Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

[PeterJens]

I used to think the beatitudes were a list of features certain individuals attain to.
I now think this is what we are called to be

Poor in spirit, mourning for the sin of the world, meek not pushy, desiring to follow righteousness, merciful to others, pure in heart, peacemakers, expecting persecution.

Now as sinners who come to faith none of this comes naturally

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
Matt 13:15

You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Luke 16:15

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Matt 23:25

For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Matt 15:19

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
Matt 6:22

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Luke 11:35

Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.
Luke 11:36

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt 6:21

To me this speaks of a need for transformation, of walking in obedience, of learning and becoming pure.

Some appear to hold this is salvation by works, rather than the gospel itself. They appear
to have no desire or belief that purity matters.

It appears we are called to cleanse our hearts, to sow good things, and to walk in holiness.
So why is it people argue against this when Jesus is very clear.

Are these people following Jesus or just claim it without understanding because darkness rules their hearts?

 

[Grace777x70]

When believers come to Christ they have their hearts cleansed by the blood of Jesus and now the Holy Spirit resides in their heart.

We are still left with the flesh which is our old ways, habits and patterns of living in this world. This how we got things outside of God for life and fulfillment.

It is through beholding the glory of Christ and the renewing of our minds that we are transformed outwardly to reflect who we truly are now in Christ.

It is becoming aware of who we are as sons of God because of our union with Christ. It is growing up in Christ.

It is in beholding the glory ( goodness - the good opinion ) of Christ as in a mirror that reflects back - we see ourselves as we are in Christ and joined as one in the spirit. This is how we are transformed by the Holy Spirit. We have our minds renewed to the reality of our life in Christ now.

In both Romans 12:2 and in 2 Cor 3:18 the Greek word for transformed is in the passive which means that this action is happening to you from another source - it is not yourself doing it.

We participate in this when our minds are renewed to the truth but it does not come from our own self-effort in the flesh.

Acts 15:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

[SUP]9 [/SUP] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

 

[PeterJens]

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Luke 11:35

Jesus did not say, I will make light shine in you. He is saying you need to choose to do
things so that there is light within you and not darkness.

Action needs to occur. You need to admit the sin within, you need to deal with it, understand
it focus your desire on things that are appropriate.
Sexual desire, get a wife or a husband.
Anger, deal with what you can change, and accept what you cannot.
Money, earn what is reasonable and be happy with Gods blessing.
Opposition, accept them for what they are, and speak the truth in love.
Desire, understand context of what is of value, what you like and dislike about something.
You could own the world but have no time to enjoy it, so its value is meaningless.

There was once an emporer of China. He had conquered everything, was running things
well, but one issue he had not solved dying. He spoke to the wise people of his time who
recommended mercury. So he took this so he would live longer while dying in the process.

He could not accept the length of his life was not in his hands. If he had he would have
lived longer.

So understanding fears, aspirations, desires of the heart and what is and is not possible
gives us the right focus, to apply Christs love to ourselves, to know how to be honest with
everyone, and walk openly, in the light without fear. But few seem to even accept this
is Jesus's way or He desires we have a pure heart. Rather they deny there is a problem at
all and call this evil to even begin to be honest and address this reality.

But then a sinful heart will always want to stay in darkness, because then anything can be
projected as to the reality.

Now those who teach do nothing just be religious, not surprisingly nothing is resolved.

And why do they share this passivity, all the time? Because they think doing anything in
the Holy Spirit within your heart is self works and evil.

What a lie of satan. Let sin dwell in you, addictions, abuse, anger, lust, jealousy, rage
and bury it as if this is just the flesh you have to accept, while concentrating on religion
and praise, while dying from the emotional trauma within.

Little wonder the people of God condemn this heresy for what it is, justification of sin.

 

[Grace777x70]

The understanding of what happened to us when we received Christ should be known by every believer. We are a new creations in Christ.

Without the understanding of the new heart in Christ I can understand why the gospel is a mystery to some and their need to humanize the gospel and turn it into a self-effort flesh trip becomes evident.

This philosophy of man and tradition from our religious upbringing is what we end up with when we don't understand the new birth in Christ and what the scriptures actually say about the believer in Christ. ( Col 2:8 warns us about tradition of man )

The believers new heart in Christ is created in righteousness and holiness: First it was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB)
[SUP]26 [/SUP] "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone ( old man ) from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ( new man in Christ )

We have been circumcised in our heart by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit cut away our new heart in Christ from our flesh. See Col. 2:11 which talks about the circumcision of Christ.

