Philemon, the shortest of all Paul’s writings in the New Testament, is unfamiliar to most Christians, usually because of its brevity or because it doesn’t seem stand out like other epistles such as Romans or Ephesians. However, in this beautiful letter we find one of the most striking examples of the gospel, of law and grace, and of love and forgiveness. This epistle is Paul’s heartfelt appeal to Philemon to welcome his former slave, Onesimus, back not simply as a runaway slave but as a brother in Christ: “If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account” (Philemon 18).In this sermon, Pastor Dave explores the implications from this text regarding church membership, discipleship, and substitutionary atonement.