Back as a Brother

“I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.” (Philemon 12-16)

How far can grace go? Jesus told a story about that. There was a man who had two sons. His younger son demanded his inheritance, abandoned his father, and went off to a faraway country to squander his inheritance in sinful living. When he finally came to his senses, he decided to go back home, but he knew there was no way his father could forgive him. What he had done was too hurtful. Too sinful.

Except, when that rebellious but repentant son trudged home, what did his father do? He ran to him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. He threw a party because his lost son was found (see Luke 15:11-32). How far can grace go? It’s boundless. God loves to welcome sinners home.

Other than that Parable of the Lost Son, it’s hard to think of a more shocking picture of grace than Paul sending Onesimus back to Philemon, not as a slave, but as a dear brother. How? Onesimus had been a useless slave (see Philemon 11) who had run away from his master. According to Roman law, Onesimus deserved to face the death penalty. How could Paul ask Philemon to welcome him back as a brother?

By grace. God’s undeserved love for us in Jesus has the power to change our relationships. God’s forgiveness for our sins empowers us to show grace to those who have sinned against us. How far can grace go? Grace can turn a slave master and a runaway slave into dear Christian brothers.

By grace, whom could you welcome back? By grace, whom could you forgive as Jesus has forgiven you? By grace, whom could you call a “brother” or “sister” in Christ? Grace loves to welcome sinners home.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your grace that loves to welcome sinners home. Allow your grace to permeate our hearts, so that we show others the grace you’ve shown us. Amen.

Pastor Nathan