Romans 2:29 (NASB)
[SUP]29 [/SUP] But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

By grace we have been given a new heart that is obedient.

Romans 6:17 (NASB)
[SUP]17 [/SUP] But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,

God cleaned house and moved in. God will not dwell in unrighteousness. God through the Holy Spirit is in our inner man now.

Ephesians 3:16-17 (NASB)
[SUP]16 [/SUP] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

[SUP]17 [/SUP] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

God sealed us and gave us the Holy Spirit in our new hearts.

2 Corinthians 1:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

We have the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts now.

Galatians 4:6 (NASB)
[SUP]6 [/SUP] Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

God has cleansed our hearts by faith.

Acts 15:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
[SUP]9 [/SUP] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

We love from our hearts now as it is pure.

1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)
[SUP]5 [/SUP] But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (this is a believer in Christ..hang around them )

1 Peter 3:4 (NASB)
[SUP]4 [/SUP] but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

There are more but this should work to show that the believer has a new heart in Christ.

We still have the flesh to deal with in our bodies and if we are admonished to not to yield to that....now we are to live by the Spirit and not the flesh....but all that is a different subject.

 

[PeterJens]

Emotional tokens -

I am ok, I am in Christ, I think on Christ being fantastic and he accepts me.
I live my life.

So whatever cultural pressures or directions, positions I take, arguments one
way or the other, this is all 100% irrelevant.

Now if this was true, heaven is the world, just we feel guilty about ourselves, so
deal with the guilt and you have arrived.

Anyone who says this is not true is satanic, and condemning, a legalist sent to
deprive you of your inheritence.

What is the actual gospel?
Deal with sin and walk in love, learn how to be transformed and obedient.
Aim to know what purity and righteousness are, and let Gods heart convict and
renew you in your walk. You are becoming a child of God, making real the words
Jesus has put within you.

Emotionally this is about becoming from just being, a direction to follow and work
to do. If you cannot see the difference I suggest you read the gospel of John
again.

 

[PeterJens]

God has cleansed our hearts by faith

Now everyone needs to ask themselves are their hearts pure.
If the answer is no either there is no reality to the faith, or you have
to actually take responsibility for who you are and start doing things
like repenting, changing your behaviour, spend your time focusing on good
things and understanding what is righteous and what is evil.

Does a child know how to cross a road and watch out for cars or is it just a
question of faith?

Our souls and hearts are not different. Each culture and society has its ways
of expressing sin and taking over peoples lives. You need to interpret the principles
and see how you are responding, and see what Christ is asking you to do.

This takes real effort and never has my a mystical revelation. For instance we now
can stop std's but that does not mean you can now have sex with whoever you feel
like, because you are now acceptable to God and their is no risk.
So much of what we do is because we do not see the good or harm behind our actions.

Theft is not just I want something, it is saying I can destroy a business that brings it
to my door, even though this stops me receiving the very thing I desire.
And why do I want it? Because I believe it will give me something I am missing, yet when
I look, what I am missing is often peace, love and security Christ provides.

But these closed minded people, who see things only in two dimensions, want to claim
letting sin rot their souls is Gods way.

But thankfully God has provided an example here so I can show you the emptiness of
their ways.

 

[Th0mas]

Some quotations.

"Those who fear the Lord will form true judgments, and they will kindle righteous deeds like a light."

"The one who sins against his marriage bed says to himself, "Who can see me? Darkness surrounds me, the walls hide me, and no one sees me. Why should I worry? The Most High will not remember sins."

Luke 11:36

If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays."

1 Thessalonians 5:

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.

21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

 

[Grandpa]

It appears we are called to cleanse our hearts, to sow good things, and to walk in holiness.
So why is it people argue against this when Jesus is very clear.

Are these people following Jesus or just claim it without understanding because darkness rules their hearts?

Who can do those good things better than the Holy Spirit? Who can do those things better than Christ?

What does being His Workmanship mean?

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Who can do those good things better than the Holy Spirit? Who can do those things better than Christ?

What does being His Workmanship mean?

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for the sake of [his] delight. Philippians 2:13​

 

[Grace777x70]

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Amen...thank you Jesus for doing this in us!

