did you ever wonder in the back of your mind why this book is in the bible? Gary stearns (prophecy today) teaches it's a picture of the useless servant coming to Christ and going back to his master as profitable. Like the body of christ going home to be used by God,
Also, I see a beautiful picture of how the book of Philemon parallels God's grace and mercy. Onesimus, being a runaway slave who had stolen from his master Philemon, and back in those days, if a slave ran away and was caught, they would be put to death. So here is Onesimus who stole from his master Philemon and ran away. But somehow he gets put into prison in Rome, and who does he run into? Paul. They didn't know each other. And so Onesimus hears Paul preaching and teaching the gospel. And Paul is ministering to him, so Onesimus receives Christ and is saved.
And Onesimus tells Paul what he did. He stole from his master and ran away, and that's why he's in Rome. So Paul inquires as to where he's from and he says Colossae. So Paul says I've been to Colossae and I know some people from Colossae. What's the man's name? He says Philemon. And Paul says I know Philemon. He has the church in his home in Colossae.
So it is interesting how God worked all of this. You think you can travel 1,000 miles away so you won't get caught, but God has someone waiting on the other end. How I see the parallel to our salvation is that we have sinned against God (Our master) and the wages of sin is death. But Jesus Christ paid our debt. In Philemon, Onesimus sinned against his master Philemon. But Paul writes to Philemon and says whatever he has stolen from you; whatever the debt is that he owes you, I will repay it back to you myself. What a beautiful picture of grace and mercy!
Also, I see a beautiful picture of how the book of Philemon parallels God's grace and mercy. Onesimus, being a runaway slave who had stolen from his master Philemon, and back in those days, if a slave ran away and was caught, they would be put to death. So here is Onesimus who stole from his master Philemon and ran away. But somehow he gets put into prison in Rome, and who does he run into? Paul. They didn't know each other. And so Onesimus hears Paul preaching and teaching the gospel. And Paul is ministering to him, so Onesimus receives Christ and is saved.
And Onesimus tells Paul what he did. He stole from his master and ran away, and that's why he's in Rome. So Paul inquires as to where he's from and he says Colossae. So Paul says I've been to Colossae and I know some people from Colossae. What's the man's name? He says Philemon. And Paul says I know Philemon. He has the church in his home in Colossae.
So it is interesting how God worked all of this. You think you can travel 1,000 miles away so you won't get caught, but God has someone waiting on the other end. How I see the parallel to our salvation is that we have sinned against God (Our master) and the wages of sin is death. But Jesus Christ paid our debt. In Philemon, Onesimus sinned against his master Philemon. But Paul writes to Philemon and says whatever he has stolen from you; whatever the debt is that he owes you, I will repay it back to you myself. What a beautiful picture of grace and mercy!
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