The Pure In Heart

First, if this Beatitude were a prerequisite for one to be quickened from being “dead in trespasses and sins”, then surely there would be no hope for anyone. Second, in light of the truth that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that “there is none righteous, no not one” the words of this Beatitude must be examined by rightly dividing the Word of Truth, or else they make up a most contradicting statement. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jesus confirmed the condition of the heart in Matthew 15:18-19, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies --- .“ How then can one have a “pure heart”? In order for any natural unregenerate person to have a pure heart they must first have an operation performed by God without hands (

Col.

2:10-13). In order for any person to have a pure heart he must first have a “heart transplant” – see Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26.

I cannot guarantee that our Lord gave these Beatitudes in a particular order, but it appears that he did. This one seems to be the most encompassing of ALL the Beatitudes thus far. It seems to include all the others that have gone before it. To have a pure heart surely one must be Poor in Spirit since one cannot worship God with a heart filled with pride. To have a pure heart one surely must Mourn over sin. To have a pure heart surely one must be Meek and pliable in the hand of God, and not be self-willed. To have a pure heart surely one must Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness. To have a pure heart surely one must be Merciful to others, even as one has obtained mercy and grace. It seems to me all of these attributes apply to the one who has a pure heart, the one who loves God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength as we are told to do in The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:36).

In order to begin to examine this Beatitude let me first set forth some basic principles about the depravity of mankind and God’s eternal purpose to redeem unto Himself a people IN Christ Jesus.

I. There is ONLY one (1) category of Human Beings – They are All SINNERS.

As the Result of Adam’s Sin – The Human Race fell under the condemnation of “sin and death” – see Gen. 2:17 and ALL Natural Human Beings have been conceived “in sin” – i.e. with the nature to sin – Psalms 51:5 and Romans 3:23.

A. Death is the universal evidence that ALL of mankind are sinners by nature – see Romans 5:12.

B. Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Ghost, being God manifest in the flesh, is the ONLY ONE ever “conceived” in the womb of woman without a sin nature – see Luke 1:34-35, John 1:1-3, 14, Phil. 2:5-8.

II. There are Only TWO (2) Categories of sinners ever conceived in the womb of woman – The Elect and those that are not the Elect.

A. Before God created Adam from the dust of the earth, foreknowing all things, He chose a people IN Christ to ultimately be conformed to the image of “his dear Son” – see Eph. 1:3-6 and Romans 8:28-30.

1. God’s choice was NOT based on what he foreknew man would or would not do nor was it based on man’s works, good or evil. But His choice was based the purpose of God according to Election – see Romans 9:11-24.

2. God’s choice of his elect people is unchangeable – see John 17:1-3, Acts 2:39

3. Whom God Foreknew – He Predestinated - Calls – Justifies – Glorifies.

III. Of the Elect – There are Two (2) Categories – (1) Those who have already been Quickened and (2) Those still Dead in Trespasses and Sins (Not Yet Born of God).

A. Every Elect child of God is Spiritually Dead until he has been quickened by God – After which he is Spiritually Alive – i.e. having the Spirit of God bearing witness with his spirit that he is a child of God. See Romans 8:15, Gal. 4:6

1. All of God’s Elect will be quickened sometime between conception and death.

2. Every Born Again Child of God is Free from the law of “sin and death” -- see Romans 8:1-2, 5-8 see Col. 2:9-13 see I Cor. 2:14

B. God is the Heart Surgeon who determines when each of His elect are born of God – When they Receive a New Heart - see Ezek 36:25-27 - see Heb. 8:10, 10:16

C. When one is Born of God he is given the Spirit of God (a New Heart) and the fruit thereof grows as one matures in Christ – see Gal, 5:22-23, Eph. 5:8-11

1. A warfare rages between “the flesh or the old man” and “the Spirit or the new man” – see Gal. 5:16-17, Eph. 4:21-32, 5:9-17, Col. 3:8-16, Romans 7:14-25

IV. Those who have been Born of God may be Spiritual or Carnal (i.e. Minded) – depending on their Understanding and Obedience, etc. – see Romans 6:11-16

Proof Text = I Cor. 3:1-4. The Corinthians to whom Paul wrote were Children of God - BUT they were Carnal – Minding things of the flesh and the world.

A. They were NOT Carnal Christians – There is no such thing. I would rather talk about a Holy Devil than a “Carnal Christian”. To say one is Christ-Like (i,e, Christian) and Carnal is blasphemy against Christ.

B. Carnality – Sin or Disobedience comes from an Impure Heart - Matt 15:18-19

1. To be Carnally Minded is “enmity against God” - Romans 8:7

C. Being a New Creature in Christ – with Imputed Righteousness - Does Not mean One will manifest a Pure Heart or Mind all the Times. Let me PROVE the above statement with Biblical Examples:

1. Moses who talked with God face to face Smote the Rock twice in unbelief (rebellion) against God - see Numbers 20:7-12

2. David - a man after God's own heart - was guilty of Adultery and Murder

3. Ananias, with Sapphira his wife were greedy and lied to God - see Acts 5

4. In Acts 8:18-24 we have the story of Simon the Sorcerer – Note: Simon was (1) a Believer (2) was Baptized (3) a Follower -- see v 13 -- Note: Peter told Simon (1) Thy heart is not right (2) Repent (something only a born again child of God can do) and (3) Perhaps the Thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. - see V. 20-23

One must conclude from this passage that Simon the Sorcerer was unregenerate or a carnal believer attempting to profit from the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Simon Peter who spoke V. 20-23 had denied The Lord three times, and had to repent for his impure heart.

D. Stephen said to the Jews "Ye Uncircumcised In Heart" - Was he saying they were not of the Elect - they were Unregenerate - or they had impure hearts?

Continued in Part 2