Category: Redeemed

Philemon

7/3/2022

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Philemon

Rusty's Notes

What we know from studying Colossians:

This letter to Philemon by is concerning his runaway slave named Onesismus.
The Church seems to be a satellite church of Ephesus.
It was not started by Paul, but by Epaphrus (v 23).
Epaphras is in prison in Rome with Paul when this letter is written and sent with Tychichus along with the letters to the Church at Colossae and Ephesus.
Paul has never visited the Church at Colossae.

GREETING
PHILEMON
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother:
To Philemon our dear friend and coworker,

He may only know Philemon through the connection of Onesimus.
But vs. 19 seems as if Paul actually led Philemon to his faith in Jesus.

2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier,

Archipus was mentioned in Colossians as possibly the current elder of the Church of Colossae.
Some will connect him as the son of Philemon and Apphia, but we are not sure.

and to the church that meets in your home.

The Church at Colossae met in the home of Philemon and his wife, Apphia.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace first… so then you can have peace.
Imagine if our world could figure just that much out in their lives.

PHILEMON’S LOVE AND FAITH
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and the faith that you have in the Lord Jesus.

This is the priority and why Paul starts here.

6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ.

Participation in faith
That covers from the beginning of grasping your initial faith to the deepness of knowing God through His Word and Creation.
Michelle and I crossed the Mississippi River twice last week… I was in awe.
The Mississippi River begins as a trickle flowing out of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota.
From there the river flows 2,348 miles until it pours into the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans.
The Mississippi River drains 33 states and its watershed covers one-half of the nation.
If I were to compare one’s faith journey in Jesus with the Mississippi River, I’d say the majority of the people are somewhere in the state of Minnesota
In this room, and even outside this room, I participate in my faith.
But most of my participation in faith is focused on the simple Gospel of Jesus… and meeting the needs of people… spiritual people.
I can’t get caught in the weeds!
I can’t get so far downstream that I lose focus on the intent of the Gospel.
I’ve got people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, addiction, sexual identities and even just buying groceries.
And in the meantime, people are wanting to consume my time with political and theological discussions.
Paul is literally encouraging Philemon who is a leader in the community to remain steady in his participation of faith.

7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Refreshed… not confused, not agitated, not demanded, not controlled… not agenda driven… but refreshed.
As compared to the Jewish legalists that were always demanding expectations of the rules/laws.

AN APPEAL FOR ONESIMUS

Estimates suggest that there were 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire, men and women who were treated like pieces of merchandise to buy and sell.
The average slave sold for 500 denarii (one denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer), while the educated and skilled slaves were priced as high as 50,000 denarii.
A master could free a slave, or a slave could buy his freedom if he could raise the money (Acts 22:28).
If a slave ran away, the master would register the name and description with the officials, and the slave would be on the “wanted” list.
Any free citizen who found a runaway slave could assume custody and even intercede with the owner.
The slave was not automatically returned to the owner, nor was he automatically sentenced to death.[1]

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right,

The struggle between flesh and Spirit.

9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man (probably around 60 years old) and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

Paul could have easily appealed on the status of his apostleship and leadership, but he chose humbleness.

10 appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.

Paul, led Onesimus to faith in Jesus and now views him as his disciple.

11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

The name Onesimus actually interprets as “profitable”.
He was a pagan runaway slave, but now he is considered a friend and a soldier for the Lord.

12 I am sending him back to you—I am sending my very own heart.

Paul deeply loves this man.
I remember how hard it was to always say goodbye to my parents when I leave to return home.
I do the same thing when Chloe leaves.
It is this kind of love Paul is referring to.

13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

Paul, wants the services of Onesimus with him but he is giving his friend Philemon a choice.
What do you want to do with your rebellious slave that you could kill, but has now transformed his life in Christ Jesus?

15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother.

Paul is only giving Philemon something to consider, to think about.

He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Onesimus is encourager through faith (which is what Paul wants) but he is also able to serve physically (which is what Philemon originally contracted with him).

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me.

Paul is encouraging Philemon to view Paul as a redeemed man.
No matter what evil Philemon has done… he has been made perfect through Jesus Christ.
Had Onesimus’ behavior changed?
We don’t know… but it surely has been impacted.
Paul could not leave the prison to visit Colossae, but he could send representation through Onesimus.
Even inside of Leavener (our community), there are struggles to truly redeem people who fail (over and over).

18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

Not a physical account… but an understanding.
I owe you one.
But this also moved them into a partnership so as to give Philemon the aspect of not being a pushover when it came to owning slaves.

