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Text: Philemon 1-7
Title: “Being in Christ Makes all
Things Possible”
Thesis: In Christ makes all things possible
Reading: Rms. 11:33-36; 12:1-2
Intro.:
The Bible says, “But
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26)
This short epistle or letter from the apostle Paul to the Christian
Philemon was written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, probably in 61
A.D. It is the story of God’s use of Paul, a giant of the faith, to bring a
slave to Christ. It is also the story of a humble man (Paul) instructing an
elder (Philemon).
This
letter is probably the only one we have written entirely by Paul’s own hand,
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
It is
also the only letter in the N.T. that gives us a glimpse into a Christian
household of that time.
It is
a letter that is important for many reasons, two of which are:
1) The effects of Christ living through committed Christians;
2) The practical illustration of the Biblical doctrine of imputation;
3) The proper relationship between master and slave in N.T. times.
The Bible says, “But
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible.”
This letter was written to Philemon, his wife and their
son, residents of Colossae, and a seemingly well-to-do family of that church.
Hackett summarized Philemon’s character as follows:
His character, as shadowed forth in this epistle, is one of the noblest which
the sacred record makes known to us. Philemon was full of faith and good works,
was confiding, obedient, sympathizing, benevolent, and a man who, on a question
of simple justice, needed only a hint of his duty to prompt him to go even
beyond it.
This letter concerns a runaway slave of Philemon’s named
Onesimus, who found his way to Rome, found his way to Paul and found his way to
Jesus Christ! A coincidence? I think
not! Paul writes this letter to intercede with Philemon on Onesimus’ account,
all the while leaving the decision entirely up to Philemon.
The Bible says, “But
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, ‘With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible.”
Text: Philemon 1-7
-- “Being in Christ Makes all Things Possible”
-- prayer
(In this short passage there are 4 different references to
Christ, 2 to God, 5 to people & 1 to a bldg..)
I. THE REVELATION OF JESUS
(“Jehovah is salvation”) CHRIST
(“anointed One”) (v.1-2)
A.
Jesus speaks of His humanity.
Christ speaks of His office (v1)
1. So this epistle is predicated on one’s relationship to Jesus
Christ
1. Paul’s (“small”) relationship to Christ: a prisoner (“one in
bonds, a captive”)
a. Paul was a literal, physical prisoner
b. Paul was a spiritual prisoner
Note: Paul’s introductions in the books he wrote describe his
relationship to Christ with different terms. In Rms., Phil., it was as a
servant. In 1 & 2 Cor., Gal., Eph., Col., 1 & 2 Tim. it is as an
apostle. In Titus, Paul uses both
terms. In 1 & 2 Thess. he does not
describe his relationship. Only here
does Paul call himself a prisoner of
Christ. (How would you describe your relationship to
Christ?)
3. Philemon’s (“one who kisses”; Psa. 2:12) relationship to Christ:
a. Our dearly beloved (“esteemed”; root: sacrificially loved)
b. Our fellowlaborer (“companion in the work”)
4.
Ap-phia’s (“fruitful”) (Philemon’s wife)
relationship to Christ: our beloved (v2)
5.
Ar-chip-pus’
(“master of the horse”) relationship to Christ: our fellowsoldier (“an associate
in labors and conflicts for the cause of Christ”)
6. Philemon’s home’s relationship to Christ: the church (“assembly”)
in thy house
Note: This is a family anyone would be
proud to be a member of. Philemon & his wife; beloved & laboring for Christ.
Their son; a young man in the front ranks of the raging spiritual battle. Their
home; where the [Baptist] church met to provide spiritual meat & refreshment in
the midst of the battle, despite the threats & hardships of being a despised
people.
Now, because some folks get upset with me about calling
these N.T. churches, Baptist churches, let me quote the Methodist historian,
John Ridpath (1840-1900),
"I should
not readily admit that there was a Baptist Church as far back as AD 100,
although without doubt there were Baptists then, as all Christians were then
Baptists."
II. THE REVELATION OF GOD (v3)
A. God
is:
1. Our Father
(speaks of relationship) and (no comma)
2. Our Lord
(sovereign Master) Jesus Christ (speaks of authority)
3. My God (v4); a
personal God (speaks of care & concern)
1. Grace (God
being disposed toward us)
2. Peace (our being
reconciled to God)
1. Our gratitude
2. Our prayers
3. Scriptural order: 1) Gratitude; 2)
Supplication
III. THE REVELATION OF THE LORD JESUS
(v5)
A. What the Philemons’ had toward the
Lord Jesus
1. Love
(“sacrificial”)
2. Faith (“trust
in the Word of Another”)
IV. THE REVELATION OF CHRIST JESUS (v6)
A. All that
Philemon’s family did was in (or because of)
Christ Jesus
1. They
communicated their faith (or:)
a. They participated in obedience to their
faith
b. They shared their faith
c. They financially supported their faith
d. They did these things more & more
effectually (“powerfully & actively”)
e. They did what they did because of what was
inside them
2. They
acknowledged their dependence on Christ Jesus
B.
What Philemon’s family did that influenced others
(v7)
1. Their sacrificial love for others imparted:
a. Great joy (“grace”; that which affords
joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness”) to others
b. Great consolation (“exhortation,
admonition, encouragement : consolation, comfort, solace; that which
affords comfort or refreshment”)
c. Great refreshment (“to give rest”; “to
keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation”)
1) In the bowels (“inner man, heart”) of the
saints (“those separated unto God”) (our first responsibility)
Concl.: I started out
by saying, “Being in Christ Makes all Things Possible.”
First, each person here that has placed his/her faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ is in Christ!
So, all things are possible to you.
Now, how do
“all things become possible unto you?”
1) By your understanding, appreciation and
appropriation of all that Jesus Christ is as revealed in the Word of God.
a. You will now act on the revealed Word of God, and
not your feelings or emotions.
b. By this knowledge, you will also act within the
will of God, as much as is in you is possible.
c. By this activity of knowing more of Christ, you
will continue to mature in your Christian faith and understanding.
2) By your obedience to take Jesus Christ at His
Word.
a. When you learn to obey/trust Christ in some
things, you will learn to obey/trust Him in many things, and you will finally
learn to obey/trust Him in all things. This is a matter of spiritual growth
available to every Christian no matter his/her present level of maturity.
3) By your faith to act on all that Christ is.
a. Faith always leads to action. If you have placed
your faith in Christ to be saved, you are required to place your faith in Christ
as His servant.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”
(Rms 12:1-3)
Paul did all these things!
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