I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? Philemon 12:16
As we continue to work through the epistle to Philemon, we see the Apostle Paul continue to praise Onesimus. Remember he was the slave of Philemon, who actually stole from him and then fled to Rome where he ran into Paul. Onesimus became saved by the preaching of Paul and the Holy Spirit, now the Apostle Paul is ready to send his brother back to the Church , to serve there
These words really jump out at me as we ponder the text, the Apostle Paul says to Onesimus “no longer a slave/servant, but above a slave/servant, a beloved brother” This can be taken in a literal and spiritual sense, Onesimus is no longer a slave to Philemon, but now through Christ he is a beloved brother. But also in a spiritual sense, as before Christ we were all slaves to sin, but Jesus Christ has set us free!
As the Apostle Paul also said “You have been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18) As The Lord Jesus said “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) We should all be able to relate to Onesimus, most of you will say “but I was never a slave to anyone” this was the same response the Jews gave to Jesus. However when we understand our spiritual depravity, we understand we were all slaves to sin. But Jesus Christ has set us free , and we are now a Child of God
As the Apostle Paul says to the Church regarding Onesimus “Receive Him” Why? Because he has been washed by the blood of the lamb, he has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, he is a new creation in Christ. He is not the same person he used to be, we should remember this as the Church. Receive your brothers and sisters in Christ, the ones our Heavenly Father called. Remember you were once a slave also, but you have been set free by your Lord and God Jesus Christ
Another thing to ponder, the Apostle Paul says “perhaps he departed for awhile for this purpose” (v15) God will use what was meant for our destruction for His glory, we all have pasts, but God has called us at this moment and time for His glory and for the purpose of the Church, you have been set free in Christ, no longer a slave but a brother and sister Amen!
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