Refreshing The Hearts Of The Saints
REFRESHING THE HEARTS OF THE SAINTS
PHILEMON 1-7
We read of one man’s active love and faith.
We have the typical beginning to a first-century letter. Paul describes himself by referring to his current imprisonment, which he sees as “for Christ Jesus.” He links Timothy with him in sending the letter, but there seems no reason for thinking that Timothy had any real part in its composition. The recipients are Philemon, Paul’s “beloved fellow worker,” Apphia (apparently Philemon’s wife) and Archippus (who may well have been the son of the house; a little message is sent to him in Colossians 4:17). “The church in your house” appears to mean that a local group of Christians assembled for worship in the home of Philemon. What relationship such a house church had to the church of the city we have no means of knowing.
Paul goes on to say that he gives thanks for his friends. It is characteristic that the two qualities he specially notes are love and faith (v.5). There is no substitute for love in living out the Christian life. And, of course, unless there is a genuine faith in Jesus Christ there is no Christian life at all. It is likely that we should link love with faith as directed toward Christ and all the saints (rather than thinking of this as referring only to faith).
Paul goes on to speak of the way he himself had derived “much joy and comfort” from the same love, and he explains that “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (v.7). An outgoing love (which ought to be characteristic of the way all Christians live) has far-reaching effects. Obviously it makes an impression on its immediate recipients. But it does not stop there. Philemon’s kindnesses to the saints at large brought joy and comfort to Paul and no doubt to many others as well. And, though Paul does not mention it, such love has its effects on those outside the circle of believers. “See how these Christians love one another!” was a verdict which brought the non-Christian world to take seriously the faith that could produce such results. It may well be that many of the troubles facing the church today would be solved or at least considerably reduced if the whole church structure were permeated by a spirit of love.
But we must not go on from there to conclude that the church’s task is simply to show love. Paul commends Philemon for sharing his faith (v.6). There is no substitute for believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and we need to be clear about this. It is only by faith that we may obtain “all the good that is ours in Christ.”