The Merciful MasterSample

The Useless Redeemed

Paul’s appeal to Philemon was for the sake of Onesimus who was Philemon’s runaway slave. Divine providence brought Onesimus to Rome where he crossed paths with the aged apostle. By the sovereign grace of God, Onesimus was converted and became an indispensable part of Paul’s retinue. He became so indispensable and intimate with Paul, that he calls Onesimus his child. After all, Paul did father him in the faith and labored in the pangs of childbirth that Christ might be formed in Onesimus. 

When Onesimus ran away, he probably lived in fear wondering when he might be caught. As an outlaw the guilt of his sins against Philemon followed him everywhere, all the time. There was no escaping, for even the freedom of his sinful rebellion was but a slavery of another kind. It was a slavery to oneself and one’s dark inner passions of sin, shame and guilt which only condemns and destroys. But, God in His mercy hunted down Onesimus in the alleyways of Rome bringing forth a radical transformation. This is evident since the runaway slave who did his master wrong to escape work now joyfully and diligently serves Paul. He who was useless in the service of man is redeemed to be a useful worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Onesimus whose very name means useful can live up to his name because of the grace of Jesus. Instead of wasting his life as a vessel of wrath for destruction, he can now be a productive child of God. True faith begets fruit. 

Martin Luther said, "We are all God’s Onesimuses," for his story is our story. We, like Onesimus, have betrayed the allegiance we owe to our heavenly Master. We have run away into the far country refusing to serve God and to live in his home. Though God owns us for he made us and stamped his image upon us, we have denied this reality. Thankfully, God does not let us live as outlaws in a cesspool of sinful rebellion. Jesus comes seeking us. All who encounter Jesus are changed from useless sinners to useful saints. Praise God for His redemptive grace to useless sinners.