Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20071007.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Philemon: A Godly Response To Institutional Evils
Part II: Making A Gracious Appeal To Overcome An Institutional Evil
(Philemon 8-17)
  1. Introduction
    1. Evil in human institutions is often rooted in decades or even centuries of emotional and mental baggage that make uprooting the evils very difficult.
    2. However, in his Epistle to Philemon, the Apostle Paul made a wonderful effort to do just that in the Holy Spirit's power, and the actual appeal he made to Philemon examples for us how to make a gracious, potent appeal to overcome an institutional evil (as follows):
  2. Making A Gracious Appeal To Overcome An Institutional Evil, Philemon 8-17.
    1. Paul's letter to Philemon aimed to get him graciously to take back his runaway slave and new brother in Christ without killing him, the usual discipline for his crime, Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., p. 1727.
    2. After nurturing a gracious outlook toward facing the institutional evil, Paul made a gracious appeal to Philemon to receive Onesimus back without harm as his servant and fellow Christian brother, Phm. 8-17:
      1. In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul laid aside the use of his authority as an apostle of Christ to appeal to Philemon in gentle love, Philemon 8-9:
        1. Paul could have used his life-and-death apostolic authority over other believers to impress believer, Philemon to receive Onesimus back without harm, Philemon 8 with John 20:21-23; Acts 5:1-11.
        2. However, out of consideration for the sensitive issues involved, Paul rather appealed as an older man who had unfairly suffered the cultural shame and hardship of imprisonment, Philemon 9. The appeal would culturally impress Philemon to sympathize with Paul, and seriously consider his word.
      2. In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul explained the advantages to Philemon that would be involved were he to heed Paul's appeal to receive Onesimus again, vs. 10-13:
        1. Paul appealed in Onesimus' behalf as a fellow Christian brother to Philemon, implying that it was Philemon's Christian duty also to treat Onesimus as a beloved brother, Phm. 10; John 13:34-35.
        2. Paul appealed in Onesimus' behalf by noting how the changed heart of Onesimus made him a profitable servant to Philemon versus the unprofitable one who had before run away, v. 11.
        3. Paul appealed in Onesimus' behalf by stating he was beloved to Paul, the friend of Philemon, v. 12. This would motivate Philemon to want to protect his rapport with Paul by heeding his appeal!
        4. Paul appealed in Onesimus' behalf by showing how valuable Onesimus was to himself in prison as an encouragement for Philemon to want to take Onesimus back as his now productive slave, v. 13.
      3. In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul expressed his respect for the role of the person in authority who was to decide if the evil would or would not occur, Phm. 14. He explained he had sent Onesimus back out of respect for Philemon's right as slaveowner over his own slave.
      4. In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul explained the positive future results of Philemon's heeding his appeal, Philemon 15-16: God had let Onesimus flee so that he might meet Paul, hear the Gospel and be saved, becoming thereby an effective servant and beloved Christian brother, a long-term benefit to Philemon versus what would have happened had Onesimus never left!
      5. In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul backed his appeal with his relationship to Philemon who would make the final decision on the potential slaying of Onesimus, 17: Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as himself if Philemon considered Paul his partner in Christ!
Lesson: In making his gracious appeal to overcome institutional evil, Paul laid aside his rightful authority to appeal in love, he explained the advantages of heeding his appeal to the one making the final decision, he expressed respect for the authority of the one in charge of making the final decision, he described the advantage to the one making the decision were he to heed his appeal and he backed up his appeal by relying on his own positive rapport with the party making the final decision about the evil.

Application: In facing institutional evils that are packed with emotional and mental tension, may we use care, tact and wisdom in making our case before those authoring the final decisions on these evils.