19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self.

This implies that Philemon heard about Jesus initially from Paul and came to faith because of Paul’s contact with him.

20 Yes, brother, may I benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Philemon’s name actually translates to “affectionate” or “one who is kind”.
Paul would love to have Onesimus back as his own personal slave/friend/ministry partner.

21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.

The persuasiveness of Paul comes out here through encouragement.
“See what he did there”.

22 Meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, since I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

Paul’s desire comes from his missionary heart.
Of course he wants to go back and visit all the churches and encourage them.
His heart never changed although his circumstances changed.
This also added a little pressure to Philemon if Paul was going to be face to face with him later.

FINAL GREETINGS
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings, and so do 24 Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.

John Mark was with Paul (Col. 4:10), the young man who failed Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 12:12, 25; 15:36–41).
Paul had forgiven Mark and was grateful for his faithful ministry (see 2 Tim. 4:11).
Aristarchus was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 19:29; 27:2).
Demas is mentioned three times in Paul’s letters: “Demas … my fellow worker” (Phile. 24), “Demas” (Col. 4:14), “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10).
John Mark failed but was restored. Demas seemed to be doing well but then he fell.
Luke, of course, was the beloved physician (Col. 4:14) who accompanied Paul, ministered to him, and eventually wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts.[2]

25 The grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ be with your spirit.[3]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 270). Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 273). Victor Books.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Phm 1–25). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

Romans 5:12-21

3/21/2021

Teacher: Dan Luedke
Series: Romans (Acts)

Dan's Notes

Romans 5:12--21
https://youtu.be/06ecQHtOWTM
2 Peter 3:16
16       as also in all his (Paul’s) letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Romans 5:12
12       Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

Genesis 1:1 &2
1         In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2         And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Isaiah 45:18
18       For this is what the Lord says, He who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it as a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited…

Ezekiel 28:12 - 15
12       “Son of man, take up a song of mourning over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13       You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
14       You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
15       You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.

Isaiah 14: 12 - 14
12       How you have fallen from heaven, you star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who defeated the nations!
13       But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north.
14       I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.
1 Peter 5:8
8         Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Man is a Three Part Being
1Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Body: What houses the soul and spirit (2 Corinthians 5:1–4). Notice that the brain is part of the body.
Soul: Mind, Emotions and Will. Man thinks with his mind, feels with his emotions, and chooses with his will.
Spirit: The part of a New Testament believer that house’s God’s presence (John 14:16–17, 20, 23). Void of God’s presence, this part of man is dead to God (Genesis 2:17; Ephesians 2:1). It is through the avenue of the Spirit that man communicates with God (John 4:24), and God with man (John 14:26)[1]

Sin (the Power of Sin) Entered into Man
Romans 5:12
Just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned, (Romans 5:12)

When Adam disobeyed God, the law of sin (the power of sin, sin) moved into Adam’s spirit, soul, and body. Adam was then influenced by the messages he received from the law of sin (the power of sin, sin).
Power of sin is Satan’s agent. Satan cannot be everywhere at once. He uses the power of sin to do his dirty work. The power of sin can be viewed as the opposite of the Holy Spirit. When God speaks to the soul of man, he speaks through the Holy Spirit. When Satan speaks to the soul of man, he speaks through the power of sin.

The Old Self was Soul and Spirit

The New Self is Soul and Spirit

Romans 5:13 -14
13       for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14       Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Romans 5:15
15       But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
Romans 5:16
16       The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

Romans 5:17-19
17       For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18       So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
19       For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:20
20       The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Romans 5:21
21       so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[1] Warren, B. (2013). Romans: The Foundational Truths of Romans 1–8 (p. 132). Hardin, KY: The Hill Publishing.

