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Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

Beware Dogs and Evil Workers

by

On our local community Facebook page, there was a police notice to beware an armed man who had attacked a local resident. That’s all it said. And judging by the comments under the post, it was the most useless warning ever issued.

“Who was the offender? Male? Female? What were they armed with? Flamethrowers? Were they on foot or roller skates?”

I appreciate the police tread a fine line when they issue these sorts of warnings. They don’t want to do anything that might lead to discrimination or lawsuits.

Which makes Paul’s New Testament warnings all the more stark in comparison:

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. (Philippians 3:2)

When Paul warned you, you knew exactly who he was talking about.

The “false circumcision” were those who promoted the circumcision of the flesh as a means of getting right with God. These religious men hounded Paul from town to town which may be why he called them “dogs.”

Why beware dogs and evil workers?

Evil workers are those who preach self-righteousness. Their works are evil because they promote unbelief in the finished work of Christ.

Self-righteousness comes in at least six flavors but in context, Paul was referring to law preachers. He was talking about those who preach law as a means of salvation or sanctification.

To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. (Philippians 3:1)

Paul made it his habit to warn people about false teachers who try to draw us away from Christ. In just about every one of his letters, there’s some kind of warning:

  • Watch out for those who put obstacles in your way contrary to what you have been taught (Romans 16:17).
  • See that no one takes you captive through philosophy which depends on men rather than Christ (Colossians 2:8).
  • If anyone preaches a different gospel, let him be cursed (Galatians 1:8).
  • Charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul was motivated to write the same things again and again because of what had happened to the Galatians. The Galatians never meant to cut themselves off from Christ, but this is what happens when religious dogs and evil workers come to town.

In New Testament times, the dogs and evil workers were easy to recognize. You just had to look for the circumcision knives.

But those who preach self-righteousness can appear in many guises. They may be highly educated, articulate, and persuasive. Yet their rotten fruit are unmistakable.

You might have fallen under the influence of self-righteous dogs and evil workers if…

Perhaps you have swallowed the poison pill of self-righteousness or imbibed the toxic swill of mixture. If you have fallen from grace, you will be miserable and barren. You will have no peace and joy in your walk. This is not how God wants you to live.

What is the remedy? Remember your First Love (hint: it’s Jesus). Remember what you did at first (you trusted him) and do that.

Get settled in the unconditional love of God and let nothing move you.

—

Last week, more than 300 readers grabbed their free copy of my new book The Grace Bible: Philemon. It’s not too late to get yours.

More articles about the Law:

Filed Under: law

The Most Underrated Book in the Bible

by

The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible.

Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they haven’t. Have you read it? Do you know what it’s about?

If you were to ask your pastor or a theologian about Philemon, they would say it’s the story of a runaway slave, Onesiumus, who met Paul, became a believer, and was sent home to his master Philemon. Okay, so what? Why is this letter in the Bible? It contains no statements of doctrine and seems to be little more than a letter between friends.

This short letter is nothing less than the gospel story. It is your story and my story because we are all – in a manner of speaking – runaway slaves who are deserving of death.

The good news of Philemon is that we have a Friend in high places. What Paul was to Onesimus, Jesus is to us. He is the Friend who settles all claims against us and paves the way for us to come home.

Usually, the gospel story is told from the sinner’s perspective (e.g., the prodigal son, the tax collector at the temple). But this story is told from the perspective of the mediator. It’s about Paul (representing God the Son) interceding to Philemon the master (representing God the Father).

What Paul says about the slave—“forgive him, receive him, accept him”—is what Jesus says on our behalf.

The letter to Philemon brilliantly shows how the partnership between God the Father and God the Son is good news for you. It’s not about what you must do for God but what God has done for you. It’s about how you can have a confident expectation of the Father’s favor.

I have written a verse-by-verse commentary on Philemon that will be published in a few weeks as part of the Grace Bible series. But this story is too good to wait, so I have decided to release Philemon right now for free. You can get it here by signing up as a free member on Patreon. (Did I mention that it’s totally free?)

Grace and peace,
Paul

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Most Underrated Book in the Bible

by

The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible.

Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they haven’t. Have you read it? Do you know what it’s about?

If you were to ask your pastor or a theologian about Philemon, they would say it’s the story of a runaway slave, Onesiumus, who met Paul, became a believer, and was sent home to his master Philemon. Okay, so what? Why is this letter in the Bible? It contains no statements of doctrine and seems to be little more than a letter between friends.

