preach, and he’d been convicted in his heart.
Now he has to go back.
Congregation, if there is one thing that the Gospel makes you realise is that you’re not free from something - you are freed for someone!
And that someone is no one less than the one, our Lord Jesus Christ.
So Onesimus is going to his master, Philemon.
That’s where he must serve.
Now, we could have all kinds of concern about how wrong slavery is, and how terrible.
History tells us of the most horrific abuses that slaves suffered.
But then it was a slavery which was different that what we have known in more recent history as slavery.
For all the employees of this early New Testament age were slaves.
Whether they were professions such as lawyers and doctors, or tradesmen like carpenters and boat makers, or labourers.
So what will Paul do?
He cannot just pick up his ‘phone and give him a ring.
It’s a bit different than, “Hi Philemon!
“It’s Paul here.
“Yea, the apostle.
“Look I’m ringing about this guy Onesimus…”
That couldn’t be done.
And it shouldn’t be done in this way today either.
Well, how do you handle a situation like this?
Which way could I talk to someone about this?
Congregation, that’s where our text comes in.
In this beginning to his letter we see the apostle clearly showing that it’s not just a “Hi! How ya going?” kind of an opening.
Right from the beginning of this letter, however, Paul is going to use every word to press the tremendous forgiving love there is in the Lord.
And so already in these first three verses Paul conveys three key elements.
The first of these is how Paul starts his letter.
This is THE LOCATION OF THE APOSTLE.
Here we have a first aspect to our text.
So, what about this place where Paul is?
Well, it’s not very comfortable - that’s for sure!
For he begins his letter, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus…”
And that’s exactly what he was!
A prisoner!
In far-away Rome the authorities had him under guard.
Now, it doesn’t seem to have been a harsh imprisonment where he would have been kept in a cold damp cell, and feed on dry bread and water.
But it kept him out of circulation.
He was under house arrest - unable to travel, not even to go down the street - though people could visit him.
Still, it’s unusual for him to mention this as he begins a letter.
Looking at his other letters, also the personal ones, he begins with something like, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus…”
He doesn’t start anywhere else by stating his title as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus”.
This is where the purpose behind his letter already comes through.
Paul is writing about Onesimus.
So what can he write that will help Philemon really understand?
How can he place this whole letter as a desperate plea with Philemon to take Onesimus back so that together they will both serve the same Master?
This is where using the title, “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” comes in.
Because immediately the imagery is not of the important role Paul has, but his own slavery.
There he is in Rome, imprisoned because of the Gospel.
And then Philemon would have been reminded of what had happened already to put Paul in prison.
That’s what we read of in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians chapter 4.
There he had urged the believers to live a life worthy of the calling they had received, as a prisoner for the Lord himself!
Paul knew what it was to be oppressed.
Philemon was a good friend.
He himself has seen some of the suffering Paul endured for the sake of the Lord.
Though, congregation, what is even all of that compared with the rejection the Master himself suffered.
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus…”
See - even more memories flooding back to Philemon!
Because Paul always brought them back to the cross.
Christ’s suffering was being continued in his disciple.
That’s the sense Paul wants to bring.
In whichever way it will have impact, that Christ will be proclaimed.
This is what Paul prayed for even with those having false motives in Philippians 1.
He prayed that - despite that - it was Christ being held up - and him alone!
And then, dear friends, we will suffer!
So Paul’s title here of being a prisoner stamped this as a plea from Christ himself to Philemon.
The freedom you only find in Jesus - the salvation which gives you joy forever - that puts you in the place where the world doesn’t want to be.
Verse 1 makes it clear.
We see this through THE LOCATION OF THE APOSTLE.
It is where Timothy is, too.
Timothy - another person Philemon respected.
And in this case Timothy who stood by Paul in what this letter was about.
Congregation, we’ve seen THE LOCATION OF THE APOSTLE.
Now, in the second place, the apostle addresses THE POSITION OF THE FRIENDS.
Paul has said where he’s coming from - now he speaks to where they’re at.
And so we have in the rest of verse 1 and in verse 2 three people mentioned and a church.
From what can best be gathered it seems Apphia is the wife of Philemon, and Archippus is their son.
It’s their home where the Colossian church meets.
Though, let’s notice, most of all, how Paul addresses them.
Since Philemon is mentioned first we’re sure the letter is written to him.
And he would have been about the apostle’s age.
About him we read, “To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker…”
These are very warm words.
The ESV translates this as, “our beloved”.
After all, they did know each other.
As verse 19 mentioned, Paul was used by the Lord to convert Philemon.
And Paul has a healthy respect for him.
The term “dear friend”, and what follows in this letter, presents a noble picture of Philemon.
Together with their association in the past, there has also been a time of working together.
That’s why Paul goes further in describing Philemon as his “fellow worker”.
It’s a combination that doesn’t always work out.
We know that good friends aren’t always the best work mates.
