Imitation of God's Mercy

Our heavenly perfect one is, and he does not mean that we should strive to become like God when he says we should become merciful like the Father, because it is impossible for us to become like the Father, being creatures and having come from non-being, out of that which does not exist.

Rather, we are to look at the good deeds of our heavenly Father and do good things for his sake, not for human recognition, so that we will receive our reward from him, and not from humans, just as we, being one only-begotten Son by nature and true, become sons by grace of the one who called us.

We are called gods by grace, being humans, and not by nature, and we become merciful like God, not by being equal to him, but by imitating his kindness, for it is not our discovery to do good, but God's, and we are to extend kindness to all people, without discriminating, just as God does.

This is the only way we can become imitators of him, and it is by serving each other from him, as also in all his Epistles, speaking about these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand.

For Christ speaks in him, and you, beloved, knowing beforehand, will guard yourselves, so that you will not be led astray by the error of the lawless and fall from your own steadfastness.

You must turn away from those who come to you in the name of Christ but are actually deceivers, for our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a command for our safety and salvation, warning us to beware of those who come to us in sheep's clothing but inside are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15).

The Lord commands us not to become like a horse and a mule, so that we do not imitate their irrationality, and he says 'Become merciful like the Father', which means we should do good things, looking at his good deeds, and not for human recognition.

By following this command, we will be able to extend kindness to all people, without discriminating, and receive our reward from God, not from humans.

As the apostle Paul says, some things in his Epistles are hard to understand, but it is certain that they are full of wisdom from above, for Christ speaks in him.

Therefore, knowing beforehand, you will guard yourselves, so that you will not be led astray by the error of the lawless and fall from your own steadfastness, and you must turn away from those who come to you in the name of Christ but are actually deceivers.