PROCLAMATION
“If
thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought,
put that on mine account.” Philemon
1:17-18 (KJV)
“So
if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome
me. If he has done you any wrong, or owes you anything, charge it to
me.” Philemon 1:17-18 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These
words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit
of God, to Philemon, a fellow preacher, and his wife Apphia, and to their son
Archippus. Paul began this personal letter to his friend Philemon to
ask a favor of him. Paul wants Philemon to accept Onesimus, a slave
who ran away from him and is now a believer in Christ, as a brother and not as
a slave. (Philemon 1:15-16) He says to Philemon, “… welcome him as
you would welcome me …” (Philemon 1:17-18) The church meets in the
home of Philemon and Paul wants to make sure that Onesimus would be welcome
there as a brother.
APPLICATION
In
the past we all have done wrong and at times we needed someone to plead our
case. That is what Christ is doing in heaven as He sits at the right
hand of God, The Father, making intersessions for us. (Romans 8:34, Colossians
3:1, and Hebrews 12:2) This letter is
about reconciliation, forgiveness, and acceptance. Once past sins are forgiven, they should not
be brought up again to the individual, to others, or to our remembrance. This
is an example of how we should demonstrate our love for our brothers in
Christ. We should speak up for our brothers, not tear them down, and
speak highly of them to others. And as believers, we should welcome
all believers as brothers who have been forgiven of their past sins.
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