Question: Does heart purity have anything to do with salvation?
Thank you for contacting us and sharing your question.
First John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (NIV). When God forgives our sins, He also blots them out (Isaiah 44:22, Psalm 103:12). When a sinner receives Christ by faith, God, as the Judge, declares him righteous--not guilty. So, in a sense, we are purified inwardly by God’s grace and Christ’s righteousness that covers our sin. Therefore, a justified believer emerges from God''s great courtroom with an awareness that another (Christ) has borne his guilt on the cross and that he stands without accusation before the bar of God (Romans 8:1,33-34). Christ becomes the believer''s righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Possessing this righteousness is the only thing that fits one for the presence of God. The believer stands in God''s favor, accepted by Him forever.
For additional guidance on this subject, we suggest that you speak with your pastor. There are also several resources on our website at
BGEA: Spiritual Growth Topics that may provide helpful insights for you. Just go to that link and click on the word “Grace” under the CHRISTIANITY topic.
You have been remembered in prayer, Scott. May the Lord bless and encourage you today. As we believe God together, He will “show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJ).
Sincerely,
XXXX (ch)
Christian Response
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
BGEA: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
There is not a single mention in that response above about the heart of a believer being actually made pure. The purity that is spoken of is a FORENSIC ACCREDITATION of the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association teaches the Reformed Doctrine of "Imputed Righteousness" where the "obedient track record of Jesus" is "credited to the believers account." Thus salvation has NOTHING to do whatsoever with the heart of the believer being made pure.
The above answer clearly proves that the emphasis is on a FORENSIC CREDIT whereby the "righteousness of Christ" is a CLOAK for an ACTUAL STATE of iniquity.
Can anyone else see how Satan has COMPLETELY removed the aspect of REAL HEART PURITY being actualised in salvation? It is as plain as day folks.
Jesus said...
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Jesus did not say "blessed are those who will be credited with 'my righteousness' to their account."
Paul quoted David...
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
David stated...
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
These wolves skip over the last part verse two which says, "in whose spirit there is no guile." They can't teach that because they don't believe it. They preach a GUILE CLOAK instead of teaching that GUILE IS PURGED.
Jesus stated...
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The context of verse 20 is CLEARLY in relation to heart purity for Jesus is speaking about the external manifestation of sin (ie. adultery/murder) and the root in the heart (lust/hate). Jesus says "YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" and is thus addressing the actual state of the heart. The "Jesus Cloak" is an ear tickling HOAX.
Anyway I went to the Spiritual Growth Topics and looked up Grace as I was advised to do in the email and here is some of what I found...
Why do you say that all we have to do to have eternal life is to believe in Jesus? That sounds far too simple to me. Surely God expects us to live good lives before He'll let us into heaven, doesn't He? — F.R.
You have asked a very important question, and I pray you will consider it seriously, because nothing—absolutely nothing—is more important than our eternal salvation. Our time on earth lasts only a few decades, but eternity is forever.
If God simply took all our good deeds and bad deeds and balanced them against each other, then eventually some people might be good enough to go to heaven. Many people think this must be the way God operates—but it isn't, and it's very important to understand why.
You see, the real question is this: How good do you have to be to get into heaven? The answer may shock you: You have to be perfect. Why? Because God is perfect, and even one sin will keep you away from His holy presence. The Bible says of God, "Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong" (Habakkuk 1:13). This is why we can't save ourselves by our own good works, for we can never—never—be good enough.
This is why we need Christ. He came into the world for one reason: To save us from our sins. He was without sin, but all of our sins were laid on Him, and He died in our place. Don't trust yourself any longer, but by faith trust Christ, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
That answer is a very subtle satanic lie dressed up to sound biblical. The answer first sets the trap by teaching that "good deeds cannot balance our bad deeds" which is true. It then teaches that you have to be PERFECT in order to enter heaven and of course no-one is perfect. Then the trap is sprung with the answer of a forensic transfer. There is nothing in that answer about HEART PURITY. The Bible teaches that the blood of Christ PURGES THE CONSCIENCE.
