1 the heart of man "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see god." (matt. 5:8)

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The Heart of ManThe Heart of Man

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8)

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Because of this statement of Jesus, Christian discipleship is often called "the religion of the pure in heart."

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But what is the heart that must become pure and how does God change it?

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What does the Bible teach?

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Intellectual NatureIntellectual Nature

Emotional Nature

Emotional Nature

Ethical NatureEthical Nature

Volitional Nature

Volitional Nature


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Intellectually

Intellectually

EmotionallyEmotionally EthicallyEthically

VolitionallyVolitionally

How God ChangesThe Heart of ManHow God ChangesThe Heart of Man

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Contrary to the false doctrine of Calvinism, God does not change the heart by operating on it directly.


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To operate directly is to operate without "means," or "instrumentation," such as a surgeon operating by means of a scalpel.


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Through what "means," or "instrumentation," does God operate on and change the heart?


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God operates on and changes the heart through the "means," or "instrumentation," of His word.


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God operates on and changes the heart, intellectually, by means of information.

How God ChangesThe Heart

Intellectually


Intellectually

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The heart is a "seedbed" in which the word of God must be planted.


Intellectually


Intellectually

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"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it." (Luke 8:5)


Intellectually


Intellectually

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"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes...


Intellectually


Intellectually

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“...away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." (Luke 8:11-12)


Intellectually


Intellectually

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The word of God must be understood in order for the heart to be changed for the better, intellectually.


Intellectually


Intellectually

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Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the...


Intellectually


Intellectually

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"...wayside; and the birds came and devoured them." (Matt. 13:3-4)


Intellectually


Intellectually

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"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown...


Intellectually


Intellectually

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"...in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside." (Matt. 13:3-4,19)


Intellectually


Intellectually

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Every other change also involves the intellect.


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God operates on and changes the heart, emotionally, by means of specific information concerning His love for mankind.


Emotionally


Emotionally

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God manifested His love for us by sending His Son to the cross.


Emotionally


Emotionally

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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)


Emotionally


Emotionally

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Jesus demonstrated love by giving His own life for us.


Emotionally


Emotionally

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"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)


Emotionally


Emotionally

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By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)


Emotionally


Emotionally

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Our love is in response to His love.


Emotionally


Emotionally

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We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)


Emotionally


Emotionally

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God operates on and changes the heart, ethically, by means of information concerning His authority.

How God ChangesThe Heart EthicallyHow God ChangesThe Heart Ethically

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Paul's conscience had been clear, even while he was persecuting Christians.


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Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23:1)


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"This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." (Acts 24:16)


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Paul’s heart had not made proper ethical judgments because it had not been properly educated.


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"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." (Acts 26:9)


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But when he saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, he realized that he did not have the authority of God to persecute Christians for worshiping Jesus as God.


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So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." And the men...


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...who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were...


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...opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he...


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...was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9:3-9)


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On Pentecost, Peter changed the hearts of the people, ethically, by showing that Jesus had the authority of God for the things He did and that


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they did not have the authority of God for putting Him to death.


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"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did...


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"...through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know-- Him, being delivered by the...


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"...determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;" (Acts 2:22-23)


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"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now...


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...when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37-38)


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"A man convinced against his willIs of the same opinion, still."


Volitionally


Volitionally

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God operates on and changes the heart, volitionally, by means of specific information concerning His goodness and severity.


Volitionally


Volitionally

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God’s goodness—and promise of further goodness—is to motivate us to repentance.


Volitionally


Volitionally

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Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Rom. 2:1-4)


Volitionally


Volitionally

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God’s severity—and promise of further severity—is for the same purpose.


Volitionally


Volitionally

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You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Rom. 11:19-22)


Volitionally


Volitionally

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The hearts of those to whom Peter preached on Pentecost were changed, volitionally, after Peter promised them the remission of sins.


Volitionally


Volitionally

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Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall...


Volitionally


Volitionally

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...receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)


Volitionally


Volitionally

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The heart continues to change throughout life, whether for the better or for the worse.


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When the alien sinner has completely obeyed the conditions of salvation, he is "born again" and is granted citizenship in the kingdom of God.


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Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)


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He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through...


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...His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 3:13-14)


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The heart of the faithful kingdom citizen continues to change for the better.


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Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold...


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...of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward...


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...to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12-14)


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His heart continues to change for the better, intellectually, as he continues to learn more and more of God’s word.


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His heart continues to change for the better, emotionally, as he grows in his love for God and others.


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His heart continues to change for the better, ethically, as he continues to heed the voice of his conscience.


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His heart continues to change for the better, volitionally, as he continues to bring his life into greater harmony with the will of God.


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Has your heart been sufficiently changed so that you have been born again and translated into the kingdom of God, the church?


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Has it continued to change for the better since that time?


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Have you continued to grow in knowledge of the word of God and in love for the word of God?


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Are you making better ethical judgments and decisions?


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Are your actions now in greater harmony with the will of God than they have been in the past?


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Do you need to make your heart right with God?


1 the heart of man "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see god." (matt. 5:8)

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