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Philemon
Part Two: A Story of the Redemption of the Church
THE CHARACTERS
Paul little Jesus

[He] was made a little lower than the angels (Heb 2:9); [He] made Himself of no reputation
(Phil 2:5-8); for your sakes He became poor (2 Cor 8:9)

Philemon one who kisses the Father

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through Him (1 Jn 4:9); God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rm 5:8)

Onesimus profitable the Church

Now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to
holiness, and the end, eternal Life (Rm 6:22); By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit; so you will be My disciples (Jn 15:8)
THE STORY

Paul, a prisoner (v. 1)

Christ on the cross; the sacrifice bound to the altar (Ps 118:27); the bonds of Death (Acts 2:24)

Paul and Philemon, fellow laborers (v. 1)

My Father has been working until now, and I have been working (Jn 5:17)

Love and faithfulness of Philemon (v. 5-6)

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior [the Father] toward man appeared, not by
works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through
the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6)

Pauls request made as an equal (v. 8-9)

The prayer of Jesus, as the equal of the Father: That they may be One in Us (Jn 17:21);
reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rm 5:10)

Onesimus, the runaway slave (v. 15-16)

Slaves of sin (Rm 6:6); Sons of disobedience, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and the mind;
children of wrath (Eph 2:1-3)

Onesimus comes to Paul in his chains (v. 10)

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (Jam 4:10); united to Christ
in the likeness of His death (Rm 6:5)

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Onesimus, begotten of Paul in bonds,
his child (v. 10, 11)

The church, formed out of the death of Christ (Gen 2:21-22, Ps 139:15-16); each born again of
the Incorruptible Seed Christ (1 Pet 1:23); raised a new creation; freed from sin (Rm 6:3-7)

Appeal for reconciliation as ambassador (v. 9-12)

There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim 2:5-6); we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous (1 Jn 2:1)

Appeal for reconciliation as prisoner (v. 9-12)

An appeal from the cross, where God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor 5:19)

Onesimus, Pauls own heart (v. 12)

The church, the Body of Christ of His flesh and of His bones (Eph 5:30)

Pauls wish to keep Onesimus (v. 13-14)

The church, the helper of Christ, in the ministry of reconciling men to God (2 Cor 5:18-20; Rev
5:10)

Departure serves the purpose of reunion (v.15-16)

Gods purpose born sons, freed from sin and death; glorified sons of God (Eph 1:13-14)

Receiving Onesimus as if Paul (v. 17)

Accepted in the Beloved (Eph 1:6)

Wrongs and debts put on Pauls account (v. 18)

He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him (2 Cor 5:21)

Paul writing in his own hand (v. 19)

New covenant ratified in the blood of Christ (Heb 9:15, 22)

Philemon will do even more than Paul says (v.21)

Glorification: For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His
Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in His Life (Rm 5:10)

Prepare a guest room (v. 22)

The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool (Ps
110:1); Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of
refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was
preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things,
which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:1921)