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Title: Onesimus- A Faithful and Beloved Brother

Text: Text: Colossians 4:7-9, Philemon
12 July 2009

(I) WHO IS ONESIMUS?

1. A slave of Philemon (Philemon 16)

2. An Unprofitable slave

“Who once was unprofitable…” Philemon 11

3. He was a runaway slave whom Paul was sending back to Philemon

(II) WHO IS PHILEMON?

1. A beloved friend (Philemon 1)

2. Fellow labourer (Philemon 1)

3. An honoured brother (Philemon 7, 20)

4. An outstanding Christian

a) Love for the saints ( Philemon 5, 7 )

b) Faith in the Lord ( Philemon 5 )

c) Every good thing that is in you ( Philemon 6 )

(III) HONOURING OF ONESIMUS

1. He is “son” to Paul (Philemon 10)

“…whom I have begotten while in my chains” Philemon 10

2. He is now “profitable” (Philemon 11)

3. He “ministered” to Paul in prison (Philemon 13)

4. Appeal to Philemon on his behalf

a) To be received back ( Philemon 12, 15 )

b) To be received as “a beloved brother” ( Philemon 16 )

c) To be received as Paul would have been received ( Philemon 17 )

d) His debts would be repaid by Paul ( Philemon 18-19 )

(IV) OUR CHALLENGE

1. Not to merely speak of our being saved in Christ

2. To demonstrate the changes that should take place through salvation

a) A changed heart – slave to son

b) A changed mindset- runaway to minister

c) A changed spirit- runaway to returning to his master Philemon