Yet to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. (v. 4)

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. (John 16:7-11)

The most important part of our salvation is our adoption as children of God. The law and the Israel’s history are tools for us to understand our adoption. The law does not make anyone righteous. Christ did not become a man to keep the law perfectly but to give us a new heart, which is the Holy Spirit.

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)

Before the foundation of the world, God planned to make His children from dust. Christ is obedient and faithful as the only begotten Son of God. Through Christ, we became God’s children and co-heirs with Christ. And we become obedient and faithful just as Christ through the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:16-17)

Thus, obedience is not a condition to become God’s child but the result of the adoption. Just as Christ was begotten out of the Father’s love, we have become God’s children out of His love. Likewise, work does not make us righteous, but faith that is given by God as a gift.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God’s love was manifested in Christ’s death and resurrection. That is why all the apostles emphasized the blood of Christ shed on the cross. The false doctrines that focus on the law as the way to righteousness kill people. False ministers and theologians may appear to keep the law but God knows their hearts.

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were ridiculing Him. And He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of people, but God knows your hearts; because that which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God. (Luke 16:14-15)

The law is important in our daily lives because we are still tempted and challenged every day. It is a guide just as all God’s words to live a life that God wants. But the law is not the way to gain righteousness. Therefore, God’s law is useful only to those who are truly reborn because it requires the Holy Spirit to interpret it and make us obedient to God’s words. A mere moral life that is shown externally does not mean anything to God. It does not save a person. Many non-Christians appear to live a moral life and are praised by others. We judge others by what we see and hear. But God knows who are His children.

The pandemic started all the other disasters in the world. It is the first seal. Churches around the world will face the consequences of forsaking the gospel of God.

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 peter 4:17)