Unbelievers in the Blood of Christ Shall Be Condemned
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith in Christ, love towards God and neighbour, and hope towards Christ in order to obtain eternal life and avoid the dangers of deception and enmity.
Ignatius of Antioch emphasizes the importance of believing in Christ Jesus, confessing His sacrifice on the cross, and acknowledging the salvation through His shed blood for eternal life. He warns against pride in positions or wealth and encourages humility and love towards God and others. Ignatius stresses the significance of faith in God, hope in Christ, and the practice of love as the core principles of Christianity, quoting the commandment to love God and neighbor. He contrasts true believers with those who preach false doctrines, lacking love and integrity, and focusing on temporary pleasures rather than eternal truths.
Text
Let no man deceive himself. Unless he believes that Christ Jesus has lived in the flesh, and shall confess His cross and passion, and the blood which He shed for the salvation of the world, he shall not obtain eternal life, whether he be a king, or a priest, or a ruler, or a private person, a master or a servant, a man or a woman. "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches, puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him. For the chief points are faith towards God, hope towards Christ, the enjoyment of those good things for which we look, and love towards God and our neighbour.
For, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself."'
And the Lord says, "This is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent." And again, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Do ye, therefore, notice those who preach other doctrines, how they affirm that the Father of Christ cannot be known, and how they exhibit enmity and deceit in their dealings with one another. They have no regard for love; they despise the good things we expect hereafter; they regard present things as if they were durable; they ridicule him that is in affliction; they laugh at him that is in bonds.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Faith in Christ
- The Importance of Love and Hope
- The Dangers of Deception and Enmity
- The consequences of following false doctrines
- The importance of love and good works
- The dangers of ridiculing those in affliction
Key Quotes
“He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- We must have faith in Christ's life, death, and resurrection in order to obtain eternal life.
- We should demonstrate our love towards God and neighbour by following the commandments to love the Lord with all our heart and love our neighbour as ourselves.
- We must be careful not to follow false doctrines that can lead to deception, enmity, and a lack of love and good works.