Preserve Harmony
Ignatius of Antioch exhorts the community to strive for divine harmony, unity, and love, recognizing the importance of their roles within the church.
Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of unity and harmony within the church, urging believers to follow the leadership of their bishop as representatives of God, the presbyters as representatives of the apostles, and the deacons as ministers of Jesus Christ. He highlights the eternal nature of Jesus Christ as the only-begotten Son of God, encouraging love and unity among believers, looking at each other through the lens of Christ. Ignatius stresses the need for believers to be united under the bishop and subject to God in Christ, avoiding anything that may cause division.
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Since therefore I have, in the persons before mentioned, beheld the whole multitude of you in faith and love, I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ.
He, being begotten by the Father before the beginning of time, was God the Word, the only-begotten Son, and remains the same for ever; for "of His kingdom there shall be no end," says Daniel the prophet. Let us all therefore love one another in harmony, and let no one look upon his neighbour according to the flesh, but in Christ Jesus.
Let nothing exist among you which may divide you; but be ye united with your bishop, being through him subject to God in Christ.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Harmony
- The Nature of God
- The Call to Harmony
- Unity with the Bishop
- Be united with the bishop
- Subject to God in Christ
Key Quotes
“of His kingdom there shall be no end,” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- Strive to do everything in a way that is pleasing to God and brings unity to the community.
- Recognize and respect the different roles within the church to maintain harmony and order.
- Treat others with love and respect, seeing them as brothers and sisters in Christ.