Philemon 1:7

Philemon 1:7 says, For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.  Paul told Philemon that he was a great joy and consolation to them because of his refreshing the saints.   He doesn’t specify who was with him at this time nor does he say how Philemon had refreshed the saints, but I believe he may have helped meet their physical needs.  We need people today who are willing to meet not only the spiritual but also the physical needs of others, especially our fellow Christians when they are in need.  

Verse eight adds, Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,  Paul then said he could claim that he had the right in Christ to make a demand of Philemon to do what was convenient for Paul.  Though we may be doing a lot for God today and be in need of something that someone else could provide, we don’t have the right to demand that they do so.  

Verse eight continues, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.  Paul said that out of love for Christ that he wasn’t going to make a demand of Philemon but was going to ask him for something.  He identified himself as Paul the aged but said that Philemon was a prisoner of Christ as well, not physically but spiritually.  We should never think that we should be able to make demands of other Christians just because we have a need and have been a follower of Christ longer than they have.  

Verse ten states, I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:  Paul said he was writing to Philemon on behalf of his son Onesimus, who had accepted Jesus Christ when Paul witnessed to him, even though Paul was imprisoned at the time.  Our circumstances should never dictate whether we witness for God or not.  We should continue to worship no matter what.  

Verse eleven adds, Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:   Paul said that at one time Onesimus had not been profitable to Philemon, but now he was profitable to both Philemon and Paul.  Onesimus was a runaway slave, and as such he was not profitable to Philemon, but now he was willing to return, still as a slave, and was helping Paul in the meantime, so he was profitable to both of them.  Before we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are running away from God and are unprofitable to Him spiritually, but once we accept Jesus Christ, we become spiritually profitable to God and should also be a spiritual help to those around us. 

Philemon 1:1

Philemon 1:1 says, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,  Paul identified himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ, which could be viewed two ways.  He was spiritually imprisoned or totally controlled by his faith in Jesus Christ, and he was also physically imprisoned for his faith in Jesus Christ.  We as followers of Christ should always be spiritually imprisoned to Him by our faith even if we are never physically imprisoned for our faith in Him.  He also said that this letter was from Timothy as well, so I don’t know if Timothy had come to see Paul or if maybe he too was imprisoned for his faith by then.  He said the letter was to Philemon, who he identified as a fellow laborer.  As Christians, we should all be fellow laborers with all other Christians.  Paul didn’t say that Timothy and he were above Philemon, but that they were all equal by their faith in Jesus Christ, and so are all Christians today.  

Verse two adds, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:  Paul then identified two other people that he was addressing and called them fellow soldiers.  As followers of Christ, we are spiritually at war with the world today, and we need to be spiritually equipped to fight the good fight of faith, as Paul had said earlier that he had done.  He also stated that a church was at Philemon’s house and greeted the members of it as well.  The early church did not have buildings set aside for the worship of God, but met in the homes of fellow believers, often at great danger to themselves.  In some parts of the world, this is still true today.  We have it so much easier here in America but often act as though we are somehow better than these suffering and struggling Christians in other parts of the world.   

Verse three continues, Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul asked that the grace and peace of God be on these fellow believers, just as we should today.  Since we are redeemed and secured by God’s grace, we should be at peace no matter what is happening in our lives, even if we are imprisoned or even killed by our faith.  

Verse four states, I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,  Paul said he always thanked God for them and made mention of them in his prayers.  This should be what we as Christians do for our fellow believers today.  

Verse five adds, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;  Paul said he had heard of their love and faith, which they had toward God and all other Christians.  We cannot be divided in our faith in Jesus Christ as His followers, but must love not only Him, but all of our fellow Christians.  We could say that we are to have a love for all people because of our faith, but here Paul only mentioned his fellow Christians.  I personally don’t believe that we can be a faithful follower of Christ and not have a spiritual love for all people, no matter how bad we may view them to be, since Jesus Christ died for them just as He did for us.  

Verse six continues, That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.  Paul said he prayed for them so that their faith would become factual to the world by acknowledging every good thing that they did for Christ.  All that we do today as Christians should be done to show the world that we are faithful to God though our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Titus Review

 Titus Review 

Titus was written by Paul to Titus and Paul once again stated his calling, just as we as followers of Christ should always make the things we say be based on God’s calling to us.  

Paul said that God’s plan for salvation existed even before man sinned.  This did not mean that He knew they would sin but that He knew they could.  God had His salvation plan in effect for every individual today, even before we were born and before we sinned.

Paul said he didn’t serve God for earthly rewards but for the promise of everlasting life with God in His kingdom.  Though some preachers may teach us that we should receive earthly rewards as Christians, this is not what God’s word teaches us.  We serve God for his glory and not ours.

Paul said God manifested or made known His truth through the preachers who preached His word, and he then once more gave the requirements for being a preacher, some being things they shouldn’t do and some being things they should do.  Of course, the first requirement is always that a person be called of God, and preachers are not the only ones who proclaim God’s word.  Every Christian should proclaim God’s word to lost people and follow His calling to them.

Paul warned Titus and every Christian that they should not listen to vain fables and old wife's tales, or things that people of the world proclaim to be the truth but don’t come from God’s truth.

Paul warned Titus about false prophets, and we have many of those today.  We need to know God’s word so that we can discern when someone teaches something that goes against His word.

I am sure there is much more that we can learn from Titius, but these are a few.  We will look at Philemon next. 

Titus 2:11

Titus 2:11 says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  Paul said that God’s grace that brought people salvation had appeared to all people.  God doesn’t just bring certain people salvation, but by His grace He brings it to all, if they accept it. No one will ever be able to say that God didn’t reveal Himself to them whether or not they ever hear the gospel preached, otherwise He does not offer His gracious gift of salvation to all people.  If they acknowledge that God is God if they haven't heard the gospel, then they acknowledge that He is the only One Who can grant salvation to mankind.  

Verse twelve adds, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  Paul said that we as Christians should teach people to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live soberly, righteously, and Godly in the present world.  This is still the challenge for Christians today.  There is plenty of ungodliness in the world today, and we as followers of Christ may often be tempted to allow it into our lives, but if we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we never will.  The world plays on worldly lusts to lead us away from God, but we should never give in to them.  Instead, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly lives in this present evil world.  

Verse thirteen continues, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Paul said as we live our lives for God in this present world that we are to be looking for that blessed hope which will come when Jesus Christ returns in glory.  

Veres fourteen states, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  Paul said that Jesus Christ gave Himself for the sins of all people to redeem people spiritually and purify them if they accept His gift of salvation.  Once people accept salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, they should become a peculiar people in the view of non-Christians.  We should be zealous of doing good works for God and not personal wealth, which is not what the world teaches.  

Verse fifteen adds, These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.  Paul said Titus was to speak the truth of God and exhort people to accept it and to rebuke all who teach anything else. This is still God’s expectation for all Christians today.