Advice from a Father to a Son

Paul Jukes

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to Philemon, we read of Onesimus, the former slave and now fugitive who had escaped from his master Philemon but became a follower of Jesus whilst with Paul in Rome. This letter is Paul’s appeal to Philemon to forgive and welcome back his former slave. In this message, Paul Jukes highlights 3 characteristics that define a son. Firstly, a true son must face his past in order to step into his future. Secondly, a true son embraces a new identity as a son and no longer a slave and finally, a true son is covered by sacrificial love. Just as Paul offered to pay Onesimus’ debts and Philemon presumably sacrificed his professional reputation, Jesus paid the price for our sin on the cross because of His love for us.