‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’ (Matthew 6:12). Those words of our Lord Jesus may well have been on Paul’s mind when he sat down to write this letter to a man called Philemon. The apostle was sending back the runaway slave, Onesimus, to his master. Having repented of his sins and trusted himself to Jesus as Lord, Onesimus had been forgiven by God. How then should Philemon welcome him back? Should the owner treat his slave severely, as a non-person who had cheated him, or should he welcome him back as a Christian brother? And how should you and I treat those who sin against us, but come back asking for forgiveness? This letter is for Christians down the years and around the world because its message is never out of date.
Malcolm Jones spent his first 35 years within the orbit of Brethren Assemblies, developing an itinerant ministry nationwide. In 1982 he moved to Hightown Baptist Church in Luton, working there part time as a pastoral assistant while earing a living in accountancy. In 1989 he was called to be full time pastor of Crockenhill Baptist Church in Kent, & is currently pastor of Elmstead Baptist Church in Chislehurst. He & his wife, Margaret, have 2 children & 6 grandchildren. He enjoys playing badminton, though not with great skill. He also visits prisons on a voluntary basis with Christian Prison Resources.
