SO, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART? PART 2 Matthew 5:8 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. NKJV Matthew 5.8 Matthew 5:8 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world your mind and heart put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. MSG Psalms 24:3-4 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. NKJV Psalms 51:10 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. NKJV Psalms 139:23-24 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. NKJV Psalms 73:1-5 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5 They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. NIV "pure" katharos The basic meaning is to make pure by cleansing from dirt, filth, and contamination. PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING Catharsis is a term used for a cleansing of the mind or emotions The Greek term was often used of metals that had been refined until all impurities were removed, leaving only the pure metal. Purity means unmixed, unalloyed, unadulterated. The idea is that of pure motive of single-mindedness, undivided devotion, spiritual integrity, and true righteousness. James 4:8 "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" WHAT PURITY IS NOT. Purity of heart does not mean perfection. PURITY IN SCRIPTURE
SO, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART Page 2 of 5 1. POSITIONAL PURITY the purity we are given the moment we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. When we trust in Him, God imputes to us Christ's own purity, Christ's own righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. ESV Romans 4:5 "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness" From that day the Father sees us just as He sees the Son, perfectly righteous and without blemish. 2. IMPUTED PURITY - with imputed purity, God grants actual purity in the new nature of the believer. Romans 6:4-5 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, NKJV In other words, there is no justification without sanctification. Every believer is a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV 3. PRACTICAL PURITY, even thought it comes from God, our participation is required. 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." NKJV 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'. NKJV 4. FOR BELIEVERS, THERE WILL ONE DAY BE ULTIMATE PURITY. This is the perfected purity that WE as God's children will experience when we are glorified in His presence. All sins will be totally and permanently washed away, and "we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2). HOW TO BE PURE IN HEART. 1. ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO LIVE A SINGLE, HOLY MOMENT WITHOUT THE LORD'S GUIDANCE AND POWER.
Proverbs 20:9 "Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin'?" SO, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART Page 3 of 5 Jeremiah 13:23 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil. NKJV 2. WE MUST STAY IN GOD'S WORD. It is impossible to stay in God's will apart from His Word. Jesus said, John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you". We live in a quickly changing society. Purity in today s world is something that sounds old-fashioned. In our world of relativism, compromise, permissiveness, and situational ethics, purity opposes virtually everything that is popular in today s modern thinking. We have become a secular society. What was the Moral Majority from the 1980 s has now become the MORAL MINORITY. Anything religious has been removed from public schools and politics. We hear on the news of what is expected on college and university campuses is nothing short of debauchery and hedonism. SECULARISM (1.) the belief that religion and religious bodies should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools (2.) the rejection of religion or its exclusion from a philosophical or moral system Chicago s Cardinal Francis George put the danger of creeping secularism of society succinctly: I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history. Titus 1:15 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. NKJV How are we to live in these days? Are you more concerned about your reputation than your character? Is pleasing others more important than pleasing God? Is popularity more important than godly principles? WE HAVE TO BE IN GOD'S WORD DAILY. Psalms 119:105
SO, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART Page 4 of 5 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. NKJV Psalms 119:11 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. NKJV Psalms 19:7-8 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; ESV 3. WE MUST BE CONTROLLED BY AND WALKING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Galatians 5:16 "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." 1 Peter 1:22 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, NKJV 4. WE MUST CONTINUALLY BE IN PRAYER. We cannot stay in God's will or understand and obey His Word unless we stay near Him. "With all prayer and petition" we are to "pray at all times in the Spirit" With David we cry, Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God" 1 Timothy 1:5 5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. NLT NO ONE DRIFTS INTO HOLINESS. Hebrews 9:14 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. Dr. Seuss Let s go the way of obedience, that of a pure heart. FILE: SERMONS/SERMON ON THE MOUNT/SO, WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART/08.27.15
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