Paul & Onesimus – The Heart of Discipleship

The book of Philemon is a masterpiece of grace and a powerful demonstration of the transformative power of the Cross. It tells the story of a man once considered useless and disobedient who was completely transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a vivid display of true Christian fellowship—where lives are changed, and people are molded into vessels fit for the work of the Gospel.

 

Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, was a wrongdoer, a debtor, and a runaway (vv. 15, 18). He could easily have been condemned, with many supporting Philemon’s rights to seek justice and revenge (although Philemon would unlikely do that). As a slave, Onesimus knew what kind of fate awaited him—judgment, shame, and punishment—and like many today who fear consequences, he chose to run. But in the mystery of God’s providence, he crossed paths with Paul, the apostle of Christ. Paul, once known for persecuting the church, now proclaimed the same Gospel he had once tried to destroy. He could relate to Onesimus—both were once full of guilt, yet both were transformed by the Cross.

 

Through Paul, Onesimus became a spiritual son (v. 10). Once useless, he became useful (v. 11)—not just in a practical sense, but spiritually. He became the very heart of Paul, someone Paul deeply loved and valued. The Gospel so transformed Onesimus that he became a man capable of replacing other able leaders in ministry (v. 13). He became honorable (v. 17), no longer seen through the lens of his past but through the grace of God.

 

This is the very essence of discipleship: taking a life once considered cheap or broken and, through the power of the Gospel, helping that life become a witness for Christ. It is what Jesus did with the twelve disciples—ordinary men who, during His trial, could not even stand by Him, and yet were later empowered to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Likewise, Onesimus became so useful and trustworthy that Paul was willing to pay off his debts (v. 19). For Paul—who once rejected Mark for his unreliability (Acts 15)—to call Onesimus his spiritual son was no small thing. It was a visible sign of transformation, not just emotional attachment.

 

This raises a crucial question: What did Paul do to develop people like Onesimus? If our own discipleship efforts fail to produce real transformation in others, perhaps we need to examine our approach. Too often, discipleship becomes about imposing our expectations, leading others into tradition rather than into Christ. We grow frustrated when people don’t regularly attend fellowships or gatherings yet fail to consider whether our methods are rooted in love or mere routine.

 

Instead of loving, we judge. Instead of being available, we criticize. Instead of listening, we overwhelm others with our opinions. Instead of taking initiative, we wait for others to act. Instead of encouraging, we pressure. Instead of sharing and caring, we expect to receive. Could it be that our discipleship has lost its direction?

 

So, what must Paul have done to transform Onesimus? Paul was a man driven by a deep passion for God’s love for people. His character reveals a genuine zeal for others because he himself had experienced the transformative power of that love. He was a man of discipleship—discipled alongside other Apostles and by Barnabas, who supported and bore witness to his transformation when others doubted him. Paul was accepted just as he was—a former persecutor—and was gradually shaped for the work of the Kingdom. He received availability from Barnabas and others who invested in him, spending time together, listening, praying for one another, and offering continuous encouragement through persistent and consistent follow-up. As someone who personally received this kind of love and mentorship, Paul must have extended the same to Onesimus, a man once considered useless.

 

As disciple-makers, we are called to follow the same example. Discipleship involves acceptance, availability, listening, open sharing, taking initiative, praying together, studying Scripture, encouraging consistently, and living as an example. It is not about judging people for their sins, but about walking with them as they are renewed through the work of the Holy Spirit. We are not the authors of their transformation—that work belongs to God alone.

 

We must be intentional in our discipleship so that the Gospel is not confined to our own understanding but allowed to flourish in the lives of those we serve—even those who seem least likely to change. The fruit of our efforts may not be immediate, but through persistent and consistent love, we will witness the power of the Gospel in their lives.

 

Let us be encouraged: when our discipleship is aligned with God’s will, it will bear fruit. And we can be confident that “He who began a good work will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

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Concept inspired by the teaching of Samuel Baptist, UESI Staff, Tamil Nadu.