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Text: Philemon 18-25
Title: “Being in Christ
Often Necessitates Imputation”
Thesis: The doctrine of imputation
Reading: Rms. 4:1-11, 20-25
Intro.: The Bible says,
“Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord will not impute sin.” (Rms. 4:8)
The word “impute” is used 13 times in the Bible. The word "imputation,"
according to the Scriptural usage, denotes an attributing of something
to a person, or a charging of one with anything, or a setting of
something to one's account. To “count” and “reckon” also come from this
word.
(1) The sin of Adam is imputed to all his descendants, i.e., it is
reckoned as theirs, and they are dealt with therefore as guilty. It is
not meant that Adam's sin was personally the sin of his descendants, but
that it was set to their account, so that they share its guilt and
penalty;
2) Abraham’s trust in the promise of God was imputed to him for
righteousness. It is not meant that Abraham’s trust was personally the
trust of his descendants, but it was set to their account when they
believed God;
(3) The righteousness of Christ is imputed to them that believe in Him,
or is so attributed to them as to be considered their own. It is not
meant that Christ shares personally in the sins of men, but that the
guilt of His people's sin was set to His account, so that He bore its
penalty; and
(4) Our sins are imputed to Christ, i.e., He assumed our "law-place." He
undertook to answer the demands of justice for our sins. It is not meant
that Christ's people are made personally holy or inwardly righteous by
the imputation of His righteousness to them, but that His righteousness
is set to their account, so that they are entitled to all the rewards of
that perfect righteousness.
The Bible says,
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
It makes no difference, so far as the meaning of imputation is
concerned, who it is that imputes, whether man or God.
Even something which is not personally one's own prior to the
imputation, as where Paul asks that a debt not personally his own be
charged to him. It does not change the inward state or character of the
person to whom something is imputed. Hence, when God is said "to impute
sin" to anyone, the meaning is that God accounts such a one to be a
sinner, and consequently guilty and liable to punishment. When God is
said "to impute righteousness" to a person, the meaning is that He
judicially accounts such a one to be righteous and entitled to all the
rewards of a righteous person. It is not that we are made righteous, it
is that we are accounted righteous.
And so we read with great joy,
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
Text:
Philemon 18-25 – “Being in Christ Often Necessitates Imputation” --
prayer
I. BEING IN CHRIST CONSIDERS VALID WRONGS DONE TO OTHERS
(v18a,b)
A.
Since Philemon was Wronged
(“to act unjustly, wickedly”)
B. Since Philemon was Cheated
1. Owe thee ought (
“money”; “a certain sum”)
a. When Onesimus was a servant, he either did not earn his keep,
or he stole money to make his trip to Rome
II. BEING IN CHRIST MAKES YOU WILLING TO BE A SURETY FOR SOME
WRONGS
(v18 c)
A. Impute Onesimus’
Wrongs to My Account
(“myself”)
Note: Paul’s account was that his sins had been imputed to Christ (Rms.
4:24-25). Paul’s further account was his testimony of being in Christ (Acts
9:13-22). Paul’s last account was his testimony of being a
prisoner of Christ (v9). I
believe you can believe a person with that testimony!!
B. Trust Paul to Make it
Right (v19 a,b)
1. Written with
Paul’s own hand
a. A written contract
2. Sealed with Paul’s
own guarantee
III. BEING IN CHRIST MAY NECESSITATE BRINGING THE OTHER PERSON’S PAST TO
REMEMBRANCE
(v19 c,d)
A. Philemon, if you recall, you
owe me!
1. For the fact that
you are “dearly beloved” (v1)
2. For the fact that
you are in the ministry (“fellowlaborer”) (v1)
3. For the fact that
you have a godly wife & son (v2)
4. For the fact that
a church meets in your house (v2)
5. For the fact of
your love toward the Lord Jesus (v5)
6. For the fact of
your love toward all the saints (v5)
7. For the fact that
all your wisdom comes from being in Christ (v6)
8. For the fact that
other saints are refreshed by you (a purpose in life) (v7)
B. Philemon, if You
Recall, I Led You to Christ (v19 e)
1. Though it is not clearly stated, this seems to indicate that
Philemon was saved under Paul’s ministry.
