Lessons from the Ancient Church: It Is Never Too Late to Repent
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 CORINTHIANS 6:2)
Reformed Baptist pastor and church historian Dr. Nick Needham compiled a wonderful little volume back in 2017 Daily Readings of the Early Church Fathers-April 29
I devoured this book when it first came out and read it after my bible morning reading. The following is taken from the section of writings from Cyprian:
“While you have strength, while some fragment of life is left, we urge you - make peace with God! Arise from the depths of superstitious darkness into the radiant light of true religion! We don't resent your comforts; nor do we conceal God's blessings from you. We repay compassion for your hatred; for the tortures and punishments you inflict on us, we show you the way of salvation. Believe and live!
Having persecuted us in time, rejoice with us for eternity! After leaving this life, there's no longer any opportunity for repentance or reconciliation with God. It's here your life is either lost or saved: here that eternal wellbeing is offered, as you worship God and bear the fruits of faith. Let no one's sins or years hinder them from being saved. As long as you're still in this world, repentance is never too late. The pathway to God's mercy lies open; access is easy to those who seek and accept the truth. Although you stand at life's very end, when time's sun sets, ask God to forgive your sins; beseech Him, the one true God, recognising and acknowledging Him by faith! Do this, confess, and pardon is yours, whoever you are; God's kindness bestows saving mercy on whoever believes. Amid death itself, immortality's doorway is opened! This grace is Christ's gift, His mercy bestowed on us. Conquering death on His triumphant cross, He purchases the believer's freedom with the price of His blood, reconciles humanity to God the Father, enlivens our dying nature with heavenly rebirth. If we can, let us all follow Him, enlisting through baptism. He opens life's gateway; He restores us to Paradise; He leads us to the heavenly kingdom. Made God's children in Him, with Him we will forever live, with Him forever rejoice, redeemed by His own blood!” -Cyprian of Carthage (200-258 AD)
Amen! Soli Deo Gloria. May we declare this hope and mercy of God in Christ to sinners with confidence that God is gracious to the undeserving. Do not lose heart for those you love who are without hope and Christ beloved brother and sister! Don’t lost heart for your lost, foolish, and hardened husband. Don’t lost heart for your deceived, self-righteous, and prideful wife.
Don’t lost heart for your astray, superstitious, and apathetic brother. Don’t lose heart for your reckless, sin-loving, immoral sister. Don’t lose heart for your estranged, drunkard, sexually immoral son. Don’t lose heart for your arrogant, selfish, and godless daughter. Whoever comes to your mind do not lose heart and proclaim again and again with grace and truth the God who of grace. The Lord of life. The Savior of sinners. The Father who freely forgives. The excellencies of Him who called us and showed us mercy and made us His people in Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10). SDG!
(Side note: Dr. Needham also wrote the excellent 2000 years of Christ’s Power church history series. I strongly recommend you own, read, return to, and pass those volumes on to your posterity. In general we in the true Christian/evangelical church need to be stronger and more well read in church history. There is no need to fear it. History is full of men and women who bear God’s image and have written and some wonderful and horrifying things. We are all with the glorious exception of Christ Jesus sinners in a fallen world who need redemption and so there will always be a sense and beauty and bewilderment looking in the past. History is important even very important but not ultimate. History like all other lesser and legitimate authorities must be always be ruthlessly subjected by Christ’s church to the only perfect standard God as given us holy Scripture. Scripture is the Norma Normans (Latin: “the norm that norms”). Scripture is the only authority that is God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Scripture alone is where we are blessed (Psalm 1). It is Scripture alone that is given the longest chapter in the Bible (Psalm 119). Scripture is superior to miracles-even more powerful and clear a witness than a dead man rising to warn judgment (Luke 16). Nothing testifies to God’s character and promise of Christ’s coming, suffering, dying on the cross, and resurrection like Scripture (Luke 24;John 5:39). So yes and amen we subject everything even and especially ourselves and our beliefs to Scripture. And we repent when we are out of sync with its truth. We praise God for His clear Word! And praise God for voices throughout history who have been faithful to the Word and help us to exalt, trust in, treasure and proclaim God’s saving mercies and goodness to sinners like us in Christ! SDG