Therefore, it is neither the oppressed, nor the haughty, nor the arrogant who will share in this inheritance, but those who seek peace and possess humility of heart. Such a person does not pride himself on personal achievements; he perceives all as expressions of the Lord's grace, refrains from boasting about his own strength, and trusts in the protection of God’s mighty hand. He proclaims: The right hand of the Lord has done valiantly; the right hand of the Lord lifts me up (Psalm 117:16). This individual recognizes that it is also Almighty God who has saved him with His sword and illuminated his path with His presence. For all such individuals, Christ serves as the advocate, the right hand, the protector, and the sword. This is why Simeon told Mary, ‘A sword will pierce through your own soul’ (Luke 2:35), for the sword symbolizes the word of God, sharper than any blade: it penetrates to the innermost parts of a soul, discerning thoughts and intentions, leaving no secret undisclosed. Christ also embodies the light of the Father's glory, thus He says, He who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9), meaning he witnesses the radiance of His glory and the essence of His being (Heb. 1:3). Therefore, it is appropriate to relate everything in our lives to Christ. Our forebears—Moses, Aaron, and the patriarchs—entrusted their endeavors to Him when seeking victory over their foes. And when Joshua called for the sun to stand still over Gibeon, he did not rely on his own strength (Joshua 10:12); rather, he placed his full confidence in Christ, acknowledging Him as the Commander of the heavenly army, and honoring Him in humility. Joshua was chosen to purge the land of wayward nations and lead our ancestors into the Promised Land precisely because he did not trust in his own abilities; he understood that human efforts could not merit the immense reward of heavenly glory. The Lord intended to bestow this blessing upon those who believe in Him, driven more by His mercy than by our own merits. Similarly, Abraham immediately believed God and was granted righteousness as a gift, not as payment for his actions, for the generosity of the giver exceeds the wages of the laborer. This explains why the Lord replied to the man who complained about equal pay for all: If I am good, why is your eye envious? (Matthew 20:15). Our forefathers, the heirs of the patriarchs, did not consider their own worthiness as the reason for their acquisition of land in the Promised Land. It was not Moses who led them there, nor was it the law, but rather the grace of God that achieved this; the law judges a man's worth, while grace recognizes his faith. Thus, the apostle, following the faith of the forebears, rightly stated, But he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor (1 Cor. 3:7). Hence, the true glory belongs not primarily to Joshua, who guided them into the Promised Land, but to God, who nourished His people. We need not be troubled by the earlier assertion, Your hand destroyed the nations, but You planted them (Psalm 43:3), for it demonstrates that not every planter nourishes, but he who has the power to nurture also has the ability to plant, as the Lord is stated to have done. He planted them and caused His plantings to flourish. This holds true for those who have found favor with the Lord through faith in Christ. To Him alone does God the Father declare, ‘You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased’ (Mark 1:11). Thus, whoever participates in Christ receives the grace of this divine favor from Him. As declared in our psalm: Thou hast shown favor to them (Psalms 43:4), the proper distinction remains intact. For it is correct to affirm ‘the favor of God through the Son,’ for He is coequal with the Father, without bias, and this favor springs from the rights inherent in divine nature and the unity of essence. We appropriately acknowledge that the Father's favor is present in Him, as the Father is esteemed in the Son and likewise the Son in the Father. It is also stated concerning mankind that God delights in us, for He has graciously allowed us to obtain His favor. Scripture reveals that humanity did not lay claim to it presumptuously; rather, uniquely among all of God’s creations, we were granted this privilege by His grace. Certainly, God favors those made in His likeness and desires to grant them a unique share in His heavenly grace through His image. Thus, His favor resides within His image, and God favors those created in His likeness. In them lies His abundant gift, which will be revealed upon the arrival of perfection, because, as it is written, when we see Him as He is, we shall be like Him.
THEOSIS