CONSIDERATION. v.5 Philemon had two excellent qualities that Paul mentions here. He undoubtedly had many others, but the two he highlights should be in all of us. Love and faith "toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints" are two characteristics that indicate real divine life. "If any man loves not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be [accursed]." "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." Love. In this particular place, the order of love first and then faith is similar to how we perceive a flower. We observe the results in the blossom, just as we notice the evidence of love, and recognize that the root is working unseen to produce that effect, as faith works to create evidence of love. In this interpretation, we see the results before the cause. Love is the outward expression of inward faith. It is the visible outcome of ongoing faith. The object of faith is our Lord Jesus. The object of love is the saints.
Paul is preparing to reach the point where Philemon has a chance to demonstrate the reality of his faith by showing love to Onesimus. He has shown this to "all saints." Now he will be able to extend this to a runaway slave who has returned to his master. Paul had received positive reports about Philemon and had good reason for thanksgiving because of them. These reports likely came from Epaphras, who had traveled to Rome, and perhaps other believers familiar with Philemon also spoke favorably of this brother. Possibly even Onesimus, a new believer, now had positive things to say about his master whom he had wronged. Our "love for all saints" will be tested when we feel wronged or unjustly criticized. But when our faith is deeply rooted in Christ Jesus, we find that such love can truly be demonstrated. Faith visibly works out through love. Faith in Christ motivates us to produce the fruit of love in our lives. Faith sees the holiness of God in our Lord Jesus, who gave Himself for us because "the Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me." That same "love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts" demonstrates the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ to others through us. Love takes on visible, tangible expressions when directed to those right where we are. The saints are here, the time is now, and the scope is "all saints" - even "Onesimus" is included. Expressions of inner feelings can manifest in many ways. Love is evident in both actions and words. Others may wonder what motivated an action or even where I’ve been. Love and humility are closely connected—almost hand in hand. True love desires the best for others, and humility is hard to find. The Lord loved His own “to the end,” but they had to learn to recognize that their love for others would be reflected in actions of true humility. Loving as God intends is not impossible; in fact, we’re commanded to love. The motivation behind it and its power have come down to us from heaven above. Our limitations as flesh-and-blood beings and the world make it hard to be genuine at first. When we learn to love others in Christ’s name, that love comes right from the heart. The result will be that such love will let all people know I am Christ’s, and it won’t be rooted in self-love but in humility, so others will know what is right. We may not pass every test or always demonstrate the love that is genuine, but the truth is that with humility, our actions can heal many hearts. Christians who love one another will find it much easier to bear the weight and burdens of life with someone willing to share a love that is not temporary. The message it conveys is the same as the love of Jesus; we also are to “love to the end.” For the first and only recorded time, Jesus used the term "little children"—an expression of endearment that John never forgot in the years to come when he wrote his epistles. This opened the way for the Lord Jesus to give His new commandment. This goes far beyond the law that says, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This extends to loving like God, "God so loved the world..." This includes loving our enemies. This calls for loving God's people sacrificially as proof of being a disciple. This evidence of love remains the strongest test of reality that the world can see in those who profess to be Christians. Disciples are not recognized by doctrinal statements or the dogmas they follow. They are not recognized by the apparent miracles they perform or even their love for lost souls. The love believers have for one another is how recognition of true Christianity is seen by those who are unbelievers. This new commandment still carries a tremendous impact on those who are bound by other religious practices. One person said to me, "What I have in my religion is fear, uncertainty, and hatred. What Christians have is love, peace, and assurance." May this always be apparent wherever God's people are found. Faith. Living by faith is a characteristic of the just. We trust the Lord to give us guidance and direction in life. Our commitment is to speak the truth of God in love and live out what we teach and preach. Applying biblical truth has positive effects on those who know we have unchanging values based on the standard of the scriptures. We learn to be biblical by studying the Bible, first for the correct interpretation, and then to apply that truth in practical application to the affairs of life.
People of faith understand that much of their faith was limited to what had happened before. The Bible is given to us to teach us the truth of who Jesus is and why it is so important to believe in Him. Being aware of the presence of Jesus comforts us, even when we struggle to understand the delays caused by unexplained circumstances. During our trials, the presence of our Lord Jesus serves as a moment for Him to guide us, despite our weak faith and uncertainty about what comes next. His presence encourages us to believe that what is impossible for humans is possible for God. In life's most challenging moments, the presence of Jesus opens our eyes to the reality of the kingdom of God in which we find ourselves and to which we belong.