The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-12-09

4 JUNIOR TOPIC-PauTs Kindness TO q
/ Runaway Slave.
+ INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
/ Paul Pleading for q 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 ay CoIos-
/ Sc. Onesimus. his slave. wronged him.
+ perhaps stole from him, and lied 10
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 and beautiful letters ever writ
ten, and the first anti-slavery petition
/ ever penned.
!. The SaIutation wv. 1-3).
His aim was TO touch Philemon's
heart, SO refers To himself as a pris-
oner. and links Philemon 10 himself
as feIIow-IabOrer in the Gospel Of
truth. He makes mention Of Apphia,
Philemon's wife, and ArchippuS. the
son. who had already enlisted as q fell
low-soldier.
II. Philemon's Reputation wv 40
Paul paid a fine tribute 10 Phue-
mon. reminding him that he never
prayed without bearing him up before
God. This is fine example Of tact
on the part of the minister.
/ His faith and love toward the
Lord and all saints q. -. Ii was
his hope and desire that this faith
might bear fruit in Christ Jesus
= His ministry TO the saints (v. a.
Philemon was generous in his help To
the poor saints.
M. PauFs Request wv. S-I6).
He requested Philemon To receive
back Onesimus. the runaway slave, as
a brother in Christ.
L He beseeches instead of com
mands wv. S-10). Though conscious of.
his right TO enjoin. he pleads as the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for loves
sake.
.. He makes his plea on the
grounds of grace wv. 11-14- He
admitted that Onesimus had been uu-
profitable-had forfeited all claim
upon Philemon. and that ON grounds
of justice his plea might wei be re-
jected, and yet Onesimus was begot-
ten In his bonds ". 1O)-was in real
sense a part of his own suffering ma
ture ". 12)-he ventured to suggest
that he should be accepted. Though
Onesimus hitherto had been unproft-
able to his master, now was profitable
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 Onesmus be
receiE ed back not as q slave bur as
a brother in Christ wv. 10. 1G). Here
IS the real fugitive slave law. Paul
never attacked slavery, though it was
contrary To Christianity, and therefore
hateful to him. but emphasized prin-
ciples which destroyed il. The estab-
lishment OF Christianity changes the
whole face of human society The
wise thing To do is 10 get men and
women regenerated and thus trans
form society instead of seeking change
by revolution.
In Paufs request You can hear the
pleadings of Christ for US sinners All
Il en- have broken IoOse-gone astray-
and have become unprouJable We
are 'reconciIed 10 God through the in
lGACtuiLE u ClIIASt- ne has llaLH us
profitable. We have been begotten i'm
His bonds-through His passion. ag-
ony of heart. we shall be changed.
III. The Basis Upon Which Onesim-
is Is to Be Received wv. 1T-2D.
The debt of guilty Oneslmus is to
be put to the account of Paul. ana the
merit of Paul is TO be put To the ac-
count of Onesimus. This is a fine H
ustration of the atonement of Christ.
wrongs we have committed
debt incurred-aIl our shortcomings
ire debited to Him. Jesus Christ, on
behalf of the whole universe. has said
o God: Put that TO my account; I
AVE written with my pierced hand;
viii repay Onesimus was taken
,ack. not as a runaway slave, but "a
,eloved brother in Christ
w. Paul Requests Lodging wv. %
%.
He expected a speedy release from
and purposed 10 sojourn
With Philemon. In all probability this
vas realized. What a welcome be
must have received Jesus Christ is
aging to every one of His redeemed
mes tPreDare me q LODGING"