From Slave To Brother
“I beseech you for my son Onesimus, whom I have Begotten in my bonds: which in times past was to you unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me” (Philemon 10,11).
In our introductory verses, the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome at the time he wrote this Epistle. He is writing to Philemon, a Brother in the faith, regarding a runaway slave of Philemon’s. Onesimus, the slave, had run away from his master and traveled some 1000 miles to Rome. Upon arriving in Rome, he contacted the Apostle Paul. He then gave his heart to the Lord and became a Believer.
Paul is writing to Philemon to let him know that Onesimus is with him in Rome and has become a Christian. He asks Philemon to take this once unprofitable and worthless servant back. He assures him that he will find Onesimus not only profitable, but now a Brother in the Lord. He tells Philemon that Onesimus was a great help to him in Rome and that he was a man totally transformed by the Gospel.
Paul asks Philemon to consider that the loss of Onesimus for a season benefited Paul in His service to the Lord, and that taking him back willingly was what he was asking. He said that perhaps his departing for a season, not only brought Onesimus a new life in Christ, but would now result a new Brother in faith and a loyal servant.
Paul also told Philemon that if he felt payment was due that he, Paul, would pay any debt owed by the loss of Onesimus’ service to him for that period of time. He asks Philemon to receive his former slave as he would himself (Paul). Onesimus this spoken if by Paul as a Brother on the same level as the both of them. Paul had acknowledged that what Onesimus had done was indeed a serious offence, but having done much for the household of Philemon, Paul reminds him that his very Salvation, his hope of Eternal Life, came from the Gospel Paul preached to him.
Relating this to our own journey through life, we too were slaves, slaves to sin, running away from the Lord. Our running away caught up with us in whatever life situation we found ourselves in, and the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins and drew us to the Lord. This is the greatest miracle that could happen to anyone. Just as Onesimus was guilty of a serious offence, we too were guilty before God. But unlike Philemon who may, or may not, have forgiven the debt owed by Onesimus; our Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, paid the price for the debt owed. We have freedom from the sin nature that bound us. He paid our debt at the Cross, and by faith in His sacrificial death at Calvary we have been forgiven the debt owed and have become members of the family of God. It doesn’t get any better than that!
In closing, we can take away from Paul’s final words to Philemon that he is confident that Philemon will do the right thing regarding Onesimus his new Brother in Christ.
“Having confidence in your obedience I wrote unto you, knowing that you will do more than I say (hints at emancipation for Onesimus)” (Philemon 21 with ESB commentary notes)
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
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