1074. Onesimus and Paul

Onesimus and Paul

"I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds" (Phm_1:10).

What glory rings out in the word's: "Whom I have begotten in my bonds." Paul did not say, "Whom I have begotten in his bonds." He left out. the fact that Onesimus had been bound, and held forth the fact of his own imprisonment. Paul knew that in his own incarceration, there was resting on him the glory of the Lord, and he was not ashamed. As to Onesimus, he had suffered the due reward of his deeds, and Paul was ashamed for him.

Just how Onesimus was "begotten," we can readily surmise.

1. There were the groanings of Onesimus. He was contrite. He bemoaned his sad estate. He wept before the aged Paul. He told him how it happened–how his master trusted him, and how he could not forego the chance to run away with his pockets full of gold. He felt the burden of his woe–a woe made double by the presence of the man of God.

Is this not always the experience of the sinner when he comes to God? He is stricken by his sin. It is the sick who seek the physician, and it is the lost who come to God. Weeping will not save us, but a tear is a mighty fine telescope through which to see the Saviour.

2. There was the story of the Cross as told by Paul. Did Paul preach Christ to this runaway? He surely did. He preached Christ always, everywhere. How else could Paul bring peace to the man before him, stricken by his sins? Some might have tried to preach another gospel. Not so the tried and true Apostle of the faith. He knew that Onesimus could not himself recover from his fall. He knew the weakness of the sin-bent flesh.

Paul preached Christ. He preached Him crucified. He told the stricken youth how there was mercy with the Lord and abounding grace; how Christ had died for him, the Just for the unjust; how we are saved by faith. He must believe in Christ and trust His finished work.

He preached Christ risen. He told Onesimus that Christ was a Living Lord; that He had come forth a Victor from the grave; that He had ascended up-on high and was seated at the Father's side. He told him that the Risen Christ would give him power to live in victory; that sin need no more have dominion over him. He told him that the Lord would grip his hand and lead him on, o'er moor and crag and dangerous pitfall until his life was done.

He preached Christ coming again. He explained to Onesimus those great and blessed truths that are ours in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. How Christ would come from Heaven with a shout; how the redeemed, the living and the dead, would be caught up to meet the Lord; how we would all be changed and be clothed upon with bodies like unto the glorious body of our Lord; how we would reign with Christ a thousand years. He told him of the glorious Kingdom in the great eternal ages yet to come. He spoke of the city with its streets of pure gold, of its pearly gates, and of its walls of precious stones.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR