Last week we noted that the Kingdom of God already has come with the appearance of King Jesus. But we saw that the first order of business was not destroying evil armies and dethroning rebellious kings, but subduing hearts. Jesus has brought the New Covenant, enacting it with His own blood, a Covenant which transforms us from the inside out, placing God’s law in our hearts rather than formal legislation. Jeremiah 31:3-34
In this book, Philemon is not commanded to free his slaves, and Onesimus is not instructed to lead his fellow-slaves in an insurrection against their masters. Rather, Jesus is now IN Philemon and IN Onesimus as a righteous, transformational power Who recasts their relationship in terms of God’s creative image and the powerful effects of His love.
So slavery is addressed as individuals are instructed AND empowered to act in one another’s best interests. Is this a pattern of God’s acting within culture? Let’s explore God’s strategy to hasten the day when “the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Rev. 11:15