THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The legacy of those who have chosen to love the Almighty God, the sovereign of all, is truly remarkable. They are destined to inherit blessings that surpass human comprehension. The esteemed prophet Isaiah assures us of this, stating, ‘This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord’ (Isaiah 54:17). Furthermore, he proclaims, ‘Thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and I will bring thee up to the heights of the earth, and will give thee to eat of the inheritance of Jacob thy father: the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it’ (Isaiah 58:14). The promise is reliable and steadfast in every way; the words of God are unwavering in truth and cannot lie. He will certainly fulfill all that He has vowed.
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Acknowledging this truth, the inspired Psalmist declares, ‘The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. Thou holdest my lot’ (Psalm 15:5).
But who are those that serve ‘the Lord,’ and to whom shall such a glorious and esteemed inheritance be granted? They are those who earnestly seek to please God, who diligently pursue all that is commendable, who are steadfast in battling all adversaries, relying not on their own strength or skill, but wielding the divine grace bestowed upon them, with the Lord of all as their guide and protector. Thus, they affirm, ‘For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me; but You will save us from our enemies, and put to shame those who hate us’ (Ps. 43:7-8).
Nonetheless, the ‘remnant’ is saved through Christ (Rom. 11:5, Rom. 9:27). An illustrative example is Caleb, son of Jephthah, alongside Jesus, who motivated the children of Israel, asserting the land was beautiful and ripe for inheritance, boldly declaring their victory over the nations that dwelled there. Yet they nearly faced destruction, as it is written, ‘And the whole company said,’ it is said, ‘stoned them!’ (Num. 14:10). Nevertheless, they are indeed the designated heirs of God. Caleb's name signifies ‘whole heart,’ while Jephthah translates to ‘conversion.’ Therefore, those who possess a complete heart aligned with God are the sons of conversion, and they stand alongside Jesus. They also embody those who believed through the apostles' preaching, who can be viewed as a form of seed, calling forth Israel. In them, the ‘remnant’ is also present.
In their effort to reach out to the Jews, the Apostles faced perilous trials, yet they became heirs of the holy land. The sons of conversion—those who have shifted from the mandates of the law to embrace faith and grace—are perfectly at peace in God, a truth made evident by Paul, who considered as mere ‘rubbish’ the aspects of a lawless life, ‘reckoning’ them ‘to be nothing for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,’ seeking only Him and justification through Him (Phil. 3:8-9).
It is clear that Israel may lose the promise but will not be wholly lost; rather, it shall be saved in part, which I believe refers to the ‘remnant.’ This is evident when one observes Caleb entering the promised land, associated with ‘The One who saves,’ indicating a divine connection. This interpretation aligns with the meaning of the name Jesus.