We begin our study of the very short letter of Paul to Philemon today. The purpose of this letter is to ask Philemon, on the basis of Christian love, to accept his runaway slave Onesimus back into his household in an attitude of compassion and mercy. Some scholars debate whether Onesmius was a slave but speculate that he was a paid servant of Philemon who fled the household because he stole from him. Either way, we will learn from this letter that Onesimus became a Christian while away from his master. His master Philemon is also a Christian. This is why Paul can appeal to him on the basis of Christian love, for although the worldly relationship between Philemon and Onesimus is that of master and slave (or master and servant), the spiritual relationship between the two men is equal, for they are now brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We saw Onesimus mentioned once before in Colossians 4:9 when Paul told the Colossians he was sending Onesimus along with Tychicus to tell them how Paul is doing and to encourage them in the faith. He referred to Onesimus as "our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you". This likely indicates that Onesimus was originally from Colossae, although Paul could rightly call him "one of you" even if he wasn't, for as their brother in Christ he is a family member to the believers of Colossae.
A man named Onesimus succeeded Timothy as bishop of Ephesus. No one can say for certain whether this is the same Onesimus as the one in Paul's letter, but many scholars think it's likely because of his close association with Paul and Timothy. If so, his change in circumstances displays the indescribable mercy of a God who can take an unfaithful and dishonest man and turn him into a man faithful and honest enough to lead a large and growing church. All through the Bible we see God taking men and women who were once "nobodies" and making them into "somebodies". God is still in that business today, so keep in mind that your past doesn't disqualify you to be effective workers for the kingdom of God. In Christ we are new creatures. God doesn't dwell on the past and neither should we.
Because God, through Christ, forgives us and doesn't keep flinging our past in our faces, Philemon should take the same attitude in regard to Onesimus. Whatever wrong Onesimus did to Philemon, it was done while he was still a lost sinner. It was done while we was still the old unregenerated man. If God has granted him forgiveness, Philemon ought to follow God's example. As Paul instructed the believers of Ephesus, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
During my forty-nine years on this earth I've had several very hurtful things done to me by other people. I know you have too. But I bet if you stop and think about it, some of the worst hurts and betrayals you've experienced were perpetrated on you by people who were lost in sin. It's possible for our brothers and sisters in Christ to let us down badly, and shame on them if they do it on purpose, but in my own life the worst letdowns have come from people who were not in Christ. Some of them still aren't in Christ and I don't know whether they feel any guilt about their wrongdoing. I feel comfortable leaving the matter between them and the God who will judge all things. Some who hurt me have come to Christ since then and are proving by the way they now live that they are new creatures. This is the case with Paul's friend Onesimus. He did some bad things when he was the "old man". But now he's a new man and he wants to go back to Philemon's household and make things right with him. Philemon could take the attitude that he will never trust Onesimus again, but Paul will make it clear in this letter that Philemon would be in the wrong if he refuses to forgive this man.
By making this clear to Philemon, Paul makes it clear to us as well. We have no right to hold onto an unforgiving spirit. If a person has wronged us and they don't care that they wronged us, we are still commanded to let go of the matter and give it to God, for He has told us it is His responsibility (not ours) to avenge us. (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19) God wants us to be free to walk in the joy of Christ, unencumbered by bitterness. If we have no firm ground to stand on in clinging to unforgiveness toward an unbeliever who has wronged us, then we certainly have no excuse for holding a grudge against someone who is a believer and who is deeply sorry for their sins. We have no spiritual right to refuse to forgive them and we have no moral right either, considering that we were once lost sinners ourselves and most certainly did or said things that hurt other people. We like to be forgiven, don't we? Then on what basis can we refuse to grant forgiveness to others?
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