Grace Changes the World
For Meditation
Grace changes everything. That is the baseline message of Philemon, the smallest and perhaps the most subversive book in the New Testament. Grace is not just a spiritual message about our private relationship with God, but a catalytic force that changes our relationships, our social orders, and ultimately our world.
We often think of grace as a personal experience of God’s mercy: “Amazing grace how sweet the sound the saved a wretch like me!” It is this, of course. Grace is very personal, but it is never private. Paul’s vision of grace was enormous, that it not only reconciles us to God, but then reconciles us to each other. The word that Paul uses multiple times in this letter to describe this impact of grace is koinonia- which means “mutual participation.” The idea is that we all equally receive the gift of God’s grace together, thus creating a new kind of community that is based on our experience of God’s love and kindness.
For Paul, the effects of this were revolutionary- literally. In this case, it meant that a slave owner could no longer see his former slave as beneath him, but now must receive him as a brother in Christ, of the same value and dignity. While Paul did not explicitly call for the abolition of slavery in this letter, he sows the seeds of its eventual destruction. So many movements around the equality, dignity and nobility of all humans are grounded in the message of grace, which proclaimed the value of all people before God and the equal place we stand in need of God’s mercy. Grace changes everything- not just personal lives, but even societies.
As you prepare for worship this week, consider how your relationships in your family, neighborhood, workplace and society might be challenged by the message of grace. Invite God to show us as a church how we might want us to put his radical grace into practice.
Philemon 12–25
12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 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 would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
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. 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.
22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.