Paul in the past had experienced that when fellow evangelists on their travels together couldn’t handle it so well.
And certainly when it comes to running a business with someone, or loaning money to help, we could well risk whatever closeness we had with them before.
But here was one he obviously respected highly – they worked well together both ways.
So, though the reason is to plead the case of Onesimus - who would be delivering this letter - it’s not written with any sense of apprehension or fear.
Here is a confidence.
Here are colleagues in Christ.
It’s by appealing to what they are that Paul especially makes them consider his request.
Here his point is about THE POSITION OF THE FRIENDS.
For instance, calling Apphia, “our sister” firmly states that she’s a believer.
She’s not only an important part of the physical household, she’s especially a part of the spiritual family.
Yet, congregation, do we have such positions today?
I was once asked why churches use the titles of ‘Brother’ and ‘Sister’ in referring to different members.
To that person it seemed a little old-fashioned.
And others have said that it makes us sound like we are some kind of religious order, or sect.
Well, you think about it, would it make such a difference if we never used these titles?
Is it best that we don’t bring out the position we have before each other in the church?
And you can’t deny that these titles are true.
Calling one another ‘Brother’ or ‘Sister’, or ‘Son’ or ‘Daughter’ show what we really are.
And when we use them, we’re forced to think about what we are.
Even if it can become a habit, or a meaningless tradition.
It won’t do that here, though!
Paul confirms this with writing next, “to Archippus our fellow soldier.”
He highlights how Archippus is an aggressive fighter in the battle for the Lord.
Perhaps he had fulfilled the task Paul had told him to do in Colossians 4 verse 17.
It certainly appeared to have been an especially difficult thing to do.
Whatever the case, the imagery is clear.
Archippus is on the battle front.
But, then, which believer isn’t?
And so it is that every believer has their position.
In the words of Ephesians 4 verse 7, “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
Notice - not what we have on our own.
Only what we have in the Lord.
Therefore the church being included at the end of verse 2 is most appropriate.
Even though this letter is a personal one to Philemon, yet here’s a reminder that how he deals with Onesimus isn’t a strictly private affair.
Although Philemon is the master, he can’t forget that spiritual family of which he’s no more important than any one else.
The way that he treats his slave affects them, too.
And it would be in this spiritual circle that a pardoned and restored Onesimus would have to find his place at Colossae.
But never does Paul presume upon Philemon.
So having seen THE LOCATION OF THE APOSTLE, and then having pointed to THE POSITION OF HIS FRIENDS, the text now goes higher still and puts it all under THE SALUTATION OF THE LORD.
This is our third aspect.
In verse 3 Paul extends to them the greeting in the name of the Lord.
He declares, “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It sounds familiar - doesn’t it?
In fact, many of our worship services begin with such a greeting from the Lord.
There’s another name it’s also called by - “salutation”.
That’s why when we hear it we are put under THE SALUTATION OF THE LORD.
Having lifted our hearts to him as we confess that “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,” we, as his people, are blessed.
You see, we know where it all comes from.
And how it all comes!
Because what is the “grace” here except God’s un-merited favour through salvation!
We’re reminded of our sins, and how they have been forgiven by an infinite compassion.
And “peace” is what comes from receiving this grace.
It describes what happens when we’re joined with the Lord by his grace.
Grace tells us the source of our salvation.
Peace speaks of how it comes to us.
That’s why in all the salutations “grace” always comes first.
We cannot know the peace of God without first receiving his grace.
And it’s “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” that it all springs out of.
God our Father is he who because of the Son is our Father.
He planned it right from time immemorial that his Son would come.
And Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives.
He has the two distinct Persons.
As one steeped in the Hebrew revelation of the unity of God, for Paul to have united the name Jesus with that of God, if he thought Jesus was only a man, would have been blasphemy.
But it’s quite the opposite!
Here is the unfailing source of grace and peace which Philemon and others of that church, and all of us today, need in handling whatever life may throw at us.
If we keep our eyes of faith on this source we’ll have more than enough “grace”, and the enjoyment of a “peace” that passes all understanding.
As Ephesians 4, the verses 4 and 5, says, “There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Congregation - this is the power we have come to know!
It’s exactly this strength which can help Philemon, and his fellow believers, accept someone back, even though he deserted them so terribly in the first place.
Why - isn’t that exactly the kind of forgiveness you’ve received?
Hasn’t God been the loving Father of Luke 15 who accepted his prodigal son back, after he went and squandered all that he had?
What is there to do but to look forward to what else Paul is about to write?
With this kind of opening we’ve been placed under nothing less than THE SALUTATION OF THE LORD himself.
Which better place could there be?
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray…
O Lord Jesus,
What a wonderful way to be refreshed again!
Even these words which begin a letter are your Words!
May they help us to remember our place, the position of others, and most of all who we are under.
In your Light we truly do see!
Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
The source for this sermon was: www.rcnz.org.nz
(c) Copyright, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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