1070. Onesimus in Colosse

Onesimus in Colosse

"With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you" (Col_4:9).

That Onesimus lived in the home of Philemon and that he was a servant there, we cannot doubt. He could not have been sent back to Philemon, if he had never dwelt there.

Let us seek, then, to study somewhat of the conditions which were about the servant Onesimus as he dwelt in Colosse.

1. He served a man who was a faithful servant of God. It is most refreshing to read some of the things said and to consider some of the things inferred about Philemon.

(1) Philemon had a church in his house (see Col_4:2). This of course gave Onesimus every opportunity to hear the Gospel. He had, beyond a doubt, heard the Apostle Paul, for Paul had preached of the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus in the home of Philemon. Thus, Onesimus did not lack a good preacher. He was not hellward bound because he had no warning of the wages of sin, nor because he had no knowledge of the way of life.

(2) Philemon faithfully labored for God. Philemon was no drone, lazily wending his way Heavenward. He was a "fellowlabourer" with Paul. He "served his generation." He "abounded in the work of the Lord." If Onesimus was bent toward sin, it was not due to his environment, nor. to his master's example.

(3) Philemon was a man dearly beloved (see Col_4:1). We know Paul did not love a man who was living in sin. Paul did not love a man who professed to be pious, but was, in fact, a hypocrite.

So, Onesimus must have been in the home of one who manifested all the tender mercies that are in Christ Jesus. A man whose very life glowed with the life of his Lord.

(4) Philemon was a man whose household knew the Lord. In Php_1:2 we read of "Apphia the sister, and of Archippus the fellowsoldier." These two must have composed the immediate household of this man of God, because they are addressed so intimately with him. Perhaps they were his wife and son.

Accordingly, Onesimus passed in and out before those who truly served the Lord. The atmosphere around him was spiritual. What more could' he have wished?

(5) Philemon was a man who manifested all of those characteristics which glorify the lord and magnify His grace. Php_1:4-6 : "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

What a wonderful array of graces we have before us!

A love and faith toward the Lord Jesus.

A love and faith toward all the saints.

Every good thing which is in us toward Christ.

Encouragement in his love.

The hearts of the saints refreshed.

As we see it, there are few, if any characters in the New Testament that more fully lived out the Divine life than this very Philemon. He was a man in whom all the Christian graces bloomed in fullest fragrance.

Now what have we? A servant, named Onesimus, living in the home of such a man, yet this same Onesimus repudiated all his benefits, and ran away with his master's good's. This forever gives the lie to that oft-repeated phrase that "environment will save us." Some man of the world wants to find out the cause of sin; and after much toil and expense, he discovers that sin is due to unhappy surroundings and that righteousness will follow from a better environment.

What consummate folly. Do better tenements mean better men?

Is there no such thing as sin among the elite? Perhaps sin in the homes on Fifth Avenue may be more polished and refined (if sin can be refined), but sin is everywhere heinous sin. What we need is to be "born again."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR