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  MAN'S WAYS OPPOSITE TO GOD'S
  by Clement of Rome
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Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance of living in accordance
with God's ways and values, and of seeking to be righteous and pure in
our thoughts and actions.

Topics: "Gods Sovereignty", "Righteous Living"
Scripture References: Genesis 4:1, Genesis 8:6, Genesis 16:15, Genesis 25:24, Exodus 28:1

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DESCRIPTION
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Clement of Rome preaches about the divine order established by God,
where greater things come first and inferior things second, contrasting
with the reversed order found in humanity. He illustrates this pattern
through various biblical examples, such as Cain and Abel, Deucalion's
spirits, and the patriarchs of the nation like Ishmael and Isaac, Esau
and Jacob. Clement highlights the significance of the first and second
births in these examples, emphasizing the distinction between the
unrighteous and the righteous, the impure and the pure, the profane and
the pious.

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CONTENT
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As in the beginning God, who is one, like a right hand and a left, made
the heavens first and then the earth, so also He constituted all the
combinations in order; but upon men He no more does this, but varies all
the combinations. For whereas from Him the greater things come first,
and the inferior second, we find the opposite in men--the first worse,
and the second superior. Therefore from Adam, who was made after the
image of God, there sprang first the unrighteous Cain, and then the
righteous Abel.

Again, from him who amongst you is called Deucalion, two forms of
spirits were sent forth, the impure namely, and the pure, first the
black raven, and then the white dove.

From Abraham also, the patriarchs of our nation, two firsts sprang--
Ishmael first, then Isaac, who was blessed of God. And from Isaac
himself, in like manner, there were again two--Esau the profane, and
Jacob the pious. So, first in birth, as the first born in the world, was
the high priest Aaron, then the lawgiver Moses.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/clement-of-rome/mans-ways-opposite-to-gods/
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