Repentance: God Will Except Repentance

 And I entreat also, true yoke fellow, 

help those women which labored with me in t

he gospel, with Clement also, and with

other my fellow laborers, whose names 

are written in the book of life.

Philippians 4:3 

     I write the above verse to remind you that this Clement was born 30 A.D. a time when Jesus was preaching or was put to death, possibly 33 A.D. and lived among the disciples of Jesus so he had first hand information as to who Jesus was and what was required of him. We therefore should listen to what he wrote and remember his writings were well considered to be part of the Bible canon. 

      Several men who held theological views that are and were heretical could, that is, if they would do so, repent. We too, even though we may have not always acknowledge Authentic Christian Faith, we can repent. We all must acknowledge our sins. Read the words of Clement of Rome:

      "Let us therefore implore forgiveness for all those transgressions which through any [suggestion] of the adversary we have committed. And those who have been the leaders of sedition and disagreement ought to have respect (Or, “look to.”) to the common hope. For such as live in fear and love would rather that they themselves than their neighbours should be involved in suffering. And they prefer to bear blame themselves, rather than that the concord which has been well and piously (Or, “righteously.”) handed down to us should suffer. For it is better that a man should acknowledge his transgressions than that he should harden his heart, as the hearts of those were hardened who stirred up sedition against Moses the servant of God, and whose condemnation was made manifest [unto all]. For they went down alive into Hades, and death swallowed them up.   (Num. xvi.) Pharaoh with his army and all the princes of Egypt, and the chariots with their riders, were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea, and perished, (Ex. xiv.) for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened, after so many signs and wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by Moses the servant of God."
      "The Lord, brethren, stands in need of nothing; and He desires nothing of any one, except that confession be made to Him. For, says the elect David, “I will confess unto the Lord; and that will please Him more than a young bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Let the poor see it, and be glad.” (Ps. lxix. 31, 32.) And again he saith, “Offer (Or, “sacrifice.”) unto God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of thy trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” (Ps. l. 14, 15.) For “the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.” (Ps. li. 17.)"

     Is your heart hardened? Are you so indoctrinated that you will not listen to anything said other than what comes out from your preachers, or leaders. It is not that they may be speaking heresy, it is that you have a responsibility to ensure the purity of your congregation and yourself. All may be good, but do you know for sure? Gnosticism plagued the truth for many years and by many sects with their special doctrines and this is true for some Churches today. We must prepare to fight this plague. We must, if need be, to consider our faith and if need be: change from the inside/out. Some will not understand, but God will and that is all that is important. Will you examine, will you read what the this early Church father wrote? 

Have respect therefore to the prayer

    of Thy servant, and to his supplication,

O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry

    and the prayer which Thy servant prayeth

before Thee.

                     2Chronicles 6:19

Fear not men: fear God

Richard L. Crumb