The basis of salvation in the answer above is SUBSTITUTION. In other words all one has to do is TRUST that Jesus was PUNISHED IN THEIR PLACE whereby the wrath due was satisfied in full. Believe that and PRESTO the magic exchange of your sin going to Jesus and His righteousness going to you takes place. You get the cloak so to speak. You are in the bubble.
Anyone who buys into that garbage as the basis for their salvation is extremely deceived.
Jesus simply did not die in our place. Jesus died on our behalf.
Jesus purchased us with His blood from the dominion of sin by dying on our behalf thus opening the door whereby we can be reconciled to God by dying with Christ through the baptism of repentance where our old man is crucified, that old man who lived a life in service to sin. Thus we die to sin in order that we live unto righteousness. This is the cross, not what Billy Graham and all the other celebrity preachers are teaching.
The cross is an instrument of death and we must die in order that we live. It is in dying with Christ that we are raised up with Him to newness of life where ALL things are made new. ALL THINGS means ALL THINGS.
These people preach a CLOAK for ongoing "service of sin." They might preach a lot of truths about morality and doing the right thing but their message is completely devoid of the mechanic whereby the HEART IS MADE PURE. Rip that out of the Gospel and you have no Gospel.
The message preached by these wolves completely eliminates the DEATH OF THE OLD MAN and thus there is NO PURGING OF THE HEART. Due to this their false gospel leaves converts still enslaved to sin. The converts under this lie remain inwardly defiled just like the Pharisees.
It is mind boggling as to how clearly the Bible lays all this out and yet millions of people cannot see it. It is a SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS which is encompassing the WHOLE EARTH.
Here is something else from that website...
Why did Jesus have to die? From what I can tell, He wasn't guilty of doing anything wrong, and I've always looked on Jesus' execution as a great injustice. — Mrs. D.F
Yes, from one point of view, Jesus' death was a great injustice. Not only was He innocent of any crime, but as God's only Son He was without sin of any kind. "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?" Jesus asked His opponents and they had no answer (John 8:46).
But from another point of view, the Bible says Jesus was guilty and the reason is because all our sins were transferred to Him. Yes, He was innocent and without sin but He willingly allowed all our sins to be poured on Him. He did not deserve to die but by taking upon Himself our sin and our guilt, He willingly suffered the judgment we deserve. He died in our place.
Think of it this way. Suppose one day you were caught speeding, and were brought before the judge. You knew you were guilty and deserved the fine he imposed but then you discovered you didn't have the money to pay it. Then suppose the judge stepped down from his bench, opened his wallet, and paid the fine for you. You would be free!
This is what God has done for us. We are guilty and deserve God's judgment, but God sent His Son into the world to take that judgment upon Himself. He paid the price for our salvation by dying on the cross for us. Now He offers us forgiveness and salvation as a free gift, free because He has already paid for it. Have you accepted that gift by committing your life to Christ?
Is that really what the Bible teaches? That Jesus died in order to pay the equivalent of your speeding fine?
My Bible says this...
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Why don't they quote that?
Or this...
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The focus is always on WRATH SATISFACTION as opposed to BEING PURCHASED TO SERVE RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1Co 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
1Co 7:23
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called,
therein abide with God.
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
These wolves never preach the gift of God within the context of being set free from the "service of sin" whereby we can then "serve righteousness." They never teach that.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What they do preach is that believers are "set free from condemnation" due to the "penalty having been paid" and then people SHOULD serve righteousness out of gratitude for what has already taken place. It is a total perversion of what the Bible teaches.
The reason we serve righteousness is not out of gratitude, it is because in dying with Christ we die to the service of sin and thus become the servants of righteousness in that we are raised up with Christ to newness of life. It has nothing to do with gratitude for some penalty being paid. Jesus did not pay the penalty due sin. He died on our behalf in order to PURCHASE us from the dominion of sin.
For sure we are grateful for what Christ has done but the service of righteousness IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. We do it because we truly love God and love our neighbour having had our hearts purified by faith. The Spirit of God has regenerated or quickened us back to life in that we have been renewed by the Holy Ghost. In other words we have gone from darkness to light.
Please diligently examine these things.