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| 007 (30) 2011-11-27 |
Is there any hope for a depraved heart? Jeremiah, the
disillusioned prophet, thought so. He said the heart could be washed of its
wickedness (Jeremiah 4:14). Accordingly, Jesus washed us from our sins
(Revelation 1:5 NKJV) and continues to wash the church by his word for our
perfection.
- “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word…that it should be holy and without blemish”
(Ephesians 5:26, 27).
We are not by-standers in our cleansing. For the sake of
God’s promises the Scripture urges us to wash ourselves. This washing is from
all “filthiness of the flesh and spirit” that we might perfect holiness out of
reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV).
After the heart is cleansed, or made new, it becomes a
container for good treasure. The heart is honest, rejoices, and believes. It is
steadfast, pure, true, and unblameable. The heart knows God, just as God knows
the heart. God’s laws are contained in it, as well as the love of God, the
earnest of the Spirit, and the Spirit of his Son. Finally, the peace of God
rules there*. More importantly, Jesus dwells in our hearts by faith (Ephesians
3: 17; Galatians 2:20 and 1 John 3:24; Colossians 1:27).
We are to have “hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1
Thessalonians 3:13). Are we washed? Are we holy? The Lord is returning for
unblameable hearts