And that is just a small part of the mystery of God.
There is so much more.
And it is also in the OT scriptures.
Ezekiel 36 foreshadows the church. God saves us FOR HIS OWN SAKE, according to His purpose and will, not of our wills are we born again and come to believe. God does this to sanctify his Great Name, for the glory of God. The ministry of condemnation was glorious, but the ministry of salvation far exceeds that to the glory of God
2 Corinthians 3
7 But if the ministry of death, written
and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which
glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation
had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away
was glorious, what remains
is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—
And all this is just a part of the mystery of God for the church.
Ezekiel 36
16 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. 18 Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols
with which they had defiled it. 19 So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. 20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These
are the people of the Lord,
and yet they have gone out of His land.’ 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do
this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I
am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do
them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that
were not good; and you will [
e]loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do
this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”
33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable
you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities
are now fortified
and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places
and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken
it, and I will do
it.”
37 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a [
f]flock
offered as holy
sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its [
g]feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I
am the Lord.” ’ ”