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  PERSONAL UNWORTHINESS
  by St. Polycarp of Smyrna
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Summary: St. Polycarp emphasizes the importance of righteousness, faith,
hope, and love in building a strong Christian community.

Topics: "Righteous Living", "Spiritual Growth"
Scripture References: Romans 13:10, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Galatians 5:6, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 3:18

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Polycarp of Smyrna emphasizes the importance of righteousness,
highlighting the teachings of the apostle Paul as a source of wisdom and
truth. He encourages the listeners to study Paul's letters diligently
for spiritual growth and to strengthen their faith, hope, and love for
God, Christ, and others. Polycarp explains that possessing love is key
to fulfilling the command of righteousness and being free from sin.

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CONTENT
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These things, brethren, I write to you concerning righteousness, not
because I take anything upon myself, but because ye have invited me to
do so. For neither I, nor any other such one, can come up to the wisdom"
of the blessed and glorified Paul.

He, when among you, accurately and stedfastly taught the word of truth
in the presence of those who were then alive.

And when absent from you, he wrote you a letter, which, if you carefully
study, you will find to be the means of building you up in that faith
which has been given you, and which, being followed by hope, and
preceded by love towards God, and Christ, and our neighbour, "is the
mother of us all." For if any one be inwardly possessed of these graces,
he hath fulfilled the command of righteousness, since he that hath love
is far from all sin.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-polycarp-of-smyrna/personal-unworthiness/
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