Abstain From the Poison of Heretics
The sermon warns against the dangers of heretics who corrupt the Gospel and reject Christ, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded in the truth.
Ignatius of Antioch warns against false teachers who distort the Gospel by mixing truth with deceit, leading people astray by corrupting the word of God. These deceivers speak of Christ and the law not to preach or establish them, but to reject and proclaim things contrary to them, denying key aspects of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. They introduce false beliefs about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, promoting confusion and falsehood among believers.
Text
I therefore, yet not I, out the love of Jesus Christ, "entreat you that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment." For there are some vain talkers and deceivers, not Christians, but Christ-betrayers, bearing about the name of Christ in deceit, and "corrupting the word" of the Gospel; while they intermix the poison of their deceit with their persuasive talk, as if they mingled aconite with sweet wine, that so he who drinks, being deceived in his taste by the very great sweetness of the draught, may incautiously meet with his death.
One of the ancients gives us this advice, "Let no man be called good who mixes good with evil." For they speak of Christ, not that they may preach Christ, but that they may reject Christ; and they speak of the law, not that they may establish the law, but that they may proclaim things contrary to it.
For they alienate Christ from the Father, and the law from Christ. They also calumniate His being born of the Virgin; they are ashamed of His cross; they deny His passion; and they do not believe His resurrection. They introduce God as a Being unknown; they suppose Christ to be unbegotten; and as to the Spirit, they do not admit that He exists. Some of them say that the Son is a mere man, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are but the same person, and that the creation is the work of God, not by Christ, but by some other strange power.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Heretics
- Their deceitful speech
- Their corrupting influence on the Gospel
- Their rejection of Christ and the law
Key Quotes
“Let no man be called good who mixes good with evil.” — Ignatius of Antioch
“They intermix the poison of their deceit with their persuasive talk, as if they mingled aconite with sweet wine,” — Ignatius of Antioch
Application Points
- Be cautious of those who mix good and evil, as they may be hiding a deceitful agenda.
- Stay grounded in the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ to avoid being deceived by heretics.
- Be aware of the corrupting influence of heretics and their rejection of Christ and the law.