by Kevin Cauley at https://churchofchristarticles.com/imitating-forgiveness/ “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The perfect standard for behavior is God Himself and the gospel exhorts all to be perfect as God is perfect. This entails that in whatever ways one may possibly imitate God that he so do. “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1 ASV). We would, therefore, do well to imitate God when it comes to forgiveness. That God places conditions upon forgiveness is necessitated by the fact that God will not forgive some men, though God desires to forgive all (2 Peter 3:9). Peter says explicitly to Simon the Sorcerer, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). Peter’s words are clear: if Simon wants forgivness, he must meet the condition of prayer to God for the same. Some, however, will simply not be fo