Acts 15:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] "And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

[SUP]9 [/SUP] and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

 

[Grace777x70]

For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for the sake of [his] delight. Philippians 2:13​

Amen...I love that verse!

Just as Jesus said it is the Father that does His works in Me. So, we too live by Christ living and doing His works through us. These are the true works of the Spirit. We are one in the spirit with Him. Without Christ we can do nothing.

There is a massive difference between doing things by our own self-effort or doing good works by the Spirit of God within us. We participate in them as being sons that are one with Christ. All good works that originate from the Spirit of God in us is really a manifestation of the life of Christ in us.

To people doing their own works of righteousness, this reality of Christ living through us is a stumbling block and their natural minds come up with all kinds of terms to label people who trust in the living Christ within them.

 

[Ariel82]

This song used to be playing non-stop in my head..".open the eyes of my heart"

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE

[video]v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE[/video]

 

[Ariel82]

Hmmm can't embed video..oh well.

 

[Grace777x70]

This song used to be playing non-stop in my head..".open the eyes of my heart"

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE

[video]v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE[/video]

Thank you...I love that song. We love to have the eyes of our heart opened to see the true beauty of our Lord and all that He has done for us.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Amen...I love that verse!

[/B]Just as Jesus said it is the Father that does His works in Me. So, we too live by Christ living and doing His works through us. These are the true works of the Spirit. We are one in the spirit with Him. Without Christ we can do nothing.

There is a massive difference between doing things by our own self-effort or doing good works by the Spirit of God within us. We participate in them as being sons that are one with Christ. All good works that originate from the Spirit of God in us is really a manifestation of the life of Christ in us.

To people doing their own works of righteousness, this reality of Christ living through us is a stumbling block and their natural minds come up with all kinds of terms to label people who trust in the living Christ within them.[/B]

With Christ you can't do anything either because you consider any human work to be self-effort, and anathematize such. Hyper grace doing is doing nothing and imagining GOD doing everything.

 

[Grace777x70]

With Christ you can't do anything either because you consider any human work to be self-effort, and anathematize such. Hyper grace doing is doing nothing and imagining GOD doing everything.

Nonsense that's just a "construct" of your own mind. We do things with our natural bodies but it is supposed to originate from the Holy Spirit inside us as He leads us to do the good works that God has already prepared for us to walk in.

( See Eph. 2:10..it's interesting that has prepared is in the aorist indicative which means it has already been done by God for us to do. - see how this all ties in with resting in the Lord and doing His works from the Spirit inside of us leading us? )

The true Christian life that rests in the Lord as we cease from our own labors and doing the good works God has already prepared for us to do is an endless adventure with of walking with Him!

Maybe you missed this part in the post.

" We participate in them as being sons that are one with Christ. All good works that originate from the Spirit of God in us is really a manifestation of the life of Christ in us."

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Nonsense that's just a "construct" of your own mind. We do things with our natural bodies but it is supposed to originate from the Holy Spirit inside us as He leads us to do the good works that God has already prepared for us to walk in.

( See Eph. 2:10..it's interesting that has prepared is in the aorist indicative which means it has already been done by God for us to do. - see how this all ties in with resting in the Lord and doing His works from the Spirit inside of us leading us? )

Maybe you missed this part in the post.

" We participate in them as being sons that are one with Christ. All good works that originate from the Spirit of God in us is really a manifestation of the life of Christ in us."

What you are describing is channeling and spiritual possession. Where someone empties/abandons themselves and allows a spirit to manifest itself through them. Such is not the way of Christ, which is working righteousness.

 

[Grace777x70]

What you are describing is channeling and spiritual possession. Where someone empties/abandons themselves and allows a spirit to manifest itself through them. Such is not the way of Christ, which is working righteousness.

Nonsense again. ..my goodness ...so living by the life of Christ in us is now channeling and spiritual possession. Jesus being in us is now spiritual possession as in a demonic sense?

You really have no idea of the gospel and what happened when you received Christ. Hopefully you did at one point in your life.

Can you not see why many of us are concerned about you? This is why we keep preaching the gospel to you. Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. Don't harden your heart.

Jesus said - The Father in Me , He is the one doing the works , through Jesus.

John 14:10 (NASB)
[SUP]10 [/SUP] "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

John 6:57 (KJV)
[SUP]57 [/SUP] As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

 

[crossnote]

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
(Pro 20:9)