Like a chestnut tree

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)

But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to be careful to follow all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. (v. 15)

And the Lord will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way about which I said to you, ‘You will never see it again!’ And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer. (v. 68)

Jesus said to her, “Believe Me, woman, that a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:21-24)

The chapter tells us that blessings from God are promised upon a condition. If blessings are based on a condition, they are not true blessings. Rather, they are curses because we cannot meet the condition. We cannot keep the law perfectly. This does not mean we need someone to meet the condition for us. Many theologians and ministers say that Christ kept the law perfectly to meet the condition. They are wrong. The law requires us to be just like God. Christ fulfilled this requirement of the law by making us one with God. Therefore, the cross of Christ is our salvation and righteousness, not the perfect keeping of the written code. The word ‘fulfill’ is not the same as ‘keep’. Christ did not become a man to keep or abolish the law but to fulfill.

Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

What Christ teaches us in John 4 and many other places in the Bible is that He became a man to be the mediator of the new covenant. The old covenant and the new covenant are different. But they are not different because the old exists for the new. Both covenants are based on God’s self-sacrificing love. The whole Bible teaches us how we become one with God and become like Him through Jesus Christ. However, we must remember that the new covenant is not the extension of the old. The old is bound to the written code and therefore, curses. Jesus Christ crucified the curse of the old covenant.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” (Galatians 3:13)

Sadly, I see many people wanting to go back to the old covenant. Starting from theologians and ministers, they all go back to Egypt. But this is also God’s doing because He saves only the elect people. We, the elect people of God, understand the difference between the old and the new covenant.

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wants new; for he says, ‘The old is fine.’ (Luke 5:37-39)

Adam and Eve were slaves and not children of God as we are now. Even though we sin, we are not cast out like Adam and Eve were from the garden of Eden. God teaches and leads us. We are children of God through Jesus Christ. He bought us with the price of His own blood. He changed our status from slaves to children of God. He is the head of the new creation. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. We are one with God.

These things I have spoken to you in figures of speech; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. On that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. (John 16:25-28)

For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

If anyone boasts that he or she is a child of God and pursues immorality, we know that the end of the person will be worse than unbelievers on the last day. Immorality is connected to spiritual idolatry. If one commits adultery, he or she commits other sins because they all are from the evil heart. God sometimes lets us sin and taste the bitterness of our sinfulness as in the case of king David. From his case, we learn that there are consequences of our sins. God disciplines His children. Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom.

FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS. (Hebrews 12:6)

Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed someone, has the power to throw that person into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5)

When you cross the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. For the curse, these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. (vv. 12-13)

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. (Galatians 2:21)

Under the old covenant, there are two types of people: those who keep the law and gain righteousness and the rest who fail to keep the law and are cursed. Throughout the history of humans, God has been teaching us that no one is righteous under the law. We all are under the eternal curse. We all stand before Mount Ebal.

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)

Because of the old covenant, we understand that we are in a helpless situation. If we rely on righteousness that comes from keeping the law, there is no hope. The old covenant makes us rely on God’s mercy. And this mercy was given through the cross of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25)

Theologians and ministers add to this glorious blessing of God’s grace and say that Christ kept the law perfectly so that we could be righteous under the law. Therefore, they proclaim that we need the law apart from the cross of Christ. Christ is righteous not because He kept the law as a human. He is God. He is righteous from eternity. He became a human so that His church would be one with Him. We now are the children of God because of adoption through the blood of Christ.

… 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 8:17)

There is one common experience shared by all true Christians. That is suffering. Christ suffered under the authority of false believers and pagan worshipers. We also suffer because of who we are – the children of God. We speak truth. But false believers hate truth.

When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are only the beginning of birth pains. “But be on your guard; for they will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. (Mark 13:7-10)

Gospel means good news. But churches around the world are not preaching good news. They deny Sola Gratia. They got rid of God’s grace within their churches. While saying grace, they promote rebellion and adultery. Thus, their own words and actions prove that they hate God’s law. The essence of the law is love. However, they misuse the word and commit horrendous crimes in the name of love. God knows everyone’s heart. Those who are not under grace and deny Sola Gratia cannot escape God’s wrath.

