So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. – Philemon 1:17
In this brief but powerful letter, the Apostle Paul writes to his friend Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who had come to faith in Christ. Onesimus had wronged Philemon by fleeing, but during his time with Paul, he encountered the gospel and his life was transformed. He was no longer just a slave – he was now a brother in Christ. Paul’s plea to Philemon was simple yet so profound: “Receive Onesimus back, not just as a returning servant, but as you would receive me, your partner in faith.”
Paul’s request was pretty bold, especially in a society where slaves were considered property. But Paul knew that the gospel could change hearts, and a changed heart could also change relationships. By inviting Philemon to break social norms, Paul challenged Philemon to view this man not as personal property, nor through the lens of past wrongs, but through the very eyes of Jesus. He even offered to pay Onesimus’s debts, reflecting the very heart of the gospel – Jesus paying our debts on the cross so that we might be reconciled to God.
Paul’s request was much more than just a personal favor between friends. He was demonstrating the kind of radical love and forgiveness that Christ showed us, reminding us that the gospel doesn’t just forgive; it also transforms. Just as Onesimus was no longer defined by his past but by his new identity in Christ, we too are called to see people, even those who have wronged us, as God sees them – as new creations.
Paul’s message to Philemon is one we so desperately need to be reminded of today – that the gospel has the power to change not only people but society! The gospel breaks down barriers, challenges old ways of thinking, and calls us to live out the same love and grace we’ve received.
Today, consider if there’s someone in your life who needs to be welcomed with the grace of Christ Jesus. Like Philemon, you’re called to forgive, to restore, and to love as Christ has loved you.
Former Blackout Artist 