Christian Living

Our Kinsman Redeemer

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
10/28/21
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“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Across this nation of the United States and many nations globally, people are looking for a change. I am one of them and have been for many years. When I was a freshman teenager, I was riding along in a car driven by a student counselor. I was concerned about life in the mid-60s. I can’t exactly remember what made this question pop out of my mouth. “What is going to become of our country?” The answer was the usual everything would be alright. That’s all I remember of it, but things are not alright, as they weren’t then, and they are not now. I wanted a change then, and I found it in a pit in a far-off country of Southeast Asia. The difference was not the world but a change in me. The only way I was going to get out of that pit was answered by this song lyric, “Where Can I Go but to the Lord.”

Today people are looking for a change, but it is very deceptive. It is strange to me that they want a change from the very way they are. They use the freedoms our country affords them to break down laws that give them the freedom they want to dismiss. I, as a rule, stay away from politics, but these groups are acting in the same way they are opposing. My point of this I am right there with them. I want a change also. I wanted a change back when I was a teen, and now fifty-seven years later, I still want a change. The difference is I do not want the change they want.

I have been convinced the only hope for humanity is found through a committed belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who not only believe but will act on faith in His Word. It bothers me that all one needs to do is call upon the name of the Lord, confess they are broken by sin, repent from that sin, and walk the narrow path to the Kingdom of God. It is hard to get people to accept the truth of God’s Word. I understand that completely. I could never live up to the measure of my father’s standard, so it was impossible to live up to the perfect standard of the Lords. When I grew older, I realized no one has and no one can. That truth remains today and shall always be until the Lord returns. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:26)

We are all prodigals, as Onesimus in the book of Philemon. Philemon is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Philemon concerning Onesimus, a runaway bondservant. A bondservant is sometimes confused with the world slave, as they are in a way connected. The bondservant has agreed to serve his master in exchange for his wellbeing. A bondservant pledges his loyalty to his master and serves him, and is cared for until the agreement is completed. Slavery is forced labor against the will with no promise of care. Onesimus was a bondservant of Philemon.

Onesimus wanted a change and stole needed supplies and ran away. Colossae is where Onesimus lived, and he departed from Asia Minor and traveled eastward to Europe and then south to Italy and stopped in the city of Rome. The distance Onesimus traveled was 2,815 km’s and in those days was a very long time-consuming walk. I am sure when he arrived, he felt secure of a getaway from any authority that would be hunting him. The penalty of breaking a bond as a servant was death.

While in Rome, Onesimus heard of a Roman prisoner preaching the same gospel message that he had heard in Colosse at the home church of Philemon, his former master. The prisoner’s name was Paul, and he was on house arrest. Paul could have visitors, but he was not allowed to leave home. Onesimus was curious to see Paul and hear the words of his teaching.

While in the home of Paul, Onesimus was listening to Paul’s teaching, and another person there recognized Onesimus. Onesimus was filled with concern, as now he had been found out and was afraid he would be captured and condemned. Paul interceded when he found out that Onesimus was a former bondservant of Philemon. Soon Onesimus became a spiritual son of Paul. A spiritual son is one whom a person leads to the Lord. It was Pail that led Philemon to accept Jesus as his Savior. Naturally, Paul was interested in Onesimus as he was from Colosse. Paul and Onesimus became friends, and Paul led him to the Lord, and Onesimus became a spiritual son to Paul.

On behalf of Onesimus, Paul wrote a letter to Philemon, and the significant part is in verses 10-14. “I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.” (Philemon 1:10-14) Paul was pleading with Philemon but not from pressure but an appeal from the love of God. Onesimus had indeed broken a covenant with Philemon, had stolen property, and should be held accountable for the crime. Still, Paul was asking for mercy based on the value of Onesimus’ life.  Paul sealed the deal in verse 18. “But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” (Philemon 1:18)

Paul is acting in the example of a Kinsman Redeemer. A Kinsman Redeemer is a relative who works according to the laws of the Pentateuch. Kinsman Redeemers have a  privilege and responsibility to act on behalf of a relative in trouble, danger or need. In the dictionary, a redeemer has come and buys back, recovers, or pays off debt for someone. Paul considers Philemon and Onesimus both his spiritual sons, and therefore spiritually related. In the bible, we see many bible personalities that point to Jesus.

Jesus is the Kinsman Redeemer for humanity. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become children of God the Father. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 10:12) The children of God are now brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God and hold a spiritual relationship with God the Fathers. Jesus is the bridegroom of His Church, which is the bride of Christ. As the Spiritual relative of His followers, He is their redeemer. The Church is a broken vessel of sinners who have been redeemed by His sacrificial blood shed on Calvary.

The difference between those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and those who have rejected Him is redemption. A Church is filled with sinners; by their faith in Jesus, they’re forgiven and blameless. The ones who do not know Jesus have no redeemer and will suffer the wrath of God. Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus are heirs of the riches of His glory. “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16-17)

As we walk together with our Lord and Savior, we strive to become as His likeness, and in the process of renewing, we will be sanctified. The power is not in us but the One who lives within us who is closer than a brother. “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Hebrews 2:11) Jesus understands the trial and temptations we suffer along the narrow path, as He had suffered as us when He was here as we are now. Because He overcame and through Him, we shall. Jesus is not ashamed to call of His own. “Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)

The change I am looking for will come, as the insult of wickedness will pass away. My Kinsman Redeemer will destroy Satan and all of his works in God’s creation. No longer to live in temptation, no more invaded with evil thoughts and actions, no more in slavery but bonded to my redeemer for eternity. This gift I receive freely because, at my worst, He loved me and redeemed me. As the hymn sings, “It is no secret what God can do, what He has done for others, He will do for You.” “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, July 22, 2020