All are flawed except the perfect in Christ

I risk asserting that all people are flawed except the perfect, should any perfect person be found. Those who endure the Lord will inherit the earth. Having grown accustomed to resisting evil through reverence for divine correction and being sustained by God’s gifts, we live in harmony. Thus, the psalmist reveals the ruin of the wicked and declares that those who endure the Lord—namely, those who attain a good life through patience and perseverance—will inherit the earth. This earth is not the cursed portion where laborers eat in sorrow all their days, but the realm prepared for the holy. Their inheritance is the holy, exalted city, whose giver is God. Just as the Savior embodies wisdom, word, peace, and righteousness, so too does endurance. As it is written: 'And now, what is my hope? Is it not the Lord?' From Him we draw and receive all things affirmed in Scripture concerning Christ. For by sharing in Him we become righteous and wise and dwell in peace; likewise, by sharing in Him we endure. Therefore, let the one who endures remain calm and receive God without being shaken by present circumstances. The meek shall inherit the earth. Those who follow Valentinus and others who claim the Savior spoke things not found in the ancient Scriptures should be refuted by hearing that the meek are blessed, for they shall inherit the earth. This was also declared earlier through David by the same Spirit. Moreover, David more succinctly opposes the ways of the lawless.

The rewards of the holy are subjected to punishments. Through these, he leads them into an impulse of spiritual manliness, by which one would complete every way of virtue. He then says: The gentle will inherit the land, namely the higher land. For if Jerusalem and Mount Zion are in heaven according to Paul, it follows that land should also be understood, which those who have conquered destructive passion—the anger that also destroys prudent people—will inherit. Indeed, acting according to virtue engages them. Moreover, according to measure, they are opposites: gentleness and anger. Where there is anger, there is no gentleness; and where there is gentleness, there is no anger. Verse 12: The sinner watches the just and gnashes his teeth against him. Verse 13: The Lord laughs at him, because he sees beforehand that his day will come. From this we learn that, just as darkness and light naturally exist as opposites, so the sinner exists in relation to the just. Therefore, if you see the just being hated at that time, do not hesitate to speak about the one hating him, for that person is a sinner. For those who focus on earthly things and let their minds be occupied by the turmoil of present life always pay attention to those living a blessed and irreproachable life, and they regard the lover of justice as an enemy. Verse 14: The sinners drew their swords and bent their bows to cast down the poor and needy and to slay the upright by striking them in the heart. Just as there is divine armor, so too there is demonic armor, which the devil’s soldier puts on: the breastplate of injustice, the helmet of destruction, the shield of unbelief, and the sword of the evil spirit, which draws out the sinner whose feet run toward injustice. There is some readiness of the

The gospel provides a readily available instrument for sinning. Those who embrace sin draw their weapons, for they are equipped and eager to act. They conceal the sword of the evil spirit within the embrace of sin itself.

Christ is the weapon of the righteous, chosen and appointed. The speech of sinners functions as a weapon, carrying the poison of sin and wounding those lacking the shield of faith. They recognize their inability to overcome someone rich in wisdom and good deeds, so they refrain from attacking such a person. Instead, their entire scheme targets the poor, since a person's wealth serves as their own protection, while the poor lack the means to resist threats.

It is preferable not to possess the sword of sin; but if one does have it, they should not draw it, but rather let it remain inactive. When idle, it does not merely fade or lose its edge—it is entirely destroyed. There is no need for fire to test each person's work, as Peter's work is not touched by flame, though he hears of it; even if he passes through fire, the flame will not consume him. However, the lake of fire does touch sinners, like the Red Sea overwhelmed the Egyptians, though not the Hebrews. Just as...