This short letter is nothing less than the gospel story. It is your story and my story because we are all – in a manner of speaking – runaway slaves who are deserving of death.

The good news of Philemon is that we have a Friend in high places. What Paul was to Onesimus, Jesus is to us. He is the Friend who settles all claims against us and paves the way for us to come home.

Usually, the gospel story is told from the sinner’s perspective (e.g., the prodigal son, the tax collector at the temple). But this story is told from the perspective of the mediator. It’s about Paul (representing God the Son) interceding to Philemon the master (representing God the Father).

What Paul says about the slave—“forgive him, receive him, accept him”—is what Jesus says on our behalf.

The letter to Philemon brilliantly shows how the partnership between God the Father and God the Son is good news for you. It’s not about what you must do for God but what God has done for you. It’s about how you can have a confident expectation of the Father’s favor.

I have written a verse-by-verse commentary on Philemon that will be published in a few weeks as part of the Grace Bible series. But this story is too good to wait, so I have decided to release Philemon right now for free. You can get it here by signing up as a free member on Patreon. (Did I mention that it’s totally free?)

Grace and peace,
Paul

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Most Underrated Book in the Bible

by

The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible.

Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they haven’t. Have you read it? Do you know what it’s about?

If you were to ask your pastor or a theologian about Philemon, they would say it’s the story of a runaway slave, Onesiumus, who met Paul, became a believer, and was sent home to his master Philemon. Okay, so what? Why is this letter in the Bible? It contains no statements of doctrine and seems to be little more than a letter between friends.

This short letter is nothing less than the gospel story. It is your story and my story because we are all – in a manner of speaking – runaway slaves who are deserving of death.

The good news of Philemon is that we have a Friend in high places. What Paul was to Onesimus, Jesus is to us. He is the Friend who settles all claims against us and paves the way for us to come home.

Usually, the gospel story is told from the sinner’s perspective (e.g., the prodigal son, the tax collector at the temple). But this story is told from the perspective of the mediator. It’s about Paul (representing God the Son) interceding to Philemon the master (representing God the Father).

What Paul says about the slave—“forgive him, receive him, accept him”—is what Jesus says on our behalf.

The letter to Philemon brilliantly shows how the partnership between God the Father and God the Son is good news for you. It’s not about what you must do for God but what God has done for you. It’s about how you can have a confident expectation of the Father’s favor.

I have written a verse-by-verse commentary on Philemon that will be published in a few weeks as part of the Grace Bible series. But this story is too good to wait, so I have decided to release Philemon right now for free. You can get it here by signing up as a free member on Patreon. (Did I mention that it’s totally free?)

Grace and peace,
Paul

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Most Underrated Book in the Bible

by

The book of Philemon may be the most underrated book in the Bible.

Like some of Shakespeare’s obscure plays, Philemon is a book people say they’ve read when they haven’t. Have you read it? Do you know what it’s about?

If you were to ask your pastor or a theologian about Philemon, they would say it’s the story of a runaway slave, Onesiumus, who met Paul, became a believer, and was sent home to his master Philemon. Okay, so what? Why is this letter in the Bible? It contains no statements of doctrine and seems to be little more than a letter between friends.

This short letter is nothing less than the gospel story. It is your story and my story because we are all – in a manner of speaking – runaway slaves who are deserving of death.

The good news of Philemon is that we have a Friend in high places. What Paul was to Onesimus, Jesus is to us. He is the Friend who settles all claims against us and paves the way for us to come home.

Usually, the gospel story is told from the sinner’s perspective (e.g., the prodigal son, the tax collector at the temple). But this story is told from the perspective of the mediator. It’s about Paul (representing God the Son) interceding to Philemon the master (representing God the Father).

What Paul says about the slave—“forgive him, receive him, accept him”—is what Jesus says on our behalf.

The letter to Philemon brilliantly shows how the partnership between God the Father and God the Son is good news for you. It’s not about what you must do for God but what God has done for you. It’s about how you can have a confident expectation of the Father’s favor.

I have written a verse-by-verse commentary on Philemon that will be published in a few weeks as part of the Grace Bible series. But this story is too good to wait, so I have decided to release Philemon right now for free. You can get it here by signing up as a free member on Patreon. (Did I mention that it’s totally free?)

Grace and peace,
Paul

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