(How many of you were led to Christ through the direct
intervention of someone else?)
Note: Paul probably began with his own testimony. Then he told how the
Lord Jesus Christ was wrongly charged, wrongly tried, wrongly sentenced,
wrongly executed, all for your sins, but all in the plan & purpose of
God. He was then placed in a borrowed tomb, spending 3 days and 3 nights
in the belly of the earth, before His glorious resurrection proving that
God was satisfied with His death for your sins!
IV. BEING IN CHRIST BRINGS EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS
(v20-24)
A. A Joyful (“helpful”)
Life Lived in the Lord
(v20a)
1. Let me have joy (“to be helped”) of thee
a. Paul probably told Onesimus that all would be well
B. A Refreshing
(“calm & patient expectation”)
Life Lived in the Lord (v20b)
1. “I have enough on my plate, refresh my soul” (consider the
other person’s situation)
C. A Confident
(“trusting”) Life Lived in the
Lord (v21a)
1. In Philemon’s [ultimate] obedience [to God]
D. A Recorded Life Lived
in the Lord (v21a)
1. Paul wrote it down & it is recorded in the Book that shall
never pass away!
a. Do you have a
God-log for recording God’s work in your life?
E. An Expectant Life Lived in the Lord
(v21b)
1. Knowing
2. An abundant life (“more than I say”)
F. A Life of Fellowship Lived in the Lord
(v22a)
1. Withal (“together with”) [you & Onesimus]
2. Prepare lodging for Onesimus & prepare lodging for me
G. A Life of Trust Lived in the Lord
(v22b)
1. Trust (“hope”), first in God, then in God’s people
H. A Life of Prayer Lived in the Lord
(v22b)
Note: Prayer is an interesting & large part of the believer’s life. We
know that prayer does not change God (“For
I am the LORD, I change not…” Mal. 3:6). So prayer changes us, or
should, and proves our dependence on God. Then, when we change, God can
now deal with us based on this change. In the O.T. it is said that God
repented, because the Nation of Israel changed in its attitude or
actions toward God. So when you pray without any intention of changing,
don’t be surprised if God does not answer your prayer.
1. Paul said, “through Philemon’s prayers” that change would come
a. I shall be given (“graciously restored”) unto you. Paul was
still concerned about Philemon’s response to Onesimus
I. A Life of Concern for
Others Lived in the Lord (v23-24)
1. Salute (“wish well to”)
a. Ep-a-fras (“lovely”). Possibly a co-pastor (v23)
1) A fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus
b. Marcus (John Mark (“a defense”) author of the Gospel of Mark
c. Ar-is-tar-kus (“the best ruler”), accompanied Paul on his 3rd
missionary journey
d. Demas (“governor of the people”), who deserted Paul after this
time, and returned to Thessalonica.
e. Lucas (“light-giving”), a Gentile believer & companion of Paul
on his many journeys. He wrote the books of Luke & Acts.
2. All fellowlaborers
V. THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(v25)
A. Grace: God being disposed
toward us; unmerited favor
B. The Source of Grace
1. The Lord Jesus Christ in His fulness
a. His
deity,
His humanity and His
office
C. The Destination of
Grace
1. With Philemon’s spirit (his life-force, that which gives life)
D. The Amen of Grace
1. Amen (“may it be fulfilled”) by Philemon
Concl.: If you are saved, the doctrine of imputation is complete and
finished as far as your relationship to God, through Christ, goes. But
once you are “in Christ” you can see the far-reaching effects of
imputation between bro./sis. believers. It is a great blessing and a
great responsibility.
I will not
reiterate the many points found in the book of Philemon regarding the
imputation-life in Christ, but they seem to cover the waterfront of our
responsibilities, to other believers, before God. Each of these
responsibilities are vital to Marion Baptist Church and its future
ministry as a body of Christ. If any of you are unwilling, if necessity
demands it, to impute another’s needs to your account, then you will
also be unwilling to sacrificially serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit through Paul, has taken a theological
doctrine and made it a practical doctrine!
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