When I was in grade school and was assigned a book report, I went to the library and searched for the shortest book I could find. I hated doing the work. Usually, these books were pretty empty of any story or meaning.
In my search through the Bible, I find just the opposite to be the case. Some of the greatest gems come from some of the shortest books. Philemon is one of my favorites.
Philemon is a letter by Paul to a church leader in Colossae, Philemon. The letter is about Philemon’s escaped slave, Onesimus. Most scholars believe that both the books, Philemon and Colossians, were delivered together by Onesimus himself (Col. 4:9). He took quite a risk since the pentalty for escaped slaves was death.
Onesimus had received the Lord (vs. 10) through Paul’s ministry, and Paul saw Onesimus could be very useful to the church at Colossae and to Philemon, his previous master. If you read the entire letter, you’ll see that Paul doesn’t really give Philemon a chance to say, “no.” Paul’s asking for a favor that Philemon would do the Christian thing.
The central verse in Philemon is verse 18 where Paul says, “If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” What a great example of Christian forgiveness.
As you read this little book through, think about the history and the way Paul works out the problems of a poor slave who wanted to do the right thing.
Now read it looking at Paul as a type of Jesus, Philemon as a type of the Father, and you as a type of Onesimus. Right now, Jesus stands before the Father as our advocate (1 John 2:1) saying about us, ” If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.”
We aren’t just clean, but we are described as friends (John 15:15) and co-workers with God (1 Cor. 3;9). Our relationship with Jesus is not a distant one but an intimate one. He wants us to be close. The old Christmas carol lyric is true: “Pleased as man with man to dwell.” Jesus wants us to be free and is willing and anxious to credit the debt we carried to His account. All we need do is accept Him.
Colossians 4:9 (NKJV)
9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
John 15:15 (ESV)
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
1 John 2:1 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Believers Armed and Dangerous 