Who Can Pay Such a Great Debt?

The opening section presents the historical context of Philemon, written by Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome around 58-61 AD. The sermon introduces three main characters: Philemon, a wealthy master in Colossae with a spacious house used for church worship; Onesimus, a young runaway slave who stole money from his master; and Apostle Paul, a learned scholar who preached throughout the Roman Empire. The preacher emphasizes that the Gospel touches the hearts of all social classes, from the rich and educated to slaves and the poor.

The second section develops the story of Onesimus fleeing to Rome, where he uses stolen money for drinking and gambling while hiding his true identity. At a horse race, Onesimus meets a friend who introduces him to Apostle Paul, who is imprisoned in Rome. Paul shares the Gospel about Jesus' redemption, and Onesimus trusts Jesus as his Savior. From then on, Onesimus becomes Paul's faithful helper, bringing food, writing materials, caring for wounds, and gradually they become father and son in Christ. The Holy Spirit gradually convicts Onesimus about his theft from Philemon and Apphia, causing him to want to confess but fear the consequences.

The third section presents the famous letter Paul writes to Philemon. Paul urges Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a slave but as a beloved brother, for if he regards Paul as a fellow worker, he must receive Onesimus as he would receive Paul himself. Most importantly, Paul promises to write with his own hand and repay whatever debt Onesimus owes to Philemon. This is a vivid picture of the Gospel: all sins are forgiven because someone is willing to pay the debt we cannot pay.

The fourth section applies the message to the congregation through the illustrative story of Czar Nicholas and a young soldier who had embezzled military funds. The young soldier, in despair because he cannot repay his enormous debt, writes on paper: "Who can pay such a great debt!" Czar Nicholas, moved with compassion, writes his own name beside that statement and affixes his signet ring, promising to pay the entire debt. This story illustrates how Jesus Christ paid humanity's debt of sin simply by one name—the name of Jesus.

The final section concludes with personal application. The preacher shares that by age 24, he realized he was full of sin, but one name—the name of Jesus—brought him redemption and peace. The message is not only forgiveness of sin (as Paul did for Onesimus) but even more: God receives, loves, and grants us all precious things as He has granted them to His only Son Jesus Christ. We are restored not as slaves but as beloved brothers in God's family, both in human affection and in the love of Christ, solely by the name of Jesus Christ.