Moreover you shall say unto them, Thus says the LORD; Shall they fall, and not rise? shall he turn away, and not return?
Read Chapter 8
Basil the Great
AD 379
Have the strength to rise up from the earth. Remember the good Shepherd and how he will pursue and deliver you. And if there are but “two legs or the tip of an ear,” leap back from him who has wounded you. Remember the compassion of God, how he heals with olive oil and wine. Do not despair of salvation. Recall the memory of what has been written: how he who falls rises again, and he who is turned away turns again. He who has been smitten is healed, and he who is caught by wild beasts escapes. He who confesses is not rejected. The Lord does not wish the death of the sinner but that he return and live. Do not have contempt for yourself, like one who has fallen into the depths of sin. - "Letter 44"
It is worth our while observing, in what way his sin was forgiven, and how he put away his fault. The event may prove of no slight benefit to us. He did not then defer his repentance. Nor was he careless about it, for as rapid as was his decent into sin, so quick were his tears because of it. Nor did he merely weep, but he wept bitterly. As one who had fallen, so bravely did he spring up again. He knew that the merciful God somewhere says by one of the prophets, “Shall not he that falls arise? And he that backslides, shall he not return?” In returning, therefore, he did not miss the mark, for he continued to be what he had been before, a true disciple. - "Commentary on Luke, Homily 149"
Pray without ceasing on behalf of other people. There is always hope for the repentance that they may attain before God. For “cannot he who falls arise again, and he who goes astray return?” Permit them, then, to be instructed by you. Be therefore the ministers of God and the mouth of Christ. For thus says the Lord, “If you take forth the precious from the vile, you shall be as my mouth.” Be humble in your earnest prayers. While they go astray, stand steadfast in the faith. - "To the Ephesians 10"
Is it not strange that others do not even now despair of your salvation? They instead are continually praying that they may have their member restored to them. However, while they pray, you yourself, having once fallen, are unwilling to get up again and remain prostrated. You all but cry aloud to the enemy: “Slay me, smite me, spare not.” “Does he who falls not rise up again?” so speaks the divine oracle. But you strive against this and contradict it. If one who has fallen despairs, it is as much as to say that he who falls does not rise up again. I entreat you. Do not do so great a wrong to yourself. Do not pour on us such a flood of sorrow. I do not say this merely at the present time when you have not yet completed your twentieth year. But I would entreat you, even if after achieving many things and spending your whole life in Christ, you had experienced this attack. Even then, in extreme old age, it would not have been right to despair. But call to mind the robber who was justified...
The very thing I said in the beginning, I say now, that both of these cause us to betray our salvation: placing our courage in our goodness and losing our hope to wickedness. This is why Paul, to protect those who remain in goodness, said, “Let any one who thinks that he stand take heed in fear that he fall.” And again: “I am afraid that, after preaching to others, I myself should be disapproved.” In order to lift up those who are found fallen in wickedness and to excite them to greater readiness, he bore testimony to the Corinthians. He wrote to them, “I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned before and have not repented.” In this way, he revealed that the sinners do not deserve equal pity with the unrepentant. And the prophet said to them, “Shall not he that falls arise, or he that turns away, shall he not turn back again?” Hence, as long as the “today” is said let us not despair but have good hope in the Master. Let us recognize the vast sea of his philanthropy. - "Homilies...
God is indeed good to everyone, but he shows his patient endurance especially to those who sin. If you want to hear a paradoxical statement—paradoxical because it is not customary but true for the great piety it reveals—listen. God always seems to be severe to the righteous. But he seems good to sinners and quick to clemency. He restores the one who sinned and fell, and he tells him, “Shall not he who falls get up? Or the one who turns away, shall he not turn back again?” And “Why did the stupid daughter of Judah turn away with a shameless revolting?” And again, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” - "Homilies on Repentance and Almsgiving 7.2.5"
Immediately, on your return, the robe shall be put on you. The ring will adorn you. Your Father’s embrace again shall receive you. Behold, he says, “I do not wish the death of the sinner as much as I prefer that he turn about and live.” And again he says, “Shall he who has fallen not arise, and shall he who has turned away not return?” The apostle states, “God has the power to make him stand.” - "On Penitents 12.2"
Did not confession deliver the king of the Babylonians when he had been condemned after so many sins of idolatry? And what is it that the Lord says? “Shall he who has fallen not arise, and shall he who has turned away not return?” - "Letter 1.5.3"
