What difference did becoming a Christian make to you? How did your life change when you first accepted Christ as your Saviour and Lord? If it is too long ago or you can’t remember or you were brought up in a Christian home then answer this instead. In what ways is your life different now because you are a Christian? How is your life different from neighbours and friends who do not know Jesus.
Paul’s letter to Philemon tells us that the difference Christ makes to our lives should be enormous!
The letter to Philemon is the only example we have of Paul’s private and personal correspondence. It was sent with Tychicus to Colossae along with Paul’s letter to the Colossian church. It is a letter to introduction from Paul to Philemon, a prominent Christian in the church there, on behalf of Onesimus who was a slave belonging to Philemon but who had run away.
This little letter shows us just how much Jesus Christ is concerned with transforming lives.
The difference Jesus makes in CHANGED LIVES
Onesimus was a slave. Apparently he was not a very good slave. He was idle and disobedient. “Formerly he was useless to you,” says Paul. Then he became even more useless to Philemon because he stole from his master, ran away and became a criminal and fugitive. He was completely useless!
Somehow Onesimus had found his way to the anonymity of Rome where he had bumped into the apostle Paul. And through Paul Onesimus had met Jesus Christ, and his life was transformed!
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

“He became my son” says Paul, in the same sense as Paul calls Timothy his son. In other words Onesimus became a Christian. From being useless he became useful. A wasted life – redeemed! There is actually an amusing play on words here, because the name Onesimus really means “Useful one.” Jesus Christ can take broken spoilt useless lives and transform them into beautiful cleansed useful lives!
Onesimus the useless slave has been gloriously saved! So the right and honourable thing for him to do is to return to the master who in Roman Law is still legally his owner. Paul would prefer Onesimus to stay helping him in his ministry, but he knows what ought to happen instead.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
Onesimus was so useful to Paul, and to God. Some think the purpose of the letter may be to persuade Philemon to send Onesimus right back to Paul again.
13 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. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
The story of Onesimus is a prime example of the difference Jesus Christ can make to our lives. Jesus changed his life, and Jesus can change our lives, if we let him! But God doesn’t just change us in ourselves – he also transforms the way we think and behave towards one another.

The difference Jesus makes in CHANGED RELATIONSHIPS
To begin with it is hard to imagine what a runaway slave like Onesimus could have had in common with Paul, former Pharisee, Roman citizen, apostle of Jesus Christ. As different a white plantation owner and a black slave. How on earth could they have met? The answer is probably that they met in jail when Onesimus was captured and Paul was imprisoned for his faith. And that led to their remarkable relationship. See how much Paul cared about that man.
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
Paul views Onesimus, 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me …..

You may remember towards the end of Colossians Paul writes (Colossians 49) He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.
Paul cares about Onesimus that he is prepared to act as his guarantor.
17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Paul is writing a blank cheque on behalf of this runaway slave. That’s how far the changed life of Onesimus led to a changed relationship with the apostle Paul.
So Paul makes this heartfelt plea to Philemon, the slave’s owner.
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.

There were great risks for a runaway slaves returning to their owners. They could legally face death, or all kinds of punishments in revenge. There were so many reasons why Onesimus would not go back to Philemon. But Onesimus was returning of his own free will, in obedience to God. And Paul makes a exceptional request on behalf of this runaway slave.

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 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 man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

Outside of that culture we cannot begin to imagine how great a thing Paul is asking of Philemon. To receive a runaway slave back – not as a slave but as a brother. Welcome him as you would welcome me!
The letter to the Colossians talks about forgiveness and unity.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

C.S.Lewis rightly said that everybody thinks forgiveness is a good idea, until they actually have something to forgive! Colossians talks about there being no slave or free. Colossian talks about forgiving grievances in theory. The letter to Philemon spells out just what that will mean in practice for one slave-owner and one runaway slave. And in the same way as Jesus changes us our relationships with other people must be transformed to show his love! There are no longer differences between slave and free, or Jew and Gentile. But in our generation in our church we must make sure that there are no divisions between men and women, or old and young, or rich and poor, or doers and spectators.
Underlying changed relationships we can see the basis of Paul’s appeal
The difference Jesus makes in CHANGED ATTITUDES.
Paul addresses Philemon on the basis of LOVE.
8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.
Christianity is not about obeying rules and regulations and orders. It is not a religion of duty – like that of the Phariseeism Paul had left behind. Being a Christian is about serving God in love, loving God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength and all your mind, and loving your neighbour as you love yourself. Paul had commended Philemon for his love.
4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

Paul is now explaining to Philemon how his love should be expressed in practice towards Onesimus. Of course he is not above dropping a few hints about what he thinks Philemon should do.
. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.
Nevertheless Paul, and God, are not interested in any actions which are forced. God wants our love and worship and service always to be spontaneous.
So Paul makes an appeal based on his own relationship with Philemon.
19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

It appears that Philemon’s own faith and salvation was as a result of Paul’s own ministry. Out of gratitude to Paul, and to God, Philemon should repay that debt. And each of us own an inestimable debt of gratitude to God for the miracles of forgiveness and new life he has given us. We should show it in changed lives, changed relationships, and changed attitudes.
But what about Philemon and Onesimus? Did the story end happily? Did Philemon forgive his runaway slave? Well, there is some historical evidence that Onesimus went on to become one of the first bishops of Ephesus, and that it was Onesimus himself who was responsible for collecting up Paul’s letters so that they became part of the New Testament passed down the churches. Whether that is the case or not, I’d like to think the fact that this little letter from Paul found its way into the pages of the New Testament rather than into Philemon’s fireplace in little pieces is good evidence that Onesimus was indeed welcomed back, “not as a slave but as a brother.”
And the message to us is very clear that we should welcome and accept and forgive each other as dear brothers and sisters, as God has forgiven us. THAT is the difference that Jesus makes!