Letter to Philemon

This letter was written by the apostle Paul to one of his sons in the faith - a man by the name of Philemon. The reason for the letter is regarding Philemon's slave, a man by the name of Onesimus. Onesimus offended Philemon somehow and ran away from his hometown of Colossae in Asia Minor which is now Modern day Turkey to Rome. Providentially Philemon encounters Paul who was in prison led him to Christ. Paul writes this heartfelt letter to Philemon to forgive Onesimus and to receive him back.

Paul greets and commends Philemon

The first thing Paul does is salute Philemon and those in his house. Next, he commends Philemon for his love and faith for the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. These are tremendous and gracious kind words to bestow upon a fellow believer. This lets us readers know that Philemon was a man of impeccable and godly character. Philemon loved not only in word but more importantly in deed (1 John 3:18). I know it had to be refreshing to Philemon to know that the aged apostle Paul was also praying for him. Paul also commends Philemon for loving people by sharing his faith with others. Philemon was a breath of fresh air to all the saints and comfort and joy to Paul himself (vv 4-7).

Paul's appeal to Philemon regarding Onesimus

Paul encourages Philemon to receive his runaway slave Onesimus back - not as a slave, but as a brother. Paul knew he had the authority to compel Philemon to do what he asked (vv 8-9), but rather he asked with tender loving care for Philemon to do the right thing. Receiving Onesimus was like receiving Paul since the apostle had birthed Onesimus in the gospel and was his dear child in the faith (vs 10b). Onesimus who was formerly useless was now useful to Paul and would be useful to Philemon since he is a converted man. As a matter of fact, the book of Colossians records that Paul sent a brother named Tychicus along with Onesimus to Colossae so that they could report to the Colossian church how Paul was doing while in prison (Col 4:7-9a). Paul wanted to keep Onesimus with him for assistance in ministry but knew the right thing was to send him back to the man that owned him. 

Paul knowing Philemon's pedigree said to him, "If you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you in any way, charge that to my account" (vv 17-18). Here I believe is the genius of the apostle, Paul was willing to pay back to Philemon any loss incurred by Onesimus' delinquency when he ran away. Paul also knew that what he deposited in Philemon in regards to the gospel was far greater than any loss he suffered because of Onesimus. Paul most likely led Philemon to Christ so in that reality Philemon owed his life to Paul (vs 19). Comparatively speaking, forgiving and receiving Onesimus back was a small thing. This act was a test of Philemon's fidelity and obedience to the word of God - forgiving his offender and receiving him back as a beloved brother.   Paul needed this benefit from Philemon - to forgive Onesimus to refresh his soul (vs 20). Paul went on to say he knew that Philemon would do even more than what Paul asked of him (vs 21).  

Lastly, Paul requests that Philemon prepares a place for him so that he could stay with him. Paul anticipated that he would be released from prison. Paul greets Philemon on behalf of his fellow prisoner Epaphras. Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke (Author of the book of Luke and Acts, vs 25) also sent their greetings. 

How to avoid the two extremes

What are these two extremes the writer is talking about? The first one is called Legalism. The second is called Antinomianism. What do these words mean? Legalism was invented by overzealous Jews called Judaizers. Their preoccupation was with the law of  Moses. They insisted that one could not be saved apart from the works of the law. In other words, trusting wholly in Jesus' sacrificial atonement for the remission of sins was not sufficient. One also had to adhere to the law and obey all of its demands in order to be saved; salvation by works and not grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Antinomianism is a compound word. Anti means against. Nomianism comes from the Greek root nomos which means law. So an Antimonian is one who is against the law.  

Now, let's put context to these terms as they relate to our salvation. 

The Antinomian (lawbreaker)

Paul the apostle dealt extensively and clearly with these two matters. He explained why both were dangerous. Many who are in the Antinomian camp have cheapened the grace of God. How? By living any way they want. Their mindset is that since they are saved by grace, I can sin my fill and it does not matter because I'm covered by the blood of Christ. This is what Paul had to say about that in the book of  Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then, are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"

Paul anticipated that critics of his doctrine would say that since we are saved by grace apart from works that Paul was advocating sinful behavior. Paul refuted that evil mindset saying we who have been delivered from sin's power by the blood of Christ are no longer slaves to sin - stop serving sin and serve God!

