Therefore the evil attributes we have from hell have to be removed first
before we are able to want good attributes that come from heaven. None
of us can be adopted by the Lord before we have been separated from
the Devil. How our evil actions are removed and how we are brought to
do good things will be shown in two chapters below: the chapter on
repentance [§§ 509 – 570 ]; and the chapter on reformation and regenera-
tion [§§ 571 – 625 ].
[ 3 ] The Lord teaches in Isaiah that our evil actions have to be moved
aside first before the good things we are doing become good before God:
Wash yourselves; purify yourselves. Remove the evil of your actions
from before my eyes. Learn to do what is good. Then, if your sins had
been like scarlet, they will become as white as snow; if they had been
red as crimson, they will be like wool. (Isaiah 1 : 16 , 17 , 18 )The following passage in Jeremiah is similar:
Stand in the entrance to Jehovah’s house and proclaim there this word.
“Thus spoke Jehovah Sabaoth, the God of Israel: ‘Make your ways and
your works good. Do not put your trust in the words of a lie, saying,
“The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah
is here [that is, the church].” When you steal, kill, commit adultery,
and swear falsely, then do you come and stand before me in this house
that carries my name? Do you say, “We were carried away,” when you
are committing all these abominations? Has this house become a den
of thieves? Behold I, even I, have seen it,’ says Jehovah.” (Jeremiah 7 : 2 ,
3 , 4 , 9 , 10 , 11 )
[ 4 ] We are also taught by Isaiah that before we are washed or purified
from evil, our prayers to God are not heard:
Jehovah says, “Woe to a sinful nation, to a people heavy with wicked-
ness. They have moved themselves backward. Therefore when you
spread out your hands, I hide my eyes from you. Even if you increase
your praying, I do not hear it.” (Isaiah 1 : 4 , 15 )
When someone puts the Ten Commandments into action by abstain-
ing from evil, goodwill is the result. This is clear from the Lord’s own
words in John:
Jesus said, “The people who love me are those who have my command-
ments and follow them. Those who love me will be loved by my Father,