The Penn's Grove record., 1921-12-09
LESSON Fer LECEMEE3 II
PAUL WRITES TO a FRIEND.

LESSON TENT-PhiIemoa.
GOLDEN TENT-Nhusoeyer would ue
chief among you let him be yoar str
ant-Matt. 90.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-peut. l5.t-.
Is; John 1874, s., l Cor. i2o-2'; 60
S.9-ll, Jas. Pig.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story IF a Es7
away slave.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Paurs Kin IEess to 81
Runaway Slave.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR Toi..'
Paul Pleading for a slave.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Social Teachings OF the Letter 70
Philemon.
This is a private letter. Philemon
was a member of the church az Col0S-
Sc. Onesimus, his slave, wronged him.
perhaps stole from him, and fled IL
Rome. There he came under Pauls
influence and was converted. Paul
sent Onesimus back to Philemon with
this letter. This is one of the most
tender and beautiful letters ever writ
ten, and the first anti-slavery petition
ever penned.
l.. The Salutation wv. 1-3).
His aim was to touch Philemon's
heart. so refers TO himself as a pris-
oner, and links Philemon to himself
as a feIlow-laborer in the Gospel Of
truth. He makes mention of Apphia,
PhilemOn'> wife, and Archippus, the
son, who had already enlisted as a fell
lOw-Soldier.
II. PhiIemon's Reputation wv. 40.
Paul paid a fine tribute to Phile-
mon, reminding him that he never
prayed without bearing him up before
God. This is a fine example Of tact
on the part of the minister.
l. His faith and love toward the
Lord and all saints ". -. 1t was
his hope and desire that this faith
might bear fruit in Christ Jesus.
, .. His ministry to the saints u. y,
Philemon was generous in his hell is
the poor saints.
III. Paul's Request wv. SIG,
He requested Philemon to receive
back Ones;mus, the runaway slave, as
u brother in Christ,
L, lie IIl~t''f lIF~ ll~ifE'i VI ''ii
mands wv. $40. Though conscious Of
his right to eutoiu. he pleads us tie
prisoner of Jesus Christ for loves
sake,
2. lie makes AR plea on the
grounds of grace wv. lid. Ee
admitted thar OHesimus had been un-
profitabIe-had forfeited all claim
upon Philenfee. and that on grounds
of justice his plea might well be re-
jected, anr3 yet OnesimuS was begot-
ten In his bonds (v. 10)-waS in a real
sense a part of his own suffering ma
ture ". 12)-he ventured to suggest
that he should he accepted. Though
OnesimuS hitherto had been unprOft-
able TO his master, now was profitable
to both Paul and Philemon. Paul
wQpid gladly have retained him as IA
personal attendant, but sought first
his friends permission,
3 Paul de~ire,t that Onesimus be .
receive ed back @ as Ii slave, but as
a brother in Christ wv. 10, 16). Here
Is the real fugitive slave law. Paul
never attacked slavery. though il was
contrary to Christianity, and therefore
hateful TO him. but emphasized prin-
ciples which destroyed it,. The estab-
iishment of Christianity changes the
whole face of human society. The
wise thing to do is to get men and
women ~regenerated and thus trans
form society instead Of seeking change
by revolution.
In Paul's request you can hear the
.pleadiugS Of Christ for US sinners. All
II en- have broken looSe-gone astray-
and have become Improbable. We
are r~econciled TO God through the in
terceding Of Christ. He has made Us
profitable. We have been begotten in
His bondS-through His passion, ag
ony of heart, we shall be changed.
III. The Basis Upon Which onesj,n-
US Is to Be Received wv. 17-21).
The debt Of guilty OnesimuS is 10
he put 10 the account of Paul. and the
merit of Paul is to be put TO the ac-
count of Onesimus. This is a fine il
luStration Of the atonement of Christ.
W lidJCNtI hlOiES We ia NblIlllllllt'
debt incurred-alI our shortcomings
are debited to Him. Jesus Christ. ON
behalf of the whole universe. has said
to God: Put that to my account; |
have written with my pierced hand |
will repay" Onesimus was taken
back, not as a runaway slave, but a
beloved brother In Christ.
~. Paul Requests Lodging wv. ~
25).
He expected a speedy release from
Imprisonment, and purposed to S%oiourn
with Philemon. In all probability This
was realized. What a welcome he
must have received! Jesus Christ is
saying to every one of His redeemed
ones, prepare me a lodging