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

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

The Heart of Man But what is the heart that must be pure and how does one experience a change of heart?

What does the Bible teach?
The Heart of Man What does the Bible teach?

The Heart of Man Emotional Nature Ethical Nature Intellectual Nature
Volitional Nature

How God Changes The Heart of Man Emotionally Ethically Intellectually
Volitionally

How God Changes The Heart of Man
Contrary to the false doctrine of Calvinism, God does not change the heart by operating on it directly.

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

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

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

The Heart Intellectually
How God Changes The Heart Intellectually God operates on and changes the heart, in its intellectual capacity, by means of information.

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

How God Changes The Heart Intellectually "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)

How God Changes The Heart Intellectually "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 away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." (Luke 8:11-12)

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

How God Changes The Heart Intellectually 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 wayside; and the birds came and devoured them." (Matt. 13:3-4)

How God Changes The Heart Intellectually "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside." (Matt. 13:3-4,19)

Every other change also involves the intellect.

How God Changes The Heart Emotionally
God operates on and changes the heart, in its emotional capacity, by means of specific information concerning His love for mankind.

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

"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)

Jesus demonstrated love by sacrificing His own life for us.

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

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)

Our love for God is in response to His love.

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

How God Changes The Heart Ethically
God operates on and changes the heart, in its ethical capacity, by means of information concerning His authority.

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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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 who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

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

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

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--

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

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

Now 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)

The Heart Volitionally
How God Changes The Heart Volitionally "A man convinced against his will Is of the same opinion, still."

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally God operates on and changes the heart, in its volitional capacity, by means of specific information concerning His goodness and severity.

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally God’s goodness—and promise of further goodness—is to motivate us to repentance.

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And 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?

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

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally God’s severity—and promise of further severity—is for the same purpose.

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally 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.

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Rom. 11:19-22)

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

How God Changes The Heart Volitionally 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. receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

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

Do you need to make your heart right with God?

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

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)

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

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

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 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 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)

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

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

His heart continues to change for the better, in its ethical capacity, as he continues to heed the voice of his conscience.

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

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

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

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

Are you making better ethical judgments and decisions?

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

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

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Presentation on theme: "The Heart of Man "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8)"— Presentation transcript:

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