One of You. Colossians 4:9. Although Onesimus was still a slave, he was a faithful and loved brother. Paul, the great apostle, was a brother to slaves who had been saved by God's grace. Our unity in Christ isn't determined by our worldly status. The Gospel brings together and changes those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ; each one has a special role in the body of Christ.
Two men traveled together on their journey to Colosse. One was a servant of the Lord, and the other was a slave owned by Philemon, a leader of the church. The saints of the assembly in Colosse gathered in Philemon's house. Paul testified that both men were faithful, even though the slave had run away from slavery and fled before the Lord saved him. Paul referred to each of them as “faithful” and “beloved brother” when recommending them to the Colossian church.
What a person was before being saved should not be held against them. When the Holy Spirit saves a soul, that is where new life in Christ begins. There may be some restitution needed for actions done to others, but as far as being part of God's family, His grace doesn't remind us of our past before He made us new in Christ Jesus. Some may tend to keep someone at a distance for a while and not accept them as a child of God until they are “proven." Even though there is often resistance when someone is born again, they are a child of God by His grace. Like the community of saints, that individual shows new life by faith, with their testimony and conduct revealing their new life in Christ.
They are one of you, even if they look different because of their background, nationality, and culture, which may not be the same as most of the assembly. There may be things they did in the past that were wrong, but once corrected, don't keep blaming them now for what has been put right, so the matter can be settled. When they are part of the assembly you are in, they should be included in everything and given meaningful ways to participate in activities.
Onesimus, though saved in a distant place, returned home a transformed man. Paul's words were used as a reason to welcome him into the community, and he had the authority to tell Philemon to accept him as a brother, not just a slave. Today, we too can certainly welcome such a person and express our love, especially when someone hasn't had the chance to let us know that God saved them while they were far away. I think of those who have left us for various reasons. I would love to see them return. Perhaps the gifts God gave them could fill the gaps in our needs, and they could help meet them. What joy it would bring to see someone coming back who was once considered "one of you." Maybe God will show mercy and do for us what we seem unable to do ourselves.