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

Today you have declared the Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments, and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. And the Lord has today declared you to be His people, His personal possession, just as He promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments; and that He will put you high above all the nations which He has made, for glory, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken. (vv. 17-19)

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12)

Christians are easily deceived by others’ words and deeds. We humans do not see people as God sees them. We judge everything by what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. We rely on the sensory functions of our body when making judgments. The devil uses our weakness to entice us. Evil people are very kind and humorous. They look happy and generous. But they deny the sound doctrines. They deny Sola Gratia. They try to nullify the power of the cross of Christ. They put much emphasis on the law but hate the law. They lead others astray. We saints were no different from them until the Holy Spirit came.

When we focus on morality, there is no one is perfectly moral. When we focus on the written code, there is no one righteous under the law of God. The saints are declared righteous because they are under the grace of God. That does not mean we ignore the law. The essence of the law is self-sacrificing love. Therefore, we read about God’s love when we study the law. The law and Christ are inseparable. Christ is the second person of the Trinity. He is God. He is the law. He is love.

In many churches, the meaning of this love is often misinterpreted and misunderstood. Evil people use love to cover up their sins and protect those who hate God. They do not fear God. Christ cursed these people in Matthew 23:13-36.

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)

People often make a mistake in interpreting the covenants as if our relationship with God depends on a condition. Whether the condition is the law or faith, we cannot meet the condition. Faith is the result of a person reborn through Christ and the Holy Spirit. We cannot initiate faith. The grace of God humbles us.

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)

“When brothers live together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband’s brother shall have relations with her and take her to himself as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. It shall then be that the firstborn to whom she gives birth shall assume the name of his father’s deceased brother, so that his name will not be wiped out from Israel. (vv. 5-6)

On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife, and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us; and the first married and died, and having no children, he left his wife to his brother. It was the same also with the second brother, and the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her in marriage.” But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, since you do not understand the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:29-32)

I said a few times that the law should not be interpreted literally. But that does not mean that God would accept any form of adultery or theft. The Ten Commandments are for us to know our depraved heart. When the Holy Spirit comes and makes us understand God’s words, a Christian conscience is formed in us, which is different from the conscience of unbelievers. We now know and have the mind of Christ. Although we do make mistakes and sin, we do not dwell in sins because God rebukes and guides them. God also prevents us from sinning.

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:14-16)

On the outside, many unbelievers may appear more moral than Christians. But God looks at the heart of each person. For this reason, one must not judge others from a moral point of view. Christians must pursue a moral life but morality is not what defines Christianity. That is why it is important not to interpret the law literally. Focusing on the law instead of the cross of Christ leads us back to slavery. However, that is what the Reformers chose in the 17th century. They chose law and slavery over grace and freedom. In the center of this act of treachery, there are the Covenant Theology and the Active Obedience of Christ.

Anyone with the Holy Spirit is considered a child of God. Jesus Christ made us become the children of God by giving Himself up for us. Anyone who denies the grace of God shown on the cross of Christ is not a Christian. Theologians and ministers admit this but they always try to add the law to this grace. That is what the devil does. He twists God’s words.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

There is not much a saint can do except say that we are saved through the cross of Christ by the grace of God. And that is exactly what Apostle Paul has been telling us. Christ is the only sacrifice that God accepts because of the plan that He has made before creation. Theologians and ministers try to tie Christ with the law so that the law becomes more powerful than Christ Himself. It is only fitting that children of God listen to His words. That does not mean that keeping the law makes us righteous. With the Active Obedience of Christ, the Protestant churches teach others that the law makes us righteous. We read and understand from the Bible that the law was given to people on the earth for education. God is not bound by His law because it was made for people.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, RATHER THAN SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:1-8)

Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)

When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, that he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the latter husband turns against her, writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand, and sends her away from his house, or if the latter husband who took her to be his wife dies, then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (vv. 1-4)

God says, “If a husband divorces his wife and she leaves him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her again? Would that land not be completely defiled? But you are a prostitute with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 3:1)

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet is committing adultery, as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.” So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley. Then I said to her, “You shall live with me for many days. You shall not play the prostitute, nor shall you have another man; so I will also be toward you.” (Hosea 3:1-3)

We all know the story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer in the Book of Hosea. According to the law, Hosea was forbidden to bring back his wife. But that was what God instructed Hosea to do. That does not mean that God promotes sinning. Many people interpret the law literally and misunderstand the true meaning of the law. The law is about love for God and His people. Only God can love. God is love. And this love is self-sacrificing love, which Jesus Christ showed on the cross.

