Submit Themselves No Sedition
The sermon emphasizes the importance of submission to authority, humility, and obedience to God's wisdom, warning of the consequences of disobedience.
Clement of Rome urges those who caused division to repent and submit to the presbyters for correction, emphasizing the importance of humility and obedience in the flock of Christ. He warns against pride and self-confidence, highlighting the consequences of ignoring God's counsel and reproach. Clement stresses the need to heed the wisdom of God and choose the fear of the Lord, as those who reject wisdom will face destruction and ungodliness.
Text
Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters, and receive correction so as to repent, bending the knees of your hearts.
Learn to be subject, laying aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your tongue. For it is better for you that you should occupy a humble but honourable place in the flock of Christ, than that, being highly exalted, you should be cast out from the hope of His people. For thus speaks all-virtuous Wisdom: "Behold, I will bring forth to you the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech.
Since I called, and you did not hear; I held forth My words, and you regarded not, but set at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore I too will laugh at your destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin comes upon you, and when sudden confusion overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that when you call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they shall not find Me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels, but despised My reproofs. So they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness."
Sermon Outline
- Submission to Authority
- Humility over Pride
- Consequences of Disobedience
- The Call to Wisdom
- Choose the fear of the Lord
- Listen to counsels and reproofs
Key Quotes
“For it is better for you that you should occupy a humble but honourable place in the flock of Christ, than that, being highly exalted, you should be cast out from the hope of His people.” — Clement of Rome
“Since I called, and you did not hear; I held forth My words, and you regarded not, but set at naught My counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs;” — Clement of Rome
“For it shall come to pass, that when you call upon Me, I will not hear you;” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We should strive to occupy a humble but honourable place in the flock of Christ, rather than seeking to exalt ourselves above others.
- We should listen to God's counsels and reproofs, and seek to obey His will.
- Disobedience to God's wisdom will lead to oppression, tribulation, and ultimately, destruction.