Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-12-09
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si119ldaySc}lool
' Lesson '
BY REV. p. B. FlTZWATER, D. D..
Ties cher of English Bible In the Moody
Bib Institute OF Chicago)
Copyright, 1921. Western Newspaper Union.
LESSON FOR DECEMBER II
PAUL WRITES TO A FRIEND


LESSON TEXT-Philemon.
COL DEN TEXT-Whosoeve would be
chief among you. let him be your serv-
Ant-Natt. 1927.
REF ERENCE MATERIAL~-Deut 1872
Is; John 1874. IS; ! Cor. 1859; Col.
3:9-ll; Jas. 2I-9,
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story of a Rum
away slave.
JUNIOR TOPIC-PaM's Kindness to q
Runaway Slave.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Pleading for a Slave.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Social Teachings of the Letter to
Philemon
This Is a private letter. Philemon
was member of the church At ColOs-
Sc. Onesimus, his slave, wronged him,
perhaps stoe from him. and fled to
Rome. There he came under Paul's
influence and was converted. Paul
sent Onesimus back to Philemon with
this letter. This is one of the most
tender md beautiful letters ever writ
ten, and the first anti-sayery petition
ever penned
|. The Saiutation (vv 1-3).
His aim was to touch Philemon's
heart, 50 refers to himself as a pris-
oner, and links Philemon to himself
as fellow-laborer In the Gospel Of
truth lJa p,nlny nf hnybtu
Phllemon's wife, and Archippus, the
son, who had already enlisted as fell
low soldier.
II. Phiemon's Reputation wv. Al.
Paul paid 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 ". 81. 1t was
his hope ana desire that this faith
might bear fruit in Christ Jesus.
2. His ministry to the saints ". y.
Philemon wul generous In his help to
the poor STUNTS.
III. Paul'a Request wv. S-lG).
He requested Philemon to receive
back Oneslmus, the runaway slave, as
brother in Christ.
l. He beSeeches instead of com
mands wv. $40 Though conscious of
his right to cnioin, he pleads as the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for loves
sake.
2. He makes his plea on the
grounds of grace wv. LID. He
admitted that Onesimus had been I'M
proftable-llnd forfeited all claim
upon Philemon, and that on grounds
of justice his plea might well he re-
jected, and yet Onesimus was begot-
ten In his bonds ". l0)-was in real
sense part Of his own suffering ma
ture ". 12D-he yentured to suggest
that he should be accepted Though
OnesimuS hitherto had been unproft-
able to his master, now was pr0Stable
to both Paul and Philemon. Paul
would gladly have retained him as a
personal attendant, but sought first
his friends permission.
3. Paul desired that 0nesimss be
received back not rs slave, but as
a brother in Christ wv. 10, 1G). Here
Is the real fugitive slave law. Paul
never attacked slavery though II was
contrary to Christianity, and therefore
hateful TO him, but emphasized prin-
ciples which destroyed 1t. The estab-
lshment of Christianity charges 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 Pauls request you Can hear the
pleudings of Christ for us sinners. All
and have become Improbable. We
are reconciled to God through the in
terceding of Christ He has made US
profitable. We have been begotten In
His bonds-through His passion, az,
ony of heart, We shall be changed.
III. The Basis Upon Which onesim-
US Is to Be Received wv. 17-2D.
The debt of guilty Onesimus is to
be put to the account of Paul, and the
merit of Paul is 10 be put to the nc
count of 0nesimus. This Is a fine H.
lustration of the atonement of Christ.
Whatever wrongs we have committed
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 runaway slave, but a
beloved brother in Christ.
~. Paul Requests Lodging wv. %
25).
He expected a speedy release from
and purposcd to sojourn
with Philemon. In all probability this |
was realized. What Il welcome he |
must have received! Jesus Christ is
saying to every one of His redeemed |
ones, prepare me lodging"