The Arvada enterprise., 1921-12-08

chief among you. let him be your serv-
ant.-Matt. 2O:T
REFERENCE MArERlAL-peut.l lsl..
is: John is:i%. Il: Cor, l:ss-:s: Col,
| S:Y-ll; Jas. ?:l-v.
PRIMARY TOPlC-The Story OF Run.
away Slave.
JUNIOR TOPlC-Palrs Kindness to q
Runaway slave.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Paul Pleading for \ Slave.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Social Teachings OF the Letter 10
Philemon.
This Is II private letter. Philemon
was Il member of the church II. ColOs-
Sc. Onesimus. his slave. wronged lAm,
perhaps stole from him. and fled to
Rome. There he came under raul's
influence and wns 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 antislnvery petition
ever penned.
!. The Salutation (vv. l-3.
His aim was to touch Philc,nOn's
heart, NO refers to himself as n pris-
oner, and links Philemon to himself
az n fellow-labOrer In the Gospel OF
truth. He makes mention Of Apphia.
l'hilemOn's wife, and Archlppus. the
son. who Ind already enlisted MS u fcl.
lOw.sOltlier.
u. ehiIsrnon's Reputation wv. 40.
Paul paid IL fine tribute to Phlle.
mon, reminding him that he never
prayed without bearing him up before
God. This IL fine example of tact
on the part Of the minister.
!. His faith and love toward the
Lord and nll saints ". 50. II was
his hope md desire that this faith
might bear fruit In Christ Jesus.
.. His ministry to the saints ". ~.
Philemon WINS generous IN his help to
the poor saints.
~. Paul's Request tvv. s-lG).
lie requested Philemon to receive
back OnesIu,us. the runaway slave. us
u brother In Christ.
I. lie bcseeches instead Of com.
mantis wv. S-lO). Though conscious Of
his right to enjoin. he pleads ns the
! ptthvvtSt W JSSuh Nsubhk tos tpNC |"
sake.
.. He makes his plea on the
grounds Of grace (vv. ll-1D. lie
admitted that OnesIinns had heen un.
proftabie-had forfeited all claim
upon Philemon, and that on grounds
Of Justice his plea might well he re-.
jecte,l. and yet Onesimls was bsgOt.
ten In his bonds ". 1O)-wns In n real
sense II part of his own suffering M.
ture w. I:)-lIe venturssi to suggest
that he should liz accepted. Though
Onesiulus hitherto had been unprOiit.
able to his master. now was profitable
to both Paul ind Philemon. Paul
would gladly have retained him as q
personal attendant. hut sought Hrst
his friends permission.
2. Paul desired that OnexImus bs
recei, esi back not NJ n slave. but Nh
4 brother In Christ wv. Ii, l0). Here
is the real fugitive slave law. Paul
never attacked slavery. though II val
contrary tn Christianity. and therefOru
hateful to him. but emphasized prin.
ciples which destroyed II. The estab.
lishmcnt Of Christianity changes the
whole face Of human society. The
wise thing to do " 10 get men aud
women rcgenera,e,i and thus trans.
form society instead Of seeking change
by revolution.
In I'suis request you Gun hear the
ples,lings III Christ for ux sinners. All
men have broker, lM,se-xOne astray-
and have become Improbable. We
are rec'nicils.ti Ia GOd through the ii.
terc'siing of Christ. lie hHs made IN
profitable. We have bsen bs.gOtten Ia
His bonds through, His passion, NJ.
Ony Of heart. we shall be changed.
~. The oasis Upso Which onssiw.
W 10 70 De Received wv. i7."D.
The debt NJ guilty Onesimus In 10
liz put 10 the account Of Paul, aud the
merit Of Paul is to ts put tn the &C.
count of Onesiinis. This In n fine u.
iustrnti"n Of the atOnement Of Christ.
Whatever wrongs We have committed
debt incurr.d-nll our shortcomings
are debii"d I" Him. Jesus Christ. ~,
lalnif of the whole universe. has said
~ God: put that To my account
have written with my pierced hand: !
VIII repay Onesin,. was tnkcn
back. not ~ n runaway slave. but "
beloved brother In Christ.
". Paul Requests Lodging Wv. ~.
-.
n" expected II speedy rsicnsc from,
imprisonment, nnh purpOs"d 10 sOjOurn
with Philemon. IN MI probability this
WAS realized. What n welcome he
must have received! Jesus Chris, Ii
saying To every one " Ills r.'i.sIne,i
ones. "rrepnrc me n lodging"
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