Words Defined - Part 2

3/5/2017

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Words Defined

Rusty's Notes

Grace
- simple elegance or refinement of movement.
- (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
- a divinely given talent or blessing.
- the condition or fact of being favored by someone.
- a period officially allowed for payment of a sum due or for compliance with a law or condition, especially an extended period granted as a special favor.
- a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal.
- used as forms of description or address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
- "His Grace, the Duke of …"
- verb: grace; do honor or credit to (someone or something) by one's presence.
Exchanged Life
- The term "Exchanged Life" is taken from the well-known passage in Isaiah 40:31. English translations refer to those who wait on or hope in the Lord as being able to "renew" their strength. All commentaries and study Bibles that deal with this verse note that the literal translation of the Hebrew word for "renew" is "exchange." Those who wait on the Lord will exchange their strength for His strength, as stated in verses 25-30.
- The term "Exchanged Life" is directly related to the believer's discovery of a new identity in Christ. The believer is a new creation; one born of God. What was once true is no longer true. J. Hudson Taylor made the English term "Exchanged Life" popular through his testimony of how God made him a new man. (From the book, Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, chapter 14.)
- To elaborate further, we believe that the believer partakes of eternal life (Christ's Life) at the time of new birth, that identification with Christ in His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension brought the death of the "old man" and the life of the "new man." This may become a revealed experiential reality through a decision to lose one's life (total surrender) and to appropriate the Christ life by faith, and is continuously revealed by abiding in the Spirit and pursuing holiness. Victorious living is Christ living His life through the believer by the believer's faith and obedience under the Holy Spirit. This does not teach passivity, sinless perfection, or the deification of man.
Redeemed
- 1. Do something that compensates for poor past performance or behavior.
- (of a person) atone or make amends for (error or evil).
- save (someone) from sin, error, or evil.
- 2. Gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.
- Exchange (a coupon, voucher, or trading stamp) for merchandise, a discount, or money.
- Pay the necessary money to clear (a debt).
Die to self
- Not scriptural… Take up your cross daily (Luke 9:23)
- Romans 6:6 – Old self has died
Justification
- to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit.
- Just as if I have never sinned.
Sanctification
- to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate.
- to purify or free from sin:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 – May God of peace sanctify you completely.
Spirit - the activating or essential principle influencing a person; a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature: a supernatural being that indwells our physical organisms.
Soul
- Mind, will & emotions - Personality
Glory
- Colossians 1:27 - 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [1]
Holiness
Saint
Christian
Back slidden
- To revert to bad habits or laps in religious practice.
- To slip from a higher or better condition to a former, usually lower or poorer one.
Power of Sin
Flesh - Sin Nature
- Flesh... No longer "sinful nature"

Most readers of the NIV(84) Version would never even pick up on the fact that there was an asterisk next to the words "sinful nature" found especially in Romans 7 & 8. If they follow the asterisk to the bottom of the page they will notice that the NIV(84) (and actually the NLT) changed the original intent of the word from "flesh" to "sinful nature". In the new NIV(2010) version, they have changed it back to "flesh". Andrew Farley discusses this issue in his book, "The Naked Gospel". He was also influential with Zondervan in this recent change back to "flesh". Is the change from "flesh" to "sinful nature" a big deal? ABSOLUTELY IT IS!!! Throughout the Scripture (post cross), it is apparent that the evil one is still active and the power of sin works through our "flesh", our earth suit that is temporary and that will go back to dust. We are constantly pounded with corrupt thoughts and struggle with where these thoughts originated. If I know that I am a redeemed, holy, forgiven saint that has the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of me… how can I possibly have these evil thoughts? (oh man…. And some of mine are doozies!) Paul confirms that it is no longer his own nature that is originating these thoughts. It is the sin and it’s incredible power that the evil one uses to tempt us and cause us to feel terrible about ourselves. We can “feel” terrible just by having horrible thoughts… that we didn’t or couldn’t even have generated. Imagine if you walked around as a believer thinking that you are corrupt just because of your thoughts! That is the case for the majority of believers. The most sold version of the Bible for the last 30 years (that is an assumption), has been telling us that it is our “sinful nature”. It’s not possible! My “sinful nature” was crucified with Christ. Something in me had to die when I died with Christ on the cross (Galatians 2:20). What was it? It was my natural bent to sin. It was that natural bent before I received salvation that established bad habit patterns in my flesh (also my behavior). Now, as I walk with the Spirit, I am being sanctified in my flesh (behavior) and living a victorious life… even though I still sin on occasion. My identity is not as a “sinner” but as a “saint in Jesus Christ”. If I can resolve the Truth that Paul, Peter, John, etc. teach about… Then I can walk victoriously as a believer knowing that the corrupt thoughts were not generated by my nature but it is something I have to deal with as I walk in my earthly flesh. It is only temporary. It is this understanding that is the basis for overcoming the evil one (I John 2:13). Jesus came that we might have abundant life... today!!! Not just when our flesh dies here on earth.

Walk by the Spirit
Pride/Proud
Forgive-Confess-Repent

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Col 1:27). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.

Philemon

Rusty's Notes

Romans 5:12-21

Dan's Notes

Words Defined - Part 2

Rusty's Notes

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