Put that on my account

Wouldn't it be great if you had a friend or a relative with unlimited funds? Wouldn't it be great if you had access to these funds? Wouldn't it be great if you needed to buy something and you did not have the funds, but your friend said, "Go ahead and buy it, put that on my account?"

In the New Testament there is a personal letter that the apostle Paul wrote to his friend Philemon. The letter concerns Philemon's runaway slave Onesimus, however, we are not given the reason Onesimus ran away from Philemon. From the context of Paul's letter we can see that that Onesimus is converted to Christ through Paul.

Paul is in a Roman prison when he writes to Philemon. Onesimus is obviously helping Paul in spreading the gospel. However, as good as that was, there was still the matter of Onesimus running away from his Master Philemon. A crime which was punishable by death under Roman law!

Paul undertakes to send Onesimus back to Philemon and writes to Philemon on Onesimus' behalf.  His letter is one of Christian grace, love and empathy. Philemon 1:10, "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains." Paul appeals to Philemon as Onesimus' spiritual father; telling him that Onesimus was, "...once...unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and me." (Philemon 1:11).

The next few verses give us the main thrust of Paul's plea.

Philemon 1:12-14:

"(12) I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,
(13) whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
(14) But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary."

Paul pleads with Philemon to receive Onesimus back, not as His slave, but as a brother in Christ.

Philemon 1:15-16:

"(15) For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,

(16) no longer as a slave but more than a slave - a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord."

Paul concludes his plea by a very touching request.

Philemon 1:17-20:

"(17) If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.

(18) But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

(19) I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay - not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
(20) Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord."

How does this part of the Holy Scriptures apply in our day? You could probably truthfully say, "I am not a slave to any man or women." We can thank the true and living God that slavery has been abolished in numerous countries around the world.

However, let's have a look at Romans chapter 7. The apostle Paul points out in Romans chapter 7 that the law highlights our sin. Romans 7:14 tells us, "for we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal [in my natural state], sold under sin."

Romans 3:23 informs us that, "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 tells us that, "...the wages of sin is death..."

Hebrews 9:27 reveals, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement."

We could be like Onesimus and try and run away from our bondage - but we can't get away from this bondage because we are born with a sinful nature. This sinful nature has been passed on from the very first man Adam.

The situation requires someone who is equal with God to plead on our behalf. That person is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God. Let's look again at Paul's words to Philemon. However, instead of Paul picture the Lord Jesus Christ pleading to God the Father on your behalf.

If he has wronged you or owes you anything [the debt of your sin], put that on My account. That account was opened in His own blood, on the cross at Calvary. If you want your debt of sin cleared - if you want to be a new creation in Christ Jesus - then come to Him now! Don't continue to be a slave to sin.

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]