I Do Not Issue Orders to You, as if I Were Some Great Person
Ignatius encourages the audience to live according to God's will by imitating Jesus Christ and following His example.
Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of humility and discipleship, acknowledging his own imperfections and encouraging fellow believers to run together in unity according to God's will. He urges them to imitate Christ and follow the example of Paul in living a life that pleases God, filled with faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering, all motivated by love that compels him to speak out for their benefit.
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I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for His name, I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as my fellow-servants. For it was needful for me to have been admonished by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering. But inasmuch as love suffers me not to be silent in regard to you,
I have therefore taken upon me first to exhort you that ye would run together in accordance with the will of God. For even Jesus Christ does all things according to the will of the Father, as He Himself declares in a certain place, "I do always those things that please Him." Wherefore it behoves us also to live according to the will of God in Christ, and to imitate Him as Paul did.
For, says he, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
Sermon Outline
- Introduction
- The importance of living according to God's will
- The need to run together in accordance with God's will
- Jesus Christ's example
- The call to imitate Christ and Paul's example
Key Quotes
“I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“I do always those things that please Him.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- We should strive to live according to God's will by imitating Jesus Christ's perfect character.
- As followers of Christ, we should relate to one another as fellow-servants, supporting and encouraging each other in our faith.
- Following Christ's example is crucial for living a life that pleases God and imitates His will.