The Foundation Of Forgiveness - Forgiving Others

Onesimus was a slave who stole from his master, Philemon and ran away.

Little did Onesimus know that in running away from Philemon he was running right toward Christ.

Onesimus met the apostle Paul, came to Christ, and was transformed.

Paul then sent Onesimus back to Philemon carrying a letter.

In this letter Paul exhorts Philemon to forgive Onesimus and welcome him home.

We find part of Paul’s argument for forgiveness in Philemon verses 15-16.

Philemon 15–16 NKJV

15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Paul basis his plea for Philemon to forgive Onesimus on the fact that they are now brothers in Christ.

I don’t know about you, but if I was Philemon, I might be tempted to say something like this.

“So what? Paul! I don’t care if he is a Christian now, he still robbed me! I can’t forgive him until he makes it right.”

Paul simply points Philemon to the new status of Onesimus.

Onesimus is now a brother in Christ and as such, Paul ought to forgive him and welcome him home.

Within the body of Christ, the foundation of our forgiveness is that we are brothers and sisters.

This truth should lead us to forgive.

When we struggle to forgive, we must remember that we are family.