The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)

The history of Israel nation teaches us about our sinful nature and stupidity. And we learn about God’s mercy, love, and faithfulness through their history. If we interpret the law as the way to salvation, we have no understanding of the law. God is above the law and He is not judged by His own law. The law was given to people to reveal our sins. Keeping the law is not the way to salvation but a result of salvation.

Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. (Galatians 3:19)

I have been to many different churches. And I see that theologians and ministers use the law as leverage to slavery. They incur guilt in people using the law. They are not interested in keeping the law. Instead, they want to make people their slaves. They insist that the law is the way to salvation (or righteousness). They say that Christ also had to keep the law perfectly. Thus, they preach salvation by works. This is why the Active Obedience of Christ must be removed. While they appear to promote keeping the law, their churches tolerate and even promote lawlessness. They accept adultery and say that they must forgive. And they promote others and themselves keep sinning, which I have witnessed in the Reformed church I went to. It is lawful that God is against those evildoers. They appear to love the law but in fact, they despise and hate the law of God. About these evildoers, the Psalms mention frequently about their end. That is why they hate singing the Psalms. The pandemic is the white horse.

The law is holy but is useful only to those living on the earth because it reveals one’s sins. However, there is the law of love and freedom that continues for eternity. Only one with the Holy Spirit can love because only God can truly love. The Bible is not a book about history. All words are for our education to stand firm till the Lord comes back. Only those who have received the Holy Spirit will endure.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:18-19)

No one who is emasculated or has his male organ cut off may enter the assembly of the Lord. (v.1)

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will certainly separate me from His people.” Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, And hold firmly to My covenant, to them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be eliminated. (Isaiah 56:3-5)

It appears to me that theologians separate righteousness from works from the righteousness of God. So they teach people that Christ had to do works to gain righteousness. But this is a serious error. Truth is that there is no such thing as righteousness that comes from works. Righteousness is about doing God’s will. That does not mean righteousness comes from works. It is because only God is righteous and so are those who are one with God. We do righteous deeds according to God’s will because of the Holy Spirit in us.

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:15)

I have mentioned that the person of Christ comes before the works of Christ. And we cannot understand Christ without understanding the Holy Spirit. Theologians and ministers think that the Holy Spirit is working if we experience some emotions. They often focus on what happened in Acts 2.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place and suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. (Acts 2:1-4)

Christians describe the work of the Holy Spirit as joy that makes them sing, cry, and/or dance. Because of this misunderstanding, churches use music to stimulate emotions. But we must remember that music and singing were also used in idolatry.

Now when Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.” But he said, “It is not the sound of the cry of victory, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But I hear the sound of singing.” (Exodus 32:17-18)

The Holy Spirit makes us understand God’s will shown in His words, which makes the saints joyful. We are given the heart to sing and praise God. Certain emotions are not the proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit. My understanding of the Holy Spirit is that He is a teacher. He lets me do what I want but rebukes and guides me when I live according to flesh. He makes me do things that God wants. Therefore, all good works are not from me but from God.

… the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. (John 14:26)

You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the road, and avoid them; you shall certainly help him raise them up. (v. 4)

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, ISRAEL! THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ The second is this: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (Galatians 5:14)

This chapter talks about various laws. Whenever we read the laws in the OT, we must remember what God has done through Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God is about doing His will. It is about being one with God because only God is righteous. Without understanding God and knowing His will, there is no righteousness. Because of this, only the Son of God could solve the issue of our sins. This was planned before creation.

Christians around the world often misinterpret and misunderstand the meaning of true love. What God wants us to do is to love those who love Him. We do not know who are true Christians. Christians often think their church friends are their neighbors but it appears that churches around the world are full of false Christians who hate God’s words and teachings. Immoralities such as adultery are accepted and forgiven in churches around the world. Churches are proud of their immoral deeds. Ministers are happy as long as people offer money.