The Legalist 

These Jewish extremists insisted that Gentiles, in particular, could not be saved without being circumcised and keeping the Mosaic law. Because of their deep-rooted commitment to the law, it would be correct in saying these Jews did not want Gentiles to be saved.  Peter argued in Acts 15:10 that the law was a yoke that no one could bear. Paul said that by the works of the law no flesh could be justified (Rom 3:20;Gal 2:16).

The Balance

Since we realize that human works are useless to get right with God, the only work we can do is believe in Jesus Christ for our sole salvation. Once we are saved, we are then free to serve God in righteousness, performing good works that are well pleasing to God (Ephesians 2:10). To attempt to work one's way into the kingdom of God is sin. Also to trample the grace of God and the work of Christ is sin. We must avoid these two extremes of the Antinomian and the Legalist.

Who are the 144,000?

For some perhaps many there is confusion regarding who the 144,000 are in the Bible in the book of Revelation. According to the Jehovah Witnesses organization, these witnesses are a special group that will reign in heaven with Jesus Christ at the end of this age. JW's literature claims that heaven filled up in 1935 so there is no more room for anyone else. In other words, no one else goes to heaven.

This is not true! There are and will be an innumerable amount of saints in heaven. In Revelation 7:9-10 we read, "After this, I (John the apostle) looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every tribe and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

John was seeing one of many visions; visions of the end times. In this chapter, God seals his witnesses on their foreheads to protect them from the judgments that are prevailing on the earth during the Great Tribulation. We learn in chapter 14 that the 144,000 are virgin men, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:5-8). These witnesses have not been identified yet. As a matter of possible fact, they may not even be alive yet. No one knows. So the idea that these witnesses are Jehovah's Witnesses from today is unbiblical. How JW's have attached themselves to the witnesses in the book of Revelation is a mystery to me and a lie.

The deception is that only the 144,000 will enjoy the glories of heaven, whereas the rest of the JW members will live here on a Paradise Earth. Non-Jehovah Witnesses will not go to hell because JW's do not believe in hell. Nonbelievers will be annihilated - that is cease to exist - another false doctrine obviously not supported by holy scripture.

Count it all joy?

Why would the writer James utter the above statement? The statement actually reads, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience or endurance" (James 1:2). The word count means to consider. The writer James is not saying that tests are joy. They are not, they are painful. And truth be told, none of us want trials in our lives at all. James said to consider them joy because of what trials produce in us, patience or endurance which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). 

This type of attitude requires a laser focus on God and the truth of his word. If we are to discover that our faith is genuine, it has to be put to the test. The way God has decided to do that is through challenges in our lives. The archetype of the one who was righteous and suffered greatly in the Old Testament was Job. Job lost everything. He became so destitute and despaired of life that he cursed the day of his birth and wished he had never been born (Job 3). Yet Job testified, "Though he (God) slay me yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15). 

The life of Jesus as a suffering servant

About 700 years before the birth of Christ Isaiah the prophet said this about the Messiah, "He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men. A man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him (Isaiah 53:3). In the tenth verse of this chapter, it tells us that it pleased the Lord to bruise Christ (Isaiah 53:10). 

Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we are to fix our eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. About Him it says that for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of  God. Now, what was the joy set before Jesus? It has to be two things: 1) fulfilling the Father's will. 2) Redeeming all those the Father gave to Him to come and save. The second point is a subset of the first one.

What this tells me is that our suffering must have an end game, an exit strategy. We should not be suffering for nothing. In other words, we should not be suffering for doing evil, but for doing good; therein lies the joy. Knowing that our suffering for righteousness is NEVER in vain! It is also essential that we pass the test(s) that we are going through so that they do not lead us to temptation and to sin. 

So, when you are going through your trials, that is the perfect time to examine your life and ask yourself, "Am I in or out of the will of God?" If you are out of the will of God, then repent immediately. If you are in the will of God, then pray and endure the fiery trial. Although it is painful, and you want it over, do not give up for God will see you through. He is pressing you so that your faith in Him will strengthen and you can count it all joy.

