Alan and Nancy,
I ran across some ideas in the writings of St. Ignatius that are very important for Christians today. The writings of Ignatius are very important and must be respected because Ignatius was trained and ordained by St. John the Apostle. Ignatius's teachings reflects what he learned at the hands of the Apostles. It is also believed by the early Church Fathers that Ignatius was the child that our Lord placed in the midst of the Apostles in the Gospels. Ignatius lived from approx. [30-107A.D.]. I am quoting from tenth chapter of is letters to the Magnesians. St. Ignatius was martyred for the faith in 107 A.D. by the Romans.
Chapter X--Epistles to the Magnesians
Let us not, therefore, be insensible to His kindness. For were He to reward us according to our works, we should cease to be. For "if Thou, Lord, shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? "67
Let us therefore prove ourselves worthy of that name which we have received. For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for he has not received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: "The people shall be called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and shall be a holy people."68 This was first fulfilled in Syria; for "the disciples were called Christians at Antioch,"69 when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church. Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the corrupt leaven,70 and be ye changed into the new leaven of grace. Abide in Christ, that the stranger71 may not have dominion over you. It is absurd to speak of Jesus Christ with the tongue, and to cherish in the mind a Judaism which has now come to an end. For where there is Christianity there cannot be Judaism. For Christ is one, in whom every nation that
believes, and every tongue that confesses, is gathered unto God. And those that were of a stony heart have become the children of Abraham, the friend of God;72 and in his seed all those have been
blessed73 who were ordained to eternal life74 in Christ.
Remember this was written 1900 years ago by the first
May Christ give you wisdom to discern the truth.
Emile
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