Scripture
makes it clear that repentance is not once-off for the true believer (see: Is Repentance once-off for a believer?).
Such a theme, as well as the restitution for one’s sins, including
post-baptism, is continued in the soteriology of the earliest Christian
writers:
These things, beloved, we write unto you, not
merely to admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are
struggling on the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us.
Wherefore let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious
and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good,
pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look
steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God,
which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance
before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn
that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance
to all such as would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as
many as listened to him were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction to the
Ninevites; but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained
salvation, although they were aliens |to the covenant¦ of God. (1 Clement
7:1-7)
Ye therefore, who laid the foundation of this
sedition, submit yourselves to the presbyters, and receive correction so as to
repent, bending the knees of your hearts. Learn to be subject, laying aside the
proud and arrogant self-confidence of your tongue. For it is better for you
that ye should occupy a humble but honorable place in the flock of Christ, than
that, being highly exalted, ye should be cast out from the hope of His people.
For thus speaketh all-virtuous Wisdom: "Behold, I will bring forth to you
the words of My Spirit, and I will teach you My speech. Since I called, and ye
did not hear; I held forth My words, and ye regarded not, but set at naught My
counsels, and yielded not at My reproofs; therefore I too will laugh at your
destruction; yea, I will rejoice when ruin cometh upon you, and when sudden
confusion overtakes you, when overturning presents itself like a tempest, or
when tribulation and oppression fall upon you. For it shall come to pass, that
when ye call upon Me, I will not hear you; the wicked shall seek Me, and they
shall not find Me. For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the fear of the
Lord; nor would they listen to My counsels, but despised My reproofs. Wherefore
they shall eat the fruits of their own way, and they shall be filled with their
own ungodliness." For, in punishment for the wrongs which they practiced
upon babes, shall they be slain, and inquiry will be death to the ungodly; but
he that heareth me shall rest in hope and be undisturbed by the fear of any
evil." (1 Clement 57:1-7)
And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye:
Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if thou have not living
water, baptize into other water; and if thou canst not in cold, in warm. But if
thou have not either, pour out water thrice upon the head into the name of
Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast,
and the baptized, and whatever others can; but thou shalt order the baptized to
fast one or two days before. But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for
they fast on the second and fifth day of the week; but do ye fast on the fourth
day and the Preparation (Friday). Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord
commanded in His Gospel, thus pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give
us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive
our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
(or, evil); for Thine is the power and the glory for ever. Thrice in the day
thus pray. (Didache, 7:1-8:3)
And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of
other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God.
See, then, that they beinstructed by your works, if in no other way. Be ye meek
in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their
blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be ye steadfast in
the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness. While we take care
not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true
kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly
treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be
found in you, but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ,
both with respect to the flesh and spirit. (Ignatius, To the Ephesians, 10:1-3)
Keep yourselves from those evil plants which
Jesus Christ does not tend, because they are not the planting of the Father.
Not that I have found any division among you, but exceeding purity. For as many
as are of God and of Jesus Christ are also with the bishop. And as many as
shall, in the exercise of repentance, return into the unity of the Church,
these, too, shall belong to God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ.
Do not err, my brethren. If any man follows him that makes a schism in the
Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. If any one walks according to
a strange opinion, he agrees not with the passion |of Christ.¦. (Ignatius, To
the Philadelphians, 3:1-3)
Concerning chastity, He uttered such
sentiments as these: "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her,
hath committed adultery with her already in his heart before God." And,
"If thy right eye offend thee, cut it out; for it is better for thee to
enter into the kingdom of heaven with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be
cast into everlasting fire." And, "Whosoever shall marry her that is
divorced from another husband, committeth adultery." And, "There are
some who have been made eunuchs of men, and some who were born eunuchs, and
some who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake; but all
cannot receive this saying." So that all who, by human law, are twice
married, are in the eye of our Master sinners, and those who look upon a woman
to lust after her. For not only he who in act commits adultery is rejected by
Him, but also he who desires to commit adultery: since not only our works, but
also our thoughts, are open before God. And many, both men and women, who have
been Christ's disciples from childhood, remain pure at the age of sixty or
seventy years; and I boast that I could produce such from every race of men.
For what shall I say, too, of the countless multitude of those who have
reformed intemperate habits, and learned these things? For Christ called not
the just nor the chaste to repentance, but the ungodly, and the licentious, and
the unjust; His words being, "I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance." For the heavenly Father desires rather the
repentance than the punishment of the sinner. And of our love to all, He taught
thus: "If ye love them that love you, what new thing do ye? for even
fornicators do this. But I say unto you, Pray for your enemies, and love them
that hate you, and bless them that curse you, and pray for them that
despitefully use you." And that we should communicate to the needy, and do
nothing for glory, He said, "Give to him that asketh, and from him that
would borrow turn not away; for if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive,
what new thing do ye? even the publicans do this. Lay not up for yourselves
treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where robbers break
through; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for it? Lay
up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt." And, "Be ye kind and merciful, as your Father also is kind
and merciful, and maketh His sun to rise on sinners, and the righteous, and the
wicked. Take no thought what ye shall eat, or what ye shall put on: are ye not
better than the birds and the beasts? And God feedeth them. Take no thought,
therefore, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall put on; for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye the kingdom of heaven,
and all these things shall be added unto you. For where his treasure is, there
also is the mind of a man." And, "Do not these things to be seen of
men; otherwise ye have no reward from your Father which is in heaven."
(Justin Martyr, First Apology, 15)