Your Daily Devotional for May 25, 2006

May 25, 2006 

 

God’s Onesimus

By Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels”

 

Philemon 10-12

 

This morning as we take a look at this passage of Scripture, let’s understand some of the reasons why Paul wrote the book of Philemon. While under house arrest in Rome, Paul met Onesimus, a runaway slave from the city of Colosse. Apparently apprehended, he found himself in prison next to Paul.

 

Martin Luther, in his comments on the book of Philemon, makes this statement, “We are all God’s Onesimus.” Isaiah 53:6 clearly says, “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.” Like Onesimus, we have all offended God’s law and we all are in need of forgiveness. As Paul writes Philemon to appeal for Onesimus’ return and forgiveness, we see a beautiful picture of our own salvation.

 

Philemon had every right to punish Onesimus. In verse 11, we see that Onesimus was deemed unprofitable. Probably unprofitable as a servant, he was worth even less to Philemon as a runaway. Onesimus had turned his back on his owner. He had offended the law. In a far away city, Onesimus sat in prison with a bounty on his head and with little for which to live. He was unprofitable.

 

When we consider the pain Onesimus felt, we are just beginning to understand what an eternity will be like away from God. Without Christ, we are separated from God with the price of death and an eternity in hell on us. Amazingly, in God’s providence, Onesimus crossed paths with a soulwinner. Now, as the Apostle Paul writes to Philemon, he tells him that Onesimus was “begotten in my bonds.” He received Christ as his Saviour.

 

When I read that next phrase “now profitable,” I think of the how truly amazing the grace of God is. God can take any unprofitable runaway slave like you or me and say, “I am going to take your life that was not profitable and make it profitable for all eternity.” Undoubtedly, if you are saved you will say, thank God for His amazing grace.

 

Now that Onesimus was willing to return, Paul didn’t just ask Philemon to receive him and to give him his old position again. Instead, Paul instructs Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a servant, but as “a brother beloved” (verse 16). He tells him to completely forget any debts Onesimus might owe and to let go of any grievances he might still be holding. In verses 16 and 17, Paul says, “receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.” Paul was saying, “Don’t let him have his old slave quarters back. He is a brother in Christ now. Receive him as you would receive me.”

 

This is a great picture of the doctrine of imputation. The doctrine whereby God, through Jesus Christ, imputes His righteousness to your account, and God receives us as He would receive His only begotten Son.

 

When Jesus Christ died and shed His blood on the cross of Calvary, He made a payment for our sin. If you have trusted in Christ, then the righteousness of God has been imputed to your account. Where you and I owed a great balance, that balance was paid with the blood of Christ.

 

Maybe, like Onesimus you are running from God today. If you turn to the Lord, the salvation that He so freely offers will be yours. Your life, once unprofitable, will be made profitable for all eternity. Or perhaps, as a Christian, God will use you like He did the Apostle Paul, to tell an Onesimus that the Heavenly Father is waiting for him to come home. Will you continue running your entire life, or will you come to Him and rest in the promises of His Word?

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