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Onesimus


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Onesimus

We find, in the Book of Philemon, the redemption and the restoration of Onesimus, but there is another valuable lesson for us here too. There is a certain “work” that salvation produces which is a work of righteousness. In this Book, we see that Onesimus, after he was saved, became concerned about restoring that which he had apparently stolen. At great risk some have felt compelled to make right a certain thing in their life, even though it took place while they were ignorant and in sin. Some, though no real risk was involved, could not afford to “make things right” and the sacrifice they made to do so became a great burden on them, but they did it anyway. The Lord said “By their fruits ye shall know them” This example becomes the beginnings of Onesimus’s “fruit”, and sound evidence of his salvation. Another example of the works of salvation, or the work that becomes evidence of true conversion, is the Ethiopian eunuch. The first thought he seemed to have after he was saved was to be Baptized we do not know that Philip told him anything about Baptism, but at any rate, he was ready to OBey God’s command immediately. I do not wish to imply, in any way, that works were a part of OBtaining salvation, only that there was definite work that would not have taken place if they were not saved. Even then, there are no guarantees, of course, but when we lead someone to Christ, and there is no desire toward restitution or reconciliation or repentance, then one must wonder if the person really understood just what had taken place in his or her life. We know, according to Gal 5: 19-21 that the flesh allows and produces certain fruit too, and they are made manifest by the works listed there. They are OBvious to us as we OBserve the unbelievers’ lifestyle; so it is with the “fruit of the Spirit”. The children’s song “OBedience” is still true, no matter what age we are. It says “OBedience is the very best way to show that you believe…” Believing then is evidenced by OBedience to the Truth. Did not the Lord Himself tell us that “If you love me (you will) keep my commandments”? (Jn. 14:15)

In Philemon we see the difference in sin against God (transgression), which is an overstepping of His boundaries clearly outlined for us in His Word, and the trespass sin that is an encroachment, or violation of another’s person or property. It is important to see the difference here. You see, we do not confess the sins against God because there are none when we accept the Lord as our Savior! Our sins are gone as far as God is concerned, hidden under the blood of Christ; cast into the sea; separated from us as far as the East is from the West. On the other hand, we are to confess sins daily, as we interact with our fellow man; these are our trespass sins, and we were once “dead in trespasses and sins” both, but are not so now. Anyway, we see here that even though Onesimus was forgiven and saved by the blood of Christ, he still had a duty toward his master, whom he had wronged. He had trespassed against his master, and had to restore that which he took. These sins are under the blood too, as all sin is, but they accumulate anew day by day, so we must reconcile ourselves with man, (Mt 5: 23, 24), while the sins against God (rejecting His Son) cannot be done again, there is no need to worry about those. This is why 1 John 3 tells us that if we are born of God, we cannot sin, because the price has been paid once for all.

There are a few other examples that come to mind on this subject. One, found in Mt. 3:8, tells us of Jesus speaking to the Pharisee’s: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” You see, there is a certain “fruit” that is produced by true repentance; a false repentance produces no fruit, while a true repentance will show in our actions as well as in our thoughts. Jesus was seeing these false believers do many good works for others, but receiving to themselves the glory for it. He needed to see something, something worthy of repentance; any desire to please the Father, or to serve Him in humility and in truth.
What about the woman at the well? She immediately did something. She went and told others what had happened to her. In her excitement, she did not think about the reproaches of men upon her; she did not take time to ponder whether she should go to them with her background, or not…she just went. Salvation will produce certain works, and they will manifest themselves to others, openly, and many times excitedly. Consider the “Maniac of Gadara” (Mk. 5: 1- 19), didn’t salvation make an immediate change in him? In the 19th verse we see that even this “maniac” wanted to travel with Jesus and become a part of His entourage, but the Lord told him to go, and to tell others what had happened to him. Salvation will make you a “Fisher of men”. It happened with the woman at the well; it happened with the “Maniac of Gadara”, and it can happen with you too. If you have truly and sincerely trusted Christ as your savior, something will happen; you will have a new desire toward the things of God, and you will become a witness for Him in one way or another.

