Clement of Alexandria (d. ca 215AD), writing in the late Second Century offers us an understanding of what should motivate a true Christian’s behavior:
“Likewise, some believers exercise self-restraint only because of the promise of reward or out of the fear of God. Of course, this kind of self-restraint is a start. It’s the basis of knowledge, and it’s the first step towards something better. It’s an effort after perfection. For it is said that ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. (Prov. 1:7) But the perfect man ‘bears all things’ and ‘endures all things’ out of love. (1 Cor. 13:7) He does it ‘not to please man, but God.’ (1 Thess. 2:4) Although praise may follow him as a result, he does not do things to receive praise. He does them for the benefit of those who do the praising. He also does them to set an example for others. To put it another way, the person who merely controls his wrong desires is not truly a moderate man. The true man of moderation is one who has also mastered good attributes. He has acquired the great things that come from knowledge. He produces godly qualities as the fruit of this knowledge.” (The One Who Knows God, pg. 59)
Fraternized 