For Goodness’ Sake!
11/5 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 18; Philemon; Hosea 11; Psalms 132-134
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11/5 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 18; Philemon; Hosea 11; Psalms 132-134
11/5 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 18; Philemon; Hosea 11; Psalms 132-134
Philemon 14
but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.
CONSENT
The crucified, risen, and ascended Savior, Jesus Christ, is not only perfect and glorified Man, but He also is, always was, and evermore shall be sovereign and almighty God. By this grand and glorious situation through Onesimus’s salvation, the apostle dictates words to the scribe of this letter about the workings of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who rules and reigns upon His everlasting throne. Onesimus, a slave owned by Philemon, ran away from his master and found himself in Rome. The efficacious grace of God working through Paul as a believer was the same grace working by God the Holy Spirit to pluck on Onesimus’s heart strings to seek out Paul. God saved Onesimus through Paul’s sharing the gospel with him (Philem 10); and by that miraculous conversion and transformation by God’s grace, Onesimus had become a new creation in Christ (Philem 11; 2 Cor 5:17). Paul now sends Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter in hand, expressing what a treasure he has gained because of the slave’s salvation and conversion (Philem 12). Paul would like to keep Onesimus, but the reality is that Onesimus belongs to Philemon (Philem 13); therefore, Paul would infringe upon Philemon’s providential stewardship and ownership (Philem 14), because both Philemon and Onesimus are who they are because of God’s sovereign will.
While the likenesses to Onesimus running away from his master and his subsequent salvation mirrors our own rebellion against God, our Master, and our redemption through Christ by the truth of His gospel of grace, let us today focus upon Christ’s sovereign work through you and me as believers, reflected in Paul’s request to Philemon. There are times in this Christian life when we might feel that we just want Jesus to tell us what decision to make, which direction to go, or how to carry out some deed or good work. Yet our King does not command with a heavy hand during those times (without your consent). Neither does Jesus manipulate us into a sense of obligation or guilt us into doing this or that (not by compulsion). He wisely allows us to be stewards of His glorious grace so we may willingly, lovingly, thankfully, and fearfully honor Him in our actions for goodness’ sake (of your own accord). Since there is only One who is good— God (Mark 10:18), that is, Jesus— then the works and deeds that flow from our salvation should always be that which reflects the love, mercy, and grace of God in Christ; and by God’s grace in Christ (Eph 6:10; Phil 2:13), it will be. Hallelujah! What a Savior!