The Trinity's Equality and Divine Drawing

In this way, it is also said to the same prophet from the Lord's person: 'Who is the one judging me? Let him stand against me; and who is the one judging me? Let him draw near to me' (cf. Isaiah/Malachi allusion); instead of: if anyone has the right to speak, strengthened by works, let him be brought forward to me willing to do this and let him approach the words.

28.16 But some read it thus: 'Who is the one judging me? Against'—this is to say, both facing and from a distance—'let him stand to me' as one lacking sufficient resourceseses and for this reason being compared to me and to test the purest step as unworthy. 28.17 For to those worthy, if they should happen to be of the good, there is no envy; for they are prepared.

29. On the matter of the Son of God being the 'judge of living and dead' providing forgiveness of sins, and that 'in no other is salvation'. 29.1 For He himself is 'the judge of living and dead', that is, of the righteous and the sinners, the one providing forgiveness of sins to those believing in his name and saving us by his own glory and gift.

29.2 And 'in no other is salvation', since his nature is propitiatory and savior, in no way inferior to the propitiating and saving God and Father, as the other scriptures exhort and indeed Micah says: 'Who is a god like you, who removes iniquity and overcomes iniquities?' (Micah 7:18).

29.3 And Peter in the Acts says thus: 'And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify, that he is the one appointed by God as judge of living and dead. By this all the prophets testify, that everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name' (Acts 10:42).

29.4 We have him then spoken of favorably, appointed by God because of his saving incarnation, in which he came 'to seek and to save the lost' (Luke 19:10). Through which also it is written, 'for the Father does not judge anyone, but has given all judgment to the Son' (John 5:22); 29.5 but as a judge having been removed from the created things.

29.6 For the creation does not judge, but is subject to law and judgment. 29.7 And again: 'This is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, and has become the head of the corner. And in no other is salvation' (Psalm 118:22).

29.8 But also the second letter sends universally, having this among other things about him: 'how all things of his divine power are toward life and piety...'

Since a special glory and virtue have been granted through the knowledge of Him who called us, through which the greatest and most precious gospels have been granted to us, so that through them we might become partakers of the divine nature. Therefore also James, in general terms, said: 'One is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy' (James 1:17).

What, then, is the need for a multitude of scriptures for this? And the Samaritans, according to John the accurate divine seer, being men of good discernment, who did not reject the voices: 'For we ourselves have heard and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world, the Christ' (John 4:42), who says, he says, gently: 'Be of good courage, child, your sins are forgiven you' (Luke 7:50).

Concerning the revealing of the Son by the Father through the equality of the Trinity and drawing us to Him, and again the Son and the Holy Spirit presenting us to the Father. In the same way also concerning the confession of Peter, and that it is repentance.

For so that it might be demonstrated through all things the equality of the blessed Trinity regarding all things, the Father reveals to us His own Son and draws us through Himself to Him and admits us into His kingdom; and again the Son and the Holy Spirit present us to God and Father. For God would not have transferred us into a different substance or a greater, nor into subordinates like His own scepter.

Therefore the new covenant has fulfilled the old through the faith into the Son and the divine Spirit. And thus the God the Father says in Isaiah to the Son: 'Behold, those who come near shall come to you through me, and they shall reside with you, and upon you they shall take refuge' (Isaiah 60:3); and the Son in John: 'No one is able to come to me, unless the Father who is in heaven draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day' (John 6:44).

And again, regarding Peter saying, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' (John 11:27), he said: 'Blessed are you, Peter, son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in the heavens. And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the heavens, and whatever you shall bind upon the earth shall be bound in the heavens, and whatever you shall loose upon the earth shall be loosed in the heavens' (Matthew 16:17-19).