See Jesus…for a Pure Heart
It has been said the human heart is a factory of sin. The production of sins is the daily work of one’s sin nature (Rom 3:23; Eph 2:3). While people imagine themselves to be good; God’s Word, the Bible, assures us that no one except God is good (Lk 18:19; Rom 3:12). Only one man in human history walked the earth without sinning against the Holy God (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15). He was and is the God-man, Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1, 14).
Total depravity is the Bible’s assessment of the natural man; who is void of the Spirit of God (Jn 14:17; 1 Cor 2:14). The natural man has no will nor ability to rectify his wretched state of rebellious disobedience toward the Holy God (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 8:7). He has no love for God in his heart (Jn 5:42; 8:42); nor does he seek God for the purpose of reconciliation (Rom 3:10–12; 2 Cor 5:20). This state of being without hope and without God (Eph 2:12), however, does not prevent this man from being “religious”.
Outward religion is the legacy of the Scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:37). It is not exclusively Jewish, either. World religions are external. They have a showy demeanor that invites attention, even respect from the less than religious. Meanwhile, God searches the heart (1 Sam 16:7; 1 Chr 28:9; Rom 8:27).
The heart is the seat of personality; and out of the heart, one’s identity is revealed by words and behavior (Prv 15:28; Mt 12:34–35; 15:18–19; Lk 6:45). The ungodly are doers, even distributors of sin, not just warehouses of lawlessness (Gen 6:5; Jn 3:19; 1 Jn 3:4).
The inclination of the unregenerate heart is only evil all the time; for the heart is wicked and deceitful above all else (Jer 17:9). The deeds of sinners are evil, which is why they are often cloaked in religious robes. The children of the devil love the domain of darkness and have no interest in the Light (Jn 1:11; Col 1:13; 1 Jn 3:10).
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world (Jn 8:12). His presence has a purifying effect (Titus 2:14). He illumines and gives life (Jn 6:63; 2 Cor 4:6). God’s Word is the object on which to fix one’s eyes before and after conversion (Heb 12:2). The born again are made alive by the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). They are granted spiritual sight (Eph 1:18), that is, the eyes of faith to see Jesus, as the one and only Savior of sinners (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). By the sending of the Spirit from God the Father and God the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26), according to the free will and gracious choice of God (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 11:5), the heart’s sin problem receives its remedy (Col 2:14; Rev 1:5).
A heart transplant is required (Ezek 11:19). The cold, dead, heart of stone (Ezek 36:26), averse to God, is removed by the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God (1 Pet 1:2). A new heart, filled with the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), is the catalyst for the new life (2 Cor 5:17). This new, permanent Resident is holy and makes His holy abode…holy. Simply put, to be pure in heart is to have the Holy Spirit there abiding and working. This man made new is being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29), who is the icon of the invisible God (Col 1:15).
God is holy; and His will is for His chosen people to be holy as he is holy (1 Pet 1:15–16). The Spirit of holiness is the divine agent who does the work (Is 26:12; 1 Thess 5:24). The third Person of the Trinity employs the written Word of truth, to daily wash over God’s redeemed people (2 Cor 4:16). He who began this good work in the Beloved will bring His work to its proper, perfect end (Phil 1:6). Those positioned in Christ, at His second coming, will be presented holy and blameless before God the Father on that last day (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22; 3:12; 1 Thess 3:13; 5:23; Jude 24).
Thus, the spiritually bankrupt (Mt 5:3), who mourn over the estate of sin (Mt 5:4), and who walk humbly with God (Mic 6:8; Mt 5:5), are given an appetite for the things of God (Mt 5:6). Having received mercy from God (Mt 5:7; Rom 9:15–16), the new heart’s desire is for holiness (Mt 5:8). Thus, we see the saint is set apart unto God by the Spirit and the Word (Jn 17:17). The beauty of His holiness becomes the new affection derived from God’s grace (Ps 96:9; Eph 2:8–9).
Worldly enticements no longer hold their previous allure (Eph 2:2; 1 Jn 2:15–17). The blessed benefit of God’s holy, indwelling presence is to be an eyewitness to the marvelous work of transformation (Jn 15:26–27; Acts 1:8; Rom 12:2). The child of God is eager to learn the ways of God, unlike those who fall away (Heb 3:10). It is the Spirit of truth who guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13); and who helps us to walk on the narrow way (Mt 7:13–14; Gal 5:16, 25). Jesus is the way (Jn 14:6); and the knowledge of Him is the believer’s meditative contemplation day and night (Jos 1:8; Ps 1:2).
Seeing Jesus; we become more like Him. It is the Spirit who does His purifying work (Titus 2:14; Jas 4:8). As witnesses to this supernatural transformation (Rom 12:1–3), Christians are truly blessed (Mt 5:1–12; Eph 1:3). Happy with new hearts of holiness, our prayer in the Spirit is for more of Jesus Christ. Hence, the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart (1 Tim 1:5); and as we have learned here, the pure heart is the one filled with His holy presence.
More of Jesus and less of the world is the disciples’ pursuit of holiness. One must love the Lord our God with his or her whole heart (Mk 12:33). God is good to Israel because He is pure in heart (Ps 73:1); and we who are in Christ Jesus (the True Israel) enjoy the benefits of being members of the body of His chosen people (a holy nation of royal priests who share His name — Gal 6:16; 1 Pet 2:9). Without holiness, no one can see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Lacking anything? Call upon the name of the Lord from a pure heart (2 Tim 2:22)!
Soon, God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate, believing people will see King Jesus face to face (1 Cor 13:12). That will be a glorious day, yes, the happiest, most blessed day. We will see Jesus as He is; and we will be like Him…holy (1 Jn 3:2).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 20, 2024
Matthew 5:8
