What do you know about Onesimus? The Bible only mentions him twice—once in Colossians 4:9 and again in Philemon. Paul wrote the short book of Philemon to Onesimus’s master with a special request: that he accept Onesimus not as the runaway slave he was but as a fellow brother in Christ.
Paul’s love for the man is evident (v. 9, 12, 18). He encourages Philemon to set aside societal barriers and love like Jesus. But a few things are made clear in this letter.
Onesimus’s Repentance
Repentance means to choose God, turn from our sins, and stay away from them (Acts 3:19). It’s part of our transformation from sinful hearts to new ones.
Onesimus didn’t have to go back. He could have kept running, ignoring everything Paul said, wrote, and taught. He probably struggled with the idea of heading home to his master.
But Paul taught Onesimus what it meant to be a Christian (Titus 2:9–10).
The scene of Onesimus returning to his master represents repentance. Can you see it, too? When we ran, Christ stopped us, turned us around, and led us back home (Psalm 119:105).
What did it mean to be a Bondservant?
In Biblical times, a bondservant was a slave that wanted to serve his master for the rest of his life (Exodus 21:5–6).
Paul sometimes referred to himself as Christ’s bondservant (Titus 1:1). In other words, the apostle willingly chose to serve Christ in whatever manner necessary, from house arrest to shipwrecks; he was willing to do it all.
That should be the attitude of every Christian—the mindset that we are here to serve God, not ourselves.
What would you be willing to give up to serve God?
Onesimus’s Loyalty
Onesimus displayed great loyalty by returning to his master. He could have continued to run, but after meeting Paul and making the choice of his life, he went home, Paul’s letter in hand.
He had one earthly master, Philemon (v. 14). So he returned to serve him. Finally, the letter states that Onesimus hadn’t been profitable before his escape, but he now was, both to Philemon and Paul (v. 11).
His loyalty shows how we should obey Christ (Matthew 6:24). The Bible warns not to worship idols (Exodus 20:3–4) because there is only one God, one master, and one Lord (Ephesians 4:5–6).
Love Like a Brother
Paul shattered the belief that it was okay to treat slaves with disrespect. He requested that Philemon accept Onesimus as a fellow brother in Christ and that if Philemon held any grudges against Onesimus, he would put them on Paul’s account.
He asked Philemon to extend grace and love (John 15:15).
Repentance won’t come naturally, but it’s crucial to becoming Christ’s willing bondservant. So what’s holding you back? He waits with open arms, ready to call you His friend.
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