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
Because of this statement of Jesus, Christian
discipleship is often called "the religion of the
pure in heart."
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The Heart of Man
But what is the heart that must become pure
and how does God change it?
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The Heart of Man
What does the Bible teach?
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The Heart of Man
Emotional Nature
Ethical Nature
Intellectual Nature
Volitional Nature
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Emotionally
Ethically
Intellectually
Volitionally
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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.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
To operate directly is to operate without
"means," or "instrumentation," such as a surgeon
operating by means of a scalpel.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Through what "means," or "instrumentation,"
does God operate on and change the heart?
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
God operates on and changes the heart
through the "means," or "instrumentation," of
His word.
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How God Changes
The Heart Intellectually
God operates on and changes the heart,
intellectually, by means of information.
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How God Changes
The Heart Intellectually
The heart is a "seedbed" in which the word of
God must be planted.
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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)
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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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Intellectually
“...away the word out of their hearts, lest they
should believe and be saved." (Luke 8:11-12)
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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.
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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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Intellectually
"...wayside; and the birds came and devoured
them." (Matt. 13:3-4)
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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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Intellectually
"...in his heart. This is he who received seed by
the wayside." (Matt. 13:3-4,19)
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Every other change also involves the intellect.
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
God operates on and changes the heart,
emotionally, by means of specific information
concerning His love for mankind.
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
God manifested His love for us by sending His
Son to the cross.
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
"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)
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
Jesus demonstrated love by giving His own life
for us.
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay
down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
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)
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
Our love is in response to His love.
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How God Changes
The Heart Emotionally
We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John
4:19)
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
God operates on and changes the heart,
ethically, by means of information concerning His
authority.
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
Paul's conscience had been clear, even while he
was persecuting Christians.
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"This being so, I myself always strive to have a
conscience without offense toward God and
men." (Acts 24:16)
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
Paul’s heart had not made proper ethical
judgments because it had not been properly
educated.
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."
(Acts 26:9)
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
...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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
...opened he saw no one. But they led him by the
hand and brought him into Damascus. And he...
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
...was three days without sight, and neither ate
nor drank. (Acts 9:3-9)
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
they did not have the authority of God for
putting Him to death.
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"...through Him in your midst, as you yourselves
also know-- Him, being delivered by the...
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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"...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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
"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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How God Changes
The Heart Ethically
...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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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
"A man convinced against his will
Is of the same opinion, still."
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
God operates on and changes the heart,
volitionally, by means of specific information
concerning His goodness and severity.
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
God’s goodness—and promise of further
goodness—is to motivate us to repentance.
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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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...judge practice the same things. But we know
that the judgment of God is according to truth
against those who practice such things. And...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...despise the riches of His goodness,
forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(Rom. 2:1-4)
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
God’s severity—and promise of further severity—is
for the same purpose.
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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. For if...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...God did not spare the natural branches, He may
not spare you either. Therefore consider the
goodness and severity of God: on those who...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you
continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will
be cut off. (Rom. 11:19-22)
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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.
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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...
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How God Changes
The Heart Volitionally
...receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
The heart continues to change throughout life,
whether for the better or for the worse.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
...His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Col. 3:1314)
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
The heart of the faithful kingdom citizen continues
to change for the better.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
...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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
...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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
His heart continues to change for the better,
emotionally, as he grows in his love for God and
others.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
His heart continues to change for the better,
ethically, as he continues to heed the voice of his
conscience.
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
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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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Has it continued to change for the better since
that time?
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Have you continued to grow in knowledge of the
word of God and in love for the word of God?
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Are you making better ethical judgments and
decisions?
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Are your actions now in greater harmony with the
will of God than they have been in the past?
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How God Changes
The Heart of Man
Do you need to make your heart right with God?
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