Final thought: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

God is love

The Bible tells us repeatedly that God is love, and that he is (1 John 4:8). That is why mankind is commanded to love one another. Jesus said to the disciples in John 13:35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another."

Love is the supreme virtue of all God's attributes. From his love flows everything else. But what I would like to discuss is what God's love isn't. 

The world's view of God's love is unbiblical. Why? Because it is viewed through a corrupt human lense. The world has replaced God's perfect love for an unholy tolerance of their sins. You have all heard the phrase, "Well God knows my heart." This phrase is used as an escape hatch to excuse one's guilt for the sin(s) they are committing. In their mind, it gets them off the hook with God - so they think.  Since the world's view of God's love is wrong, they divest the Lord of his other immutable attributes such as his wrath, his anger, his hatred of sin and judgment on sinners.  From the world's perspective, the above adjectives regarding God are foreign to him; the fire and brimstone God everyone despises and fears. The kind and tolerant god of this age is the one that everyone prefers. This god makes the world feel better about themselves and there is nothing to fear.

We have neglected God's mercy and grace so much that when calamity strikes in our lives, we (i.e. mankind) blame God for his apparent neglect and supposed insensitivity to our plight. What we must remember is that God must and will always punish sin. Where the world makes their grave mistake is that because God does not exact judgment swiftly all the time, man thinks he is getting away with his sin. Not so! There is a time and a place for everything. God will not remain patient forever with evil doers.

Judgment is coming!

Another magnificent virtue of God is that he is holy. That means he is completely righteous perfect and separate from sinners. As a matter of fact, the Bible commands us to be holy for God is holy (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). The Bible tells us that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Translation, dirty people will never see the Lord. Obviously, I am not talking about physical uncleanness, but regarding a person as degenerate - unsaved meaning they are morally unclean and spiritually dead in God's sight. 

God's love is varied for sure. We cannot look at God's love as passive, turning a blind eye to sin. If we are offended and repulsed by mankind's sins and we are sinful ourselves, how much more does our sinless God have the right to be offended by man's wickedness and judge it? How hypocritical of man to want justice for trespasses committed against them, and not expect God to execute justice against unrepentant sinners? It is a violation of God's holy character 

So, in order for us to know God's love, we need to examine the scripture carefully. Love always tells the truth, no matter how painful it may be to hear. Mankind does not have the right to determine for God what his love is. God has declared it clearly in his word and in the person of Jesus Christ. We must bow the knee to what scripture declares about God's love. Once we understand it, we must practice it by loving all people - way easier said than done; so many people are unlovable.

God is love, always. However, that does not mean that God will not execute judgment on sinners. As a matter of fact, God must judge sin for his holiness' sake. Just like any human judge must execute justice against convicted criminals, God who is the perfect judge must punish all recalcitrant sinners. In this way, God's love is delivering and providing safety from evil people; from those who hate him. 

God is not less loving when he is judging and punishing evil; his character is immutable. Rather, he is exhibiting tough love. Not a love we as sinful people want to endure. But because of man's disobedience, God has to react with anger and wrath against the sin so that man may fear him and would be willing to repent to escape his righteous and fair judgment. 

God is loving mankind by providing sober warnings to them.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus so loved the world that he died to save it; that is mankind from their sins. Although the reality of Jesus coming to earth to die for the sins of the world is an ancient story, it still baffles and angers man because it is a supernatural love that we will never fully understand. Why in the world would a loving Father sent his perfect sinless son to die for undeserving wretched human beings? Because of his love. Also because we need it in order for us to be forgiven of our sins and be saved. That type of love is perfect because it is sacrificial - benefiting all who place their faith in Jesus' atoning sacrifice. 