For you yourself hate discipline, and you throw My words behind you. When you see a thief, you become friends with him, and you associate with adulterers. (Psalm 50:17-18)

So who are our neighbors? The answer is written in Luke 10:30-37.

Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he encountered robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by coincidence a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed compassion to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:30-37)

When we read this, we must be careful not to interpret the passage that our neighbors are those who do good in the sight of the world. There are many non-Christians who do good work to other people. I am not belittling their kindness to others. But we need to understand that God’s love is the law and above the law. It is not about dos and don’ts. It is about the heart of flesh given by God. In other words, everyone in whom the Holy Spirit dwells loves God and His people naturally. If we rebel against God, God rebukes us and shows us the right way.

… and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM; FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)

We do not know who are our neighbors. We do what is right according to God’s words. We pray every day that God leads us to do the right things. If your church tolerates adultery or other immoral deeds, rebuke the leaders. Rebuke comes from true love. If they do not listen to you, leave your church and take the dust off your feet. If they do one thing wrong, it is likely that they do not follow sound doctrines.

And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city. (Matthew 10:14-15)

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, because the Lord your God has chosen them to serve Him and to bless in the name of the Lord; and every dispute and violent crime shall be settled by them. (v. 5)

Now if a person has committed a sin carrying a sentence of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body is not to be left overnight on the tree, but you shall certainly bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is cursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (vv. 22-23)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— (Galatians 3:13)

It is easy to think that the law is about dos and don’ts. But in fact, it is about love, the kingdom of God, and Jesus Christ. Theologians and ministers teach people that they will get punished if they do not keep the law. They like the Active Obedience of Christ because they get the assurance that their sins will not lead them to death. The theory lacks logic and leads to both legalism and antinomianism. But they still hold onto it. With this theory, the devil has the foothold to attack the cross of Christ.

In this chapter, we see a pattern that can be found throughout the laws concerning sacrifices. That is only death of a sacrifice washes the guilt of people.

… the elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with running water, which has not been plowed or sown, and they shall break the heifer’s neck there in the valley. (v. 4)

Christ was our perfect sacrifice to God. He was put to death bearing the sins of His people. He was hung on the cross and cursed by God. There is no doubt that Christ was blameless and holy. However, he did not obtain holiness by perfect keeping of the law as many theologians claim. We must not forget that Christ existed before creation. His beginning was not like ours. He is from eternity, which we cannot fathom with our earthly wisdom. Many theologians explain that Christ is not like the Father because he became a man. But we must remember that our salvation resulted from God dying for His own people. I am not trying to start an argument about whether Christ died as a man or as God.

People have been trying to explain God using human wisdom. This ended up separating Christ’s two natures when theologians interpreted the cross of Christ. The Reformed theology explains that Christ died as a man. But the truth is that He died as God-man. We must see Christ just as He is as written throughout the Bible. We are one with God because we have become man-God through adoption. Jesus Christ was given the task of saving His people so that the Father could give everything under His feet. Therefore, we eagerly wait for the kingdom of God.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. (1 John 3:2)

Instead, you shall utterly destroy them, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Canaanite and the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that they will not teach you to do all the same detestable practices of theirs which they have done for their gods, by which you would sin against the Lord your God. (vv.17-18)

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great.” (Revelation 19:17-18)

This chapter talks about the laws of warfare. We must remember that Israel’s fighting against people in Canaan is not just a historical event. It is about God fighting all idolaters.

He shall say to them, ‘Hear, Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or be terrified by them, for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’ (vv. 3-4)

Israel’s entering the Canaan land through Jericho explains that what God has planned and finished concerning our salvation cannot be undone. Anyone who tries to undo what God has done on the cross will be condemned eternally.

Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he will set up its gates.” (Joshua 6:26)

Just as our salvation is completed and cannot be undone, God will surely fulfill all His promises written in the Bible. There is no salvation for the evil people who are not under the grace of God. It is somewhat sad but it is true. There are things that we do not fully understand. But we must remember that we are all strangers on the earth being trained by God. We cannot do anything on our own will and effort. Only God helps and protects us.

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)