A VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY
OF PHILEMON
"Put That on My Account"
(Philemon 18b)
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Introduction

There was a certain man, living in a town, who had a large charge account.  This man was a very foolish man when it came to money.  He charged every little thing he wanted to that account.  Anything that caught his eye, he brought by charging it to his account.  It wasn’t long before the charge account was completely spent.  The man owed an enormous debt--a debt which he could never pay.  The creditors came after him, and would soon cast him into prison.  Just when all hope seemed lost, a rich man step forward and said, "Whatever this man owes you, gentlemen, put it on my account.
I shall pay his debt."  The rich man was good on his word, and the man was set free of  his debt.

Even as that man of the village owed a huge debt, so does all mankind!  We owe God a debt, which we ourselves could never pay.  Then just as the rich man did, Jesus stepped forward and said, "Whatever they owe you, Father, put that on my account!"  Jesus paid our sin debt for us.

Outline

I.       The Debt Owed
         A.     The debtor's accumulation (Romans 1:21-32)
                  1.      The debt owed is one of  sin.
                  2.      Sin is like garbage; it keeps piling up until someone gets rid of  it.
         B.     The debtor's identification (Romans 3:10-12)
                  1.      It is man who owes the sin debt (Romans 3:10-12, 23).
                  2.      We are all sinners; we are all guilty (Isaiah 53:6a; cf. 64:6).
                           a.       Isaiah 53:6a--"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way."
                           b.       Isaiah 64:6--"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
                                     and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
         C.     The debtor's retribution (Romans 6:23a; cf. 5:12; Revelation 20:15)

II.     The Debt Paid
         A.     The Payer's Identity (John 1:1-14, 29; Matthew 16:16)
                  1.      He is VERY GOD OF  VERY GOD in the flesh, Who created everything (John 1:1-14).
                  2.      He is the Son of  the Living God--Matthew 16:16, "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
                           the Christ, the Son of  the living God."
                  3.      He is the Lamb of  God (John 1:29).
         B.     The Payer"s Payment (Isaiah 53:5, 6)
                  1.      He paid our sin debt with His own precious blood (Isaiah 53:5, 6; cf. I John 1:7; 2:2).
                           a.       Isaiah 53:5, 6--"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
                                     the chastisement of  our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like
                                     sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on
                                     him the iniquity of  us all."
                           b.       I John 1:7--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
                                     and the blood of  Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
                  2.      He took our penalty on Himself and became sin for us (II Corinthians 5:21).
         C.     The Payer's account--In his commentary on Philemon (pages 44-53), Dr. Oliver B. Greene lists for us seven                   things that were placed on Jesus'account:
                  1.      Our sin was put on Jesus' account.
                  2.      Our sins have been put on Jesus' account.
                  3.      Our failures were put on Jesus' account.
                  4.      Our weaknesses were put on Jesus' account.
                  5.      All of  our cares were put on Jesus' account.
                  6.      Our sorrows have been put on Jesus' account.
                  7.      Our death was put on Jesus' account.

Conclusion

Dear Child of  God, cast your memory back to the blessed day when you were born again.  Do you remember how once you owed a debt that you could never pay?  Do you remember how you were lost in sin and could not find the way?  ALL GLORY BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY when the Saviour turned your night to day, and caused your blinded eyes to see.  As the song says, we owe everything to Calvary!  I praise God for that wonderful day, when Jesus stepped forward on my behalf and said, "Father, put his sin debt on my account."

Lost Sinner, I beg with you to give ear to the preaching of  the Word of  God!  Jesus shed his own precious blood for my sins and your sins.  The devil--that old serpent and accuser--said to God of  you, "He is a sinner!  He must die!  Cast him now into fiery pit of  Hell!!"  But Jesus stepped forward on your behalf and said,"Father, I'll go!  I'll pay his sin debt in Calvary's flow.  I'll bare on my body the marks of  the cross to save this poor child, who is sin sick and lost!"  Lost man and lost woman, it is still the blood of  Jesus Christ which saves and cleanses us from all sin!  Lost Sinner, I plead with you to flee the wrath to come!  Please call upon His name today, repent of  all your sin, and be saved (Romans 10:13; John 3:16). Remember, long ago Jesus said on your behalf, "Put that on my account."