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  THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH
  by Ignatius of Antioch
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Summary: The sermon highlights the significance of prayer and unity in
the Church of Antioch as it celebrates its restoration and peace.

Topics: "Church Leadership", "Perfection In Christ"
Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 3:14, James 1:4

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DESCRIPTION
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Ignatius of Antioch urges the Church of Antioch to elect a worthy
delegate to journey to Syria and congratulate them on their peace and
restored greatness, emphasizing the importance of completing God's work
on earth and in heaven. He encourages the church to send someone with an
epistle to rejoice over the tranquility obtained through their prayers
and to aim for perfection, as God is ready to assist those who desire to
do well.

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CONTENT
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Your prayers have reached to the Church of Antioch, and it is at peace.

Coming from that place bound, I salute all; I who am not worthy to be
styled from thence, inasmuch as I am the least of them. Nevertheless,
according to the will of God, I have been thought worthy [of this
honour], not that I have any senses [of having deserved it], but by the
grace of God, which I wish may be perfectly given to me, that through
your prayers I may attain to God. In order, therefore, that your work
may be complete both on earth and in heaven, it is fitting that, for the
honour of God, your Church should elect some worthy delegate; so that
he, journeying into Syria, may congratulate them that they are [now] at
peace, and are restored to their proper greatness, and that their proper
constitution has been re-established among them.

What appears to me proper to be done is this, that you should send some
one of your number with an epistle, so that, in company with them, he
may rejoice over the tranquillity which, according to the will of God,
they have obtained, and because that, through your prayers, I have
secured Christ as a safe harbour. As persons who are perfect, ye should
also aim at those things which are perfect. For when ye are desirous to
do well, God is also ready to assist you.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/ignatius-of-antioch/the-church-of-antioch/
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