Be Obedient! (Philemon v21-25)

Source: Uncompromising!

The apostle Paul, currently sitting in prison for preaching the Gospel of Christ has written a letter to Philemon, a past convert through Paul with one request: 'reconsider how you treat Onesimus, your slave, as he has also heard the Gospel of Christ and his life has been changed, just as yours has been'.

Verse 21-22
Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. 

Paul is confident that Philemon will accept his proposal and treat Onesimus differently to just being a slave. There is no indication that Paul wishes for him to be set completely free, however, he may hint towards that when he says, 'for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you'. Knowing Paul is currently in prison and referring to the likely event of his freedom, Philemon may be moved to have compassion upon Onesimus and set him free from his 'imprisonment' (i.e. slavery). Although Paul uses the word, 'obedience', he is not expecting obedience out of authority or compulsion. Instead, Paul emphasizes Philemon's compassion and generosity and showing that he knows with 100% confidence that Philemon will do everything within his power to follow the guidance.

He may be requesting Philemon to pray for his release to freedom or maybe identifying he knows he has been praying with those in his house-church. Either way, Paul leans on that spiritual act by asking Philemon to 'prepare a guest room'. Paul knows he will be released. He doesn't just think it will happen, he expects it to happen. That is his hope!

Of course, he does not want to leave prison for the sake of his own freedom, more that he wishes to spend some time with his new convert, Onesimus and his spiritual brother, Philemon in his house-church (I will be graciously given to you). That being said, he clearly leans on God's grace for any chance of freedom never doubting it will happen.

Verse 23-25
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The ending of the letter is characteristic of Paul, sending greeting of those close to him, but finishing with a prayer for Philemon's spiritual journey ('The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit'), surely a reminder to Philemon (and his church) of God's grace setting them free from the slavery of sin.

Philemon owned slaves, but, he was a slave himself; a slave to sin. Just like you and me, he was a slave to his worldly passions and natural desires.

He heard the Gospel of Christ through Paul, the apostle and discovered that Christ had set him free from slavery to sin. His life was changed. He was made perfect in Christ as long as he remained obedient to God.

Now Onesimus, a slave of Philemon's has done wrong by running away. He too was a slave to sin. His heart was governed by worldly passions and natural desires, just like Philemon.

Paul, the same apostle who led the conversion of Philemon, shares the Gospel with Onesimus and declares him free by the blood of Christ. He too is changed. He has also been made perfect in Christ so long as he remains obedient to God.

Two people who are complete opposites in their status in society; one wealthy, one a slave have the same story!

Two extremes of people; two different worlds of living; the wealthy and the poor; the educated and not so educated; the free owner of slaves and the slave that is owned - hear the same Gospel message which results in their life being changed.

The request is simple: just believe, obey Christ and be effective in your faith.

It does not matter who we are, whether we're a wealthy employer or an employee scraping by on minimum wage, an owner of a mansion or someone without a home or if we're begging for our next meal or have everything we want and more, no matter what position in society we place ourselves - we are all slaves to sin.

The good news is, however, Christ ignores our status in society, he is not interested in our achievements or how much wealth we have acquired. He is only interested in our spiritual souls.

So then, when it comes down to it, with all the barriers stripped away, the only important consideration is Christ: he alone is the defining factor of whether we are saved or not. He alone has the power to change our lives. He alone sets us free from the bondage of sin. He restores life, makes us one with God and in him, we are adopted sons of God.

All we need do is simple: just believe, obey Christ and be effective in our faith!