BLESSING IN EQUALITY

My Dear Precious Child, Paul's letter to Philemon related to Philemon's slave/worker Onesimus. Philemon was a wealthy man. Onesimus had escaped from Philemon and had stolen from him in the effort. Onesimus was converted to Christianity by Paul who convinced him to return to Philemon's employ and even pay back what he had stolen. Paul endeavored to convince Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a brother in Christ instead of a slave. Paul wanted Philemon to receive Onesimus back as an equal, which was a revolutionary idea in those days of Jewish rule. Paul's revelation was fresh with him, that in Christ there are no slaves but that all people are free in Him. (Philemon 1-7; Galatians 3:28) In his letter to Philemon, Paul is very explicit in his flattery of Philemon as a man of great love and faith in Christ Jesus for all of My children, even telling Philemon that it was through him that the hearts of the believers had been refreshed. Paul wrote that he had every right to insist that Philemon should do what he ought to have already done, but instead Paul said that he was going to appeal to Philemon in the name of love for Philemon to accept Onesimus as a spiritual child of Paul's whom Paul had won over to the gospel of Christ Jesus, and as a person whose truth was useful to Philemon where previously Onesimus had been useless to Philemon after his escape from him. (Philemon 8-12) Paul was so fond of Onesimus that he considered keeping the former slave as his own helper in the ministry, but he did not want to force anything without the consent of Philemon. In his appeal to Philemon, Paul wrote that any kindness from Philemon might be graciously bestowed instead of forced. Paul's insight was that possibly Onesimus' actions in separating himself from Philemon might have been for the reason that Philemon might possess Onesimus forever as an equal believer, not as a slave but as a beloved brother in Christ. one who was especially dear to Paul. Paul wanted Philemon to know Onesimus as a brother in Christ instead of as a slave. He wanted Onesimus to be known by Philemon not as a slave bound to him in the flesh but as a brother in the Lord. (Philemon 13-16) Paul asked Philemon to regard himself as a partner with Philemon, asking Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a partner with Paul. In fact, Paul was willing to assume any financial responsibility for Onesimus, saying that Paul would pay what was owed by Onesimus to Philemon. Paul reminded Philemon that he owed his very life to Paul, being one of his converts, so Paul wanted to make Philemon useful in spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus. Paul asked Philemon to refresh Paul's heart in love the way he had refreshed the hearts of other people in the gospel. Paul certainly assumed that Philemon would be amenable to Paul's suggestion because he ended his leter by asking Philemon to get a room ready for Paul's visit with him, hoping that through Philemon's prayers that Paul would be restored to Philemon's ministry that met in his house. (Philemon 17-20) Slavery was an accepted tradition to the Jews. However, as a believer in Christ Jesus, the bodies of people never belong to another person. That Jewish tradtion was a difficult tradition to break. Jesus Christ said that the traditions of the Jews had become difficult bondage to believers. (Matthew 15:6) Your Father of Liberty