‘2nd Clement’ - An exhortation to holiness
In this sermon - which is thought to be the earliest outside the New testament (c. A.D. 100) - the author makes an earnest appeal that his fellow Christians repent and obey the commands of their Saviour. Indeed, he stresses the need for obedience throughout his discourse, prompting them with warnings, such as: ‘Let us, therefore, not just call him Lord, for this will not save us. For he says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will be saved, but only the one who does what is right “‘ (4.1,2).
Again, the writer exhorts: ‘For if we do the will of Christ, we will find rest, but if we do not, if we disobey his commandments, then nothing will save us from eternal punishment. …While we still have time to be healed, let us place ourselves in the hands of God the Physician, and pay him what is due. What is that? Sincere heartfelt repentance. …For the Lord also said, “My brothers are those who do the will of my Father “‘ (6.7; 9.7,8, 11).
He urges: ‘Let us wait, therefore, hour by hour for the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, since we do not know the day of God’s appearing’ (12.1).
The ‘kingdom of God’, according to the writer, is yet to come. However, in the same passage, he provides instruction, as from the Lord, as to how that kingdom might become evident now. ‘Therefore just as your body is visible, so also let your soul be evident in good works. …When you do these things, he says [the Lord], the kingdom of my Father will come.’ According to the writer, the kingdom of God should be visibly evident in our lives - not hidden, but openly seen through our obedience to the will of Christ.
This brings us back to the beginning. If we call Jesus ‘Lord’, it must be in Spirit and in truth. The writer exhorts us to strive as athletes in the contest of God, for we ‘are being trained in this present life in order that we may be crowned in the life to come’ (20.2).
The ‘Lord’s prayer’ comes to mind. It is not one to be uttered by mindless repetition. One should speak it from the heart with intensity of feeling:’Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.’ Our words must reflect our lives - or else they are just empty and devoid of meaning. We must ’seek first the kingdom of God’ (Mat 6:33). This, indeed, should be our earnest desire and prayer - for without God, holiness is impossible. Amen.