In Deuteronomy 29, Moses reinstitutes the Covenant between God and the Israelites. He begins by reminding the people of the extraordinary care God gave them while they were in the wilderness (vs 2-9). For 40 years their clothes nor their shoes ever wore out. Food and drink were also difficult to come by in the wilderness, and Moses says they, in fact, didn't eat bread. They literally ate manna from Heaven and drank water provided by God.
After extolling the care of the Lord, Moses tells the people that he had called them together that day so that he could renew the covenant between them and God: "So that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God is making with you today, that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." (Deut. 29:12-13, emphasis mine). Like a married couple who might want to renew their vows after going through a tough stretch, God is wanting to renew His covenant with the people and re-establish the relationship they were to have. They were to be His, and He was to be theirs.
This close relationship offered blessings beyond belief, enumerated in chapter 27, and was to be a source of national pride. Moses offers a quick warning, however. "Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike." (vs 18b-19) The covenant has been renewed. The Israelites are God's chosen people. That national relationship will not, however, save an individual who sins. They could not rely on being born into the right nation to save them if they chose to live a sinful life. In fact, Moses goes on to say, "The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man. . ." (vs 20). The corporate relationship between God and Israel would not save the individual who chose to sin.
I hope I barely need to make the application. The Church, as the Kingdom of God on earth, has a close relationship with God as His chosen people (e.g. 1 Pet. 2:9). That does not give me (or you) carte blanche to sin however I want. Just because I show up on the right day to the right building and sing the right songs, eat the right ritual meal, and listen to true Gospel preaching doesn't mean I get into heaven if I chose "in the stubbornness of my heart" to live a sinful lifestyle. Eph. 5:27 "so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." Therefore, if I am a spot or blemish on the Church, what is going to happen? I'll be removed. Nobody in going to sneak into heaven on the coat tails of others.
The blessings of being part of the chosen people of God are immense. Just don't let it make you start feeling "too big for your britches".
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God;
Lucas Ward