TITLE: Onesimus By Gloria Pierre Dean 10/14/18 |
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The story of Onesimus reminds me of a time in my life when I was on the run from God. Unlike him, I was not a slave but I was a prodigal running away from my heavenly Father.
As a young woman, I had moved away from my native island home to study in a large Western nation. Being influenced by fellow students who were non-Christian, I began following the world. By God's grace, I delivered a baby of a fantastic Christian couple whose love and hospitality drew me back to who God wanted me to be.
Onesimus' meeting with and ministry to Paul drew him back to his proper place, but with some differences. His story relates a multifaceted account of friendship and forgiveness. It happened in the third century and was written about by Paul in the book of Philemon.
In this story, Philemon is a friend of Saul. He has a house church and a slave owner*. Slavery was legal in Rome and runaways were severely punished when they were found.*{Philemon v2}.
Contextually, Paul is in prison and has a helper named Onesimus. I do not know how their relationship started but it was destined by God.
Paul is very grateful for his help. He is now an old man and needed the help. He became an advocate for Onesimus. In his own words to Philemon, "I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me"{v 10-11}.
The words "Receive him as you would me" places Paul in the position of advocate. Onesimus' actions and kindness to him earned him that. He calls him 'beloved brother', so he was now a fellow Christian.
The relationship between the two men provides us with a picture of a Christian and Christ. No longer bound by sin we are now 'In Christ'. Onesimus is no longer a slave to Philemon; so too we are no longer slaves to sin.
Our Lord Jesus Christ 'intercedes to the Father for us and we are seated In Him in heavenly places' {Romans 8:34; Eph 2:6}. Just so, in his letter to Philemon, Paul intercedes for Onesimus with these words; "So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, charge that to my account" {v17-18].
In saying " I will repay it" [v19], Paul is a picture of Christ who paid for all our sins. He took all our sins on the cross and carried them to the Cross at Calvary. Additionally, when he befriends and names him Onesimus his spiritual child, Paul is challenging the culture of slavery in Rome.
Prophetically and legally, we are all Paul's and Christ's Onesimus because in Adam, father of our Adamic nature, we were slaves to sin but our old man was nailed to the cross with Christ, the New Adam.
Because of this pivotal act, we are in a New Covenantal relationship in which we are free, loose and delivered from the dominion of the old man of sin and the law. We are under grace; servants and implements of righteousness.
As the story culminates, Onesimus is both Paul's spiritual child and yet he is Philemon's slave. He has to return to his natural human master yet he is free in the Kingdom of God. Paul's words show a Godly purpose in these events. As he says, "For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant, but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother"{v16}.
Based on God's Word; I see that there is hope for modern day slaves that we hear so much of in the news. Men, women, girls and boys who were once enslaved are being set free when they accept Christ as Saviour. Luke writes "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31}.
In ministering to Paul, Onesimus is being a loving servant of God. The key word here is helping. The Word of God says we should minister to others. How can we do this? We use our ministry gifts to help build His Kingdom.
https://www.gotquestions.org/gift-of-helps.html
{1 Corinthians 12:28}"And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues".
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