Follow My Example

This is why I say to you: Be sober! Be not deceived! Several times I have also said to all of you together, and to you alone as well, James, I have said: ‘Be saved!’ I have also commanded you to follow me, and I have instructed you what to say in front of the rulers. See how I have descended, and have spoken, and have gone through tribulation, and have borne away my crown, after saving all of you, because I descended to dwell with all of you, so that you could in turn dwell with me, and finding your houses unroofed, I have set up my dwelling-place in the houses that were able to receive me at the time of my descent. So put your trust in me, my brothers. Know what the great light is. The Father has no need of me, because a father does not need a son. The son, however, needs the father. I am going to him, because the Father of the Son has no need of you. Listen to the word! Understand knowledge! Love life, and no one will persecute you, nor will anyone distress you except you yourselves. O you wretches! O you unfortunate ones! O you fakers of the truth! O you counterfeiters of knowledge! O you sinners against the Spirit! Can you still dare to listen when you should have spoken from the beginning? Can you still dare to sleep when you should have been awake from the beginning, so that the kingdom of Heaven could accept you? Truly I say to you, it is easier for someone who is pure to fall into defilement, and for a man of light to fall into darkness,⁠a than it is for you to rule or not to rule. I have recalled your tears, and your weeping, and your sorrow. They are far behind us. You, however, who are outside of the Father’s inheritance, weep now when it is needed, and mourn. Furthermore, proclaim what is good. The Son ascends as is right. Truly I say I to you, if I had been sent to those who listen to me, and if I had spoken with them, I would never ascend from the earth. Be ashamed, therefore, over these things. Behold, I shall leave you and go away. Nor do I desire I to stay with you any longer, just like you yourselves have not desired such. So now, follow me quickly. For this reason I say to you that I descended on your account. You are the beloved. You are the ones who will be the author of life in many. Invoke the Father, beg God frequently, and he will give to you. Blessed is he who has seen you with him when he was proclaimed among the angels, and glorified among the holy ones. To all of you belongs life. Rejoice and be glad as sons of God. Keep [the] will (of God), so that you will be kept. Accept my rebuke, and save yourselves. I will intercede for you with the Father, and he will abundantly forgive you.”