The name “Onesimus” means “useful” or “profitable”, and in fact, he was not at one time, as we all were not profitable to God at one time. Onesimus went on to be a fellow-laborer with Paul, and a help to him, and either became a resident of Collosse, or had lived there all along. (Col. 4:9) He was called “a faithful and beloved brother” by Paul. Quite a change isn’t it? When Jesus enters the scene, things happen; things change. Onesimus was “real”; he was truly saved, and it showed in his lifestyle, and in his zeal for the Lord. This does not mean that we have to do everything in the church to prove our love for the Lord, but we should do something to glorify Him. There are many ways to do so, and it would behoove us to find the way that God has for us. Begin with the desire: Are you interested in a certain field or work? That interest is no accident; it is the urging of the Holy Spirit of God. It does not always mean that everything we are interested in doing is the right thing for us though, the Spirit of God will reveal to us which of our interest ought to be concentrated on more specifically. We should have an interest in many works, as the Spirit leads, but perhaps a “casual interest” is the norm, the desire to excel, and the “nagging” feeling that will not leave us, that is most likely the compelling of the Holy Spirit’s leading. Many times we can serve in a lesser capacity, and still serve in the greater one without conflicting the two. It is hard, for instance, for someone to teach Sunday School, and drive a bus for Sunday School at the same time. He would not be able to be there before the students get there, and be properly prepared if he was on a bus. The teacher would most likely not be at his best after exiting the bus, and hurrying to his class; some ministries conflict with others, but they are all good, and we ought to have some interest in all of them. The Holy Spirit leads us toward some things that we are best suited for, more than others, but He will allow us to OBserve many of them perhaps. So, start with the interest, then go from there. Prayerfully and diligently apply yourself, and if you feel you can’t, then that is not your forte. I am sure that Onesimus had many OBligations, but prOBably only one “main” ministry in the church. Do not seek the glory of men. Many of us want the position rather than the humility of service, but neither is it right to seek the humble services, and ignore the more nOBle. We need the leading of the Spirit in such matters. Seek His guidance diligently, and He will “come through” for you.


Summary

We have Paul representing the Lord Jesus Christ; Onesimus representing the lost man in need of Christ; and Philemon representing the church, or the born-again believer. Let’s look at the wonderful types that we have here, and glean what useful information we can from them:

Paul is the intercessor. Onesimus did not come to him, but he came to Onesimus; Paul came to the lowly place where Onesimus was, and did not attempt to free him before confronting him. Paul came to him when he was a condemned sinner, and rightly accused; Paul lowered himself, though he was wrongly accused, and took time to witness to Onesimus and to point him to Jesus. Paul had no real reason for being there except for the salvation of men; he had an “appointment” with Onesimus, as the Lord has and had with each of us; his goal was salvation and restoration. The Lord sometimes goes to great lengths to save a soul. Paul, “a prisoner of Jesus Christ” may have had to go to prison for the sole reason of reaching Onesimus, whom he had “begotten in his bonds”. He reminded Philemon that he too was once lost, and bound for hell (prison), while Paul was a prisoner of a different sort, a prisoner for the sake of, and the glory of God.

Onesimus was the sinner. Onesimus was thought to be a thief; he was convicted, and most likely condemned, being caught or exposed by a witness. He either fled after the crime, or was driven out by the master of the house. Onesimus, like many of us, found himself in a prison of his own making, and had no hope for a solution for his dilemma. Paul comes along, and befriends him, and Onesimus’ life is changed forever. Onesimus was in dire need of redemption. Sin led him to prison, and maybe worse, as sin will, and he was under judgment because of it. Judgment, in some sort, is always a result of sin.

Philemon represents the church. He has rejected Onesimus, and found him “unprofitable”. Philemon did not seek after him, but most likely pressed charges against him! We have a sort of backward paradigm here, an example of how the church should not act. Too often today, we forget that we were sinners once too, and in a sense,, we still are. Philemon had to be reminded by Paul, that he owed his very existence, in the spiritual sense, to him; OBviously, Paul had led Philemon to the Lord also. We owe our very existence, as it is, our lives, to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the blood-bought children of God. Philemon represents the “normal” church member of today.

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