We Are Made Profitable By Grace
Paul’s letter to Philemon is his shortest letter (only 1 chapter) in the New Testament but contains a powerful picture of our reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
It wasn’t immediately obvious to me but the revelation just came.
Firstly, some background:
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:1-6 WEB)
Philemon’s name means “kiss” and He was a wealthy believer and a leader of the church that met in his home.
Philemon had a runaway slave called Onesimus (his name means “profitable”) who was imprisoned.
“I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus, who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,” (Philemon 1:10-12 WEB)
It is not explicitly written, but the probable crime that Onesimus committed is that he stole from Philemon and tried to run away but was caught and imprisoned.
In prison, Onesimus repented and became a Christian through Paul’s preaching and also turned out to be useful to Paul for ministry.
Paul wrote to Philemon to plead him to forgive and receive Onesimus back as a Christian brother, as if Philemon were receiving Paul himself instead.
“For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, that you would have him forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.” (Philemon 1:15-17 WEB)
Paul also promised to repay any debts that Onesimus owed Philemon—Paul became Onesimus’ personal guarantor.
“If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides).” (Philemon 1:17-19 WEB)
Finally, Paul asked Philemon to prepare a guest room for him, hoping and expecting to be released so that he can visit Philemon.
“Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.” (Philemon 1:22 WEB)
So what does this all mean?
These are who the characters in this letter represent:
Philemon is our Heavenly Father.
Onesimus is a believer.
Paul is Jesus.
Philemon is a picture of our loving and wealthy Heavenly Father. We were once like Onesimus, runaway slaves who committed crimes against Him.
We were estranged from God and far off.
We were shut up in prison, being spiritually-dead in our sins. However, while we were dead in our trespasses, we encountered Jesus and believed in Him.
As He promised, Jesus took our place to pay all our sin debts at the cross.
He even gave us His very own righteousness so that God the Father can receive us unrestrictedly as if He was receiving Jesus Himself.
Thanks to this, we who believe in Jesus became profitable children for service in contrast to our previous identity as unprofitable slaves.
Now as children of God, we are freed from the prison of death and sins.
We have been sent by Jesus to fulfill our calling to minister to others in the Lord.
Paul asking Philemon to prepare a guest room is a picture of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and ascension back to the Father after He paid for all the sins of the world at the cross.
Can you see the beautiful picture of our salvation in this short letter?
I love it when the Holy Spirit reveals these hidden truths about Jesus to us!
Thanks to God’s Grace, we have become “Onesimus”—profitable children of God.
Let us live lives worthy of the great salvation that we have been blessed with.
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