In the parable of the sower the only ground that received the seed and produced a harvest was the one who had a “ honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Faith that is in the head is simply religion. All mouth, no heart is the spiritual condition of many today. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. They may know all the details in the heads, but they do not live for the Lord from the heart. This seems like something that all Christians have already, but the sad fact is that the opposite is true. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). Where there is no such love for God and for people, the heart is void of purity. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Jesus said, “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Here are a few proofs that our hearts have been cleansed:. If we do not see our need of heart purity, how can we expect to see Him who is holy?īy this we do not mean that we can do anything beyond repentance to receive purity of heart, but to maintain it once it has been given, believers are expected to show evidence of it. His repentance and the cleansing work of God, would have been doomed without this, for no man can look upon God and live (Exodus 33:20). “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah realised that impurity of heart would hinder his relationship with God. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). It is only those who have been thus cleansed who will see God. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). We will look at our responsibility in the second part of this study, but it should be abundantly clear that it is impossible to worship God with an impure heart. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:3-5). How can any person think that he or she has salvation without being willing for God do this work of heart cleansing in them? If they are willing, surely there must be the corresponding effect in their lives! “ Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8). “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. All that is necessary is for us to come to the Lord and be willing to do what He requires of us. “ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). Someone who has been born again cries out for God to do this and He give them the strength to withstand all temptations and to live according to His word. “ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25). He is able, upon repentance, to rid us of all the idols we have enthroned in our hearts. We cannot achieve it through religion, morality or good deeds. This is where purity of heart begins, but the Bible also explains how it can be maintained.įirst and foremost we have to accept that the cleansing of the heart from sin is the work of God alone. “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Therefore purity of heart is found in those who have truly repented of their sin. “ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). “ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).Ī pure heart is one that has been cleansed from sin through the sacrificial blood of Christ, since those who accept Him have been given a new heart.
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