Pastor's message 2/28/2016: A Useful Person

Related scripture: Philemon 1:8-14

Onesimus helped Paul while he was in prison. However, he was born as a slave and was a sinner for running away after stealing his owner’s money. Then he met Paul and became a Christian. Later on, Onesimus became such a good assistant of Paul. The meaning of the name Onesimus is helpful or useful. Onesimus had a life that was the total opposite of the meaning of his name. However, as he met Christ, he changed to a useful man. According to Ignatius’ letter, Onesimus became a bishop of the church of Ephesians in the early 2^nd century and he collected Paul’s letters to publish. Because of his effort, we can get the New Testaments. Onesimus used to be harmful to others and useless, but he had changed to a useful person who left huge achievements in the church history. He was able to change, because his owner, Philemon, who forgave his sin. Paul sent a letter to Philemon and encouraged him to forgive Onesimus. This morning, let’s think about the Paul’s encouragement and share this grace of God.

First of all, for us to become useful to others, we need to know that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We call one another as brothers and sisters at the church. These brothers and sisters should be attached in Christ. Apostle Paul encouraged Philemon to forgive Onesimus as he emphasized the phrase, “in Christ.” Church is a place for brothers and sisters in Christ to gather as one. So, we gather here to pray in Christ and need to be able to share the grace of God. The church needs to become a complimenting, encouraging, and loving place for Christians. In this world, we all have different jobs, education levels, and living environments, but at church, we are brothers and sisters that are equally loved by God. In the presence of God, we are same as brothers and sisters. However some people who lack of faith often show their arrogance or boasting. When we see them, we should not be disappointed because they are trying to change to reach the fullness of Christ. We are all useful people in Christ not only as church leaders but also as one time visitors per year. When we open our mind to others as brothers and sisters in Christ, people will accept us as their brothers and sisters. When we open our minds to our enemies, they will be a good helper of us in Christ. Apostle Paul emphasizes this to Philemon.

Second, in order to be a useful person, we need to recover relationships through forgiveness and love. Apostle Paul said in verse 8-9, “For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love.” Then, he said in verse 11, “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me.” In the relationship between the owner and the servant, Onesimus was useless, but when he became a servant of Christ he really became useful. However, even if Onesimus became a new person in Christ, he was not able to fully do the work of God because of his broken relationship with Philemon. Therefore, Paul sent him to Philemon to be forgiven.

We can tell that Paul did not want to recover the relationship by forcing Philemon to forgive Onesimus, but instead, he wanted them to experience the love and forgiveness in Christ to rebuild their relationship. Paul believed that this was one of the steps that Onesimus had to take in order for him to handle the huge amount of work. Then, in verses 18 and 19, Paul said to Philemon “If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it.” Apostle Paul said he would take care of all the loss that Philemon suffered because of Onesimus. He showed the love that we have to have.

Honestly, Onesimus was a sinner that could have been sentenced to death according to the old Roman law. The fact that Onesimus ran away was a big loss of Philemon’s property. However, as Christians, we know that there are prioritized before the law which are love and forgiveness. The characteristic of Christianity is love and forgiveness. Jesus had told us to forgive our brothers and sisters not seven times, but seventy-seven times. This does not mean we should forgive others up to a certain number, but forgive them till the end. Forgiveness comes from the person who was hurt, not from the person who hurt others. People can forgive others, when they let go of their pride. If you think you have hurt someone, then ask for forgiveness, and if you think of someone who hurt you, then have the faith to forgive him or her. Forgiveness and love can be possible, when Jesus is in us.

It was not easy for Philemon and Onesimus to see each other. However, Paul knew that unless they learned about love and forgiveness, they couldn’t become useful, so he had to make this opportunity for them. To become a useful person, we should remember today’s sermon. First, we are the brothers and sisters in Christ. Second, we need to be able to love and forgive others in Christ. So, I pray in Jesus’s name that all of us will be used by God and will be helpful to others.

~Pastor Jay