Matthew 12:43-45

Jesus said in the title verses above, "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

To understand what He meant, we have to understand the entire context. The religious leaders said that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub the prince of demons; in essence Satan (Matthew 12:24). Jesus exposed the foolishness of their logic. He said, "If Satan casts out himself how can his kingdom stand" (Matthew 12:26-27)? In other words, why would anyone fight against themselves? Why would anyone tear themselves down? That is lunacy. The Pharisees' jealousy and hatred of Jesus blinded their reasoning to the degree that they would say anything to discredit Him; not realizing the enormity and danger of their hatred Jesus had to warn them that blaspheming the Holy Spirit would place a person in an unforgivable state with God! You never want to attribute the power of God to that of the devil, ever (Matthew 12:31-32). 

Jesus also made it clear to them that they were against Him because of their adversarial attitude. They were not in support of Him or His ministry. 

Jesus provides two Old Testaments accounts of those who were wise and listened to God's word: the Ninevites during the preaching of Jonah, and the Queen of the south who came from very far to listen to the wisdom of Solomon. Jesus said that both the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the south will rise up in the judgment and condemn His generation because they heeded the Word of God in their day and one greater than Jonah and Solomon was in their midst, namely Jesus Himself (Matthew 12:40-42). 

Finally, Jesus likened His generation to a man who had a demon cast out of him. The demon is looking for an oasis but does not find any. The demon decides to return to the house (i.e. man) that he formerly possessed. The man is cured but apparently has not changed his ways. So the demon returns and brings seven more unclean spirits more wicked than itself and they dwell in that house. The last state of that man is worse than before. Jesus said that is the state of the generation that He lived in. That is also the state of any unrepentant person or generation.

You see Jesus is the light of the world (John 9:5). The light shines on all so that darkness is removed. But when one loves darkness rather than light because of their evil deeds, wickedness will prevail in that person's life (John 3:19). When one is exposed to the true light of Jesus' love and power and decides to reject it, you will be worse off than you were before the light of Jesus came to you. It is as if you were cured of evil by God's power but you remained recalcitrant. Sadly, for a person like that, because you did not put on Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), you have left yourself wide open for Satan to take control. When the devil returns, he will make sure he will have a greater hold on that rebellious person's life so that they are worse off later than they were before they were exposed to the love and healing power of Jesus Christ.

Two passages all need to take heed to, "Behold NOW (emphasis added) is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

"Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked me" (Hebrews 3:15).

Can someone sell their soul to the devil?

Many of us have heard tales or read stories of those who supposedly sold their souls to the devil for a life of riches, indulgence, and luxury on earth only to want to renege on their deal with the devil when their life is over. Can one offer their soul to the devil for sale? Let's take a look at some Bible passages to gain some insight into this serious matter.

To my knowledge, the only person the devil approached about selling his soul to him was the Lord Jesus Christ at the temptation described in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The gospel of John does not record the temptation of Christ.

I want to look at the third temptation Satan presented to Jesus. In Matthew 4:8-11 we read, "Again, the devil takes Him up into an exceeding high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory: And says unto Him (Jesus), all these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said unto him, "Get behind me Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." 

The devil's wicked proposition obviously did not work with Jesus. The Lord used the greatest weapon at His disposal, the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), the Word of Truth to extinguish Satan's fiery darts (again Ephesians 6:16,17). 

In truth, all those who are not in Christ already belong to the devil - body, soul, and spirit. 1 John 5:19 says the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day that they were of their father the devil (John 8:44). So the devil does not have to purchase what already belongs to him. The idea of selling one's soul to the devil is a lie from the devil himself! Remember Jesus also said the devil is a liar. Here is the entire text of John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own. For he is a liar and the father of it."

To think that you can bargain with the devil is insane. Only a fool would want to do that. Those that are into the worship of the devil as if he is some type of benevolent being are deceived. The devil could never provide true happiness of any kind; not physical, financial or spiritual. He is a doomed, damned soul headed for the eternal lake of fire. He has very little time and he only wants to kill, steal, and destroy; not give anyone the "good life" (John 10:10). Anyone that rejects Jesus Christ serves the devil by default whether they know it or not, or like it or not! Bottom line is that your soul belongs to him unless you genuinely repent of your sins, and place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then your soul will be snatched from the devil's grip and eternally placed into the loving arms of your Lord, Savior, and Creator.