• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

• Outline (Matthew 5:8)
• “Blessed are the pure in heart”
• “For they shall see God”
• The cursed life

• Blessed are the pure in heart (Matt. 5:8)
• Pure (Gr. hagnos, from same root word for holy, sanctified)
• Webster: “not mixed with anything else” “free from moral fault or guilt”
• Vine’s Dictionary: “not contaminated” “chaste” “clean”
• Heart – not the physical organ of the flesh
• The heart reflects who you really are (Prov. 27:19)
• “The Bible depicts the heart as that part of man which thinks
(Matt. 9:4), reasons (Mk. 2:6, 8), ponders (Lk. 2:19), understands
(Matt. 13:15), believes (Rom. 10:10), doubts (Mk. 11:23), imagines (Lk. 1:51), desires (Rom. 10:1), loves (Matt. 22:37), sorrows (Jn. 16:6), rejoices (Jn. 16:22; Acts 2:26), lusts (Rom.
1:24), despises (2 Sam. 6:16), purposes (Acts 11:23), determines
(1 Cor. 7:37 ASV), obeys (Rom. 6:17, 18).”
- Brother Keith Sharp, 1976

• Blessed are the pure in heart (Matt. 5:8)
• Beware the deceitfulness of the heart (Jer. 17:9)
• The heart must be made right first, as Jesus warned the hypocrites (Matt. 23:25-26)
• The challenge: purify your heart (Jms. 4:8)…but how?
• Believe with all your heart (Acts 8:37)
• Humble your heart, as Hezekiah (2 Chron. 32:25-26)
• Seek forgiveness (Acts 2:37-38)
• Follow Apostles’ instructions (1 Tim. 1:5)
• Love God with all your heart (Matt. 22:37)
• Circumcision of heart (Rom. 2:29)
• Obedience from the heart (Rom. 6:17)
• Focus on godly thoughts (Phil. 4:8)

• For they shall see God (Matthew 5:8)
• We hope to see what we have not seen (Rom. 8:24-25)
• Without this sanctification (holy moral purity), no man shall see God (Heb. 12:14)
• Without being born again, you cannot see His kingdom
(John 3:3)
• We will see Him just as He is (1 John 3:2)
• In His kingdom, we will see His face (Rev. 22:3-4)
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” (Ps. 73:1)

• The cursed life: Cursed are the impure in heart…
• Because they cannot physically see God, they attempt to form a god (idol) to worship, or they deny that God exists (Ps. 14:1)
• Wicked hearts grieve God (Gen. 6:5-6)
• A wicked heart taints man’s words (Matt. 12:34-35)
• Evil comes from their heart (Matt. 15:18-19)
• God does not hear their prayers (Ps. 66:18)
• They are excluded from the life of God (Eph. 4:17-19)
• The impure have no inheritance in God’s kingdom (Eph. 5:5)
• Unrepentant hearts store up God’s wrath (Rom. 2:5)
• Evildoers do not see God (3 John 1:11)

• Summary
• We must be pure from our innermost being
• The pure will see God
• The impure will not see God
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

• Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
• That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
• Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
• Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
• Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
• Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
• Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
• Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
• Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
• Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
• Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
• Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
• Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
• 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly