What a strange, old-fashioned name—Onesimus! It is not likely you have ever met anyone of that name today, but in Bible times it seems to have been quite common. Common, too, was slavery—and Onesimus was a slave.
He was the property of Philemon of Colosse, a city in Asia. It was a long journey from Colosse to Rome, Italy, but at that time Rome was the center of the civilized world. As people then said, “All roads lead to Rome,” and it would certainly attract a discontented, young slave. There, among the throngs from every corner of the Roman Empire, even a runaway slave could escape notice and, maybe, begin a new life as a free man.
Many of us today can read our own story in that of Onesimus. Though the property of the God who made us, we have been unprofitable to Him. Our lives have been spent as though there were no God. “They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1212They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 3:12)). These are the words of the living God Himself. Like Onesimus, we have not only been unprofitable to our God, but we have turned our backs on Him altogether.
So, Onesimus ran away from Philemon and journeyed toward Rome. Reaching it at last, he must have felt the past slavery was far behind him. What a bitter awakening it must have been for him to discover in Rome the Apostle Paul! Paul had been to Colosse and knew Philemon. Probably he was acquainted with Onesimus also. This might well mean his return to slavery with all the penalties prescribed for runaway slaves. Or it could mean his death!
Not so! Paul, who once had threatened death to any followers of the Lord Jesus—whether men or women—had experienced the grace of God and been forgiven for his murderous efforts. Now, knowing the Lord Jesus Himself, he told Onesimus of his own conversion and of his assurance of forgiveness and salvation. Such grace and mercy! Onesimus could not refuse it, even knowing what the cost to himself might be, and he turned thankfully to the Lord. Onesimus was converted.
Did he then find himself imprisoned and awaiting judgment? Not at all. Paul sent him back to Philemon with a letter pleading for mercy for the escaped slave. He would have grace shown to him, like the grace of God to prodigals. Yet he would not have righteousness disowned, and so he says, “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; I, Paul, have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it” (Philem. 1:18-1918If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. (Philemon 18‑19)).
This is just such language as the Savior Himself might have used as He went to the cross of Calvary. His atoning sacrifice has met every claim and satisfied every righteous demand. On the basis of it, God can show grace even to the most unworthy.
“For love’s sake,” too, Paul pleads. Who more unlovable than sinners? But who so dear to the divine heart of Christ? For His sake every blessing awaits those who come to God in His name alone.
The heart of the Apostle seemed to glow with his theme. He describes in detail the kind of reception that was to be given to the returning one. Never again was he to be a slave, but to be welcomed to the heart of the family. In like manner every believer in Jesus has been divinely emancipated from the slavery of sin and Satan and has been brought into the very family of God. Onesimus was to be received as Paul himself, and he was to be welcomed home forever.
Every believer is blessed according to the worthiness of Christ Himself. In Christ’s acceptance he is accepted, with all Christ’s blessings is he blessed, and with all the love of the Father’s heart is he loved forevermore. What a position! What glorious results from Christ’s atoning sacrifice!