“A Run Away Slave, Chosen in Christ ”

I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

This book we call the bible has one message, the redemption of sinners, through the saving Grace of God, in Christ alone, apart from works. The subject is one, Christ crucified. The aim is one, the glory of God, in Christ. To preach any thing else, is to make merchandise of the Word of God!

The condition of the human race is the same, fallen rebels, constantly seeking a hiding place from the wrath of God, because of our sin. We all by nature are run away slaves. Fugitives of divine Justice, guilty of fleeing from our God, having stolen his glory. Our only hope? Is that God in his Sovereign providence causes us to run into the arms of Christ Jesus, and find in him, a refuge and sanctuary, an asylum! A secret place where the Most High God can accept us, having successfully mediated in our behalf, as our substitute, surety and representative before His Holiness, by Christ Jesus.

This is the gospel in Philemon. Paul is a great type of our Savior Jesus Christ, the sinners perfect plea. Philemon represents the Father, whose justice must be satisfied. And Onesimus? He is that chosen sinner, who through no wisdom of His own, nor merit of His own, found grace in the eyes of God, through the labors of another, even Jesus who in His bonds, gave himself as ransom for many!

Slavery is a very sensitive issue. And in our country, we are finding it still endemic and pervasive. Why?  Because we have left off walking in the light. As long as we do not recognize that the seeds of corruption lie at the bottom of the soul, always ready to break out into awful plagues of evil as has been expressed in the past, we will never sufficiently address the matter, nor be successful in it’s eradication.

This presidential election has been thought to be a good thing. The first black president, or the first woman president. Well, concerning the latter maybe. Concerning the former? Americans are not honest with themselves. It still remains a deep seeded issue on the everyday level. Large segments of this country are avowed racist, who have never repented of the historic atrocities. On both sides of this matter! Blacks and whites. And I have found the rest of the world still deluded by this false sense of self superiority. Haven't you?

Politics haven’t answered the call. It can't. And mere religion has proven to be a fig leaf, for the outward godliness of hypocrisy . “The real power is absent” The answer? Is a real Christ. A vital faith. True conversion! A new creation!!!

The Apostle Paul new this, consider His wisdom!

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