Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 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: Philemon 1:8-11

Everyone of us has a past, every saint before they came to Christ was a sinner. This is something we need to remember as the body of Christ. While there may be brothers and sisters who have a more colorful past than you, they have been washed and redeemed by the blood of Christ also, they have become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) The Apostle Paul is a great example of this himself, as he went from persecuting the Church to leading the Church.

And just as when Paul became saved, the Church at first was hesitant to accept him. (Galatians 1:23) This is the same story here for Onesimus, we need to remember this letter is being written to Philemon. As we learned from earlier in the letter , Philemon was a very wealthy man who actually hosted the Church in his house. As with many wealthy people , Philemon also employed servants, or owned slaves. Onesimus who was a slave/servant for Philemon stole from him and then fled to Rome, apparently Onesimus had an encounter with the Apostle Paul while in Rome. During his time in Rome, Onesimus became Born Again, saved in Christ.

The Apostle Paul here in this letter briefly describes the encounter “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains” (v10) Perhaps Onesimus became arrested while he fled in Rome and met Paul there in prison. As many of you probably have encountered or experienced, many people come to Christ while they are in prison, when they reach the lowest point of their life and have alot of time to think about their life. Of course it doesn’t hurt when you are in jail with one of the greatest preachers in world history.

Now the Apostle Paul is appealing to Philemon and the Church, to reinstate Onesimus and accept him as a brother in Christ. Notice how Paul begins this “for loves sake I rather appeal to you” (v9) As Paul has instructed us “Forgive others because God has already forgiven us” (Ephesians 4:32) We as brothers and sisters in Christ need to remember to forgive each other also, and remember our sins have forgiven so we should forgive others their sins.

The Apostle Paul then makes an interesting statement to the Church “who (Onesimus) once was unprofitable for you (Church) , is now profitable for you (Church) and me” (v11) The Apostle Paul is not only telling the Church that Onesimus has become Born Again in Christ, but you guys need him! How many people are needed by your local Church that the Church has rejected? Remember to forgive one another because Christ has forgive us, Amen

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Philemon 1:1-3

The Church , the Body of Christ, is made up of many people, many parts, (Romans 12, I Corinthians 12) all coming together to serve, worship, and build a community together. This epistle to Philemon is a great example of this, while Timothy was being trained to be a Pastor/Elder of the Church, Philemon provided his house as the building for this Church.

These simple things can be overlooked alot, when people provide for the Church, its a blessing for everyone in the Church. You don’t need to be the Pastor or Elder of the Church , to serve the Church. It can be as simple as cleaning or doing maintenance of the building, serve by leading Sunday School or participating in worship music. Everything we do is for the glory of God, there is no task that is too little when you are serving The Lord

Notice the Apostle Paul views Philemon as “our beloved friend and fellow laborer” even though Philemon wasn’t a preacher, Paul regarded him as an equal laborer in Christ. This is how we should view all our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Jesus said “Anyone who wants to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, must be the servant of all” (Matthew 20:26) 

The Apostle Paul mentions “to the church in your house” it’s clear Philemon is hosting the Church in his own house. It appears Philemon could have been a wealthy man and was using his money to provide for the Church. These blessings will not go unnoticed by God. While many of the people might not know, how the building is being provided, God knows! 

But a second point I want to make about this, it was common practice in the early Church to worship in houses due to persecution and restrictions by their governments. You don’t need to worship in a fancy building to be called a “Church”, the Ekklessia is the body of Christ, the people not the building. Many Churches are spending too much time and money on their building and not the Great Commision (Matthew 28:19) I know alot of Christians, who believe you have to only worship in a particular building or they won’t worship outside of their building, this becomes idolatry. Beware not to make your building an idol before God, we are the temples of God, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, (1 Corinthians 6) wherever you are there is the Church!

I will end with the words of the Apostle Paul “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” Live in peace with the grace of our God with your fellow servants, the Church, the body of Christ, your co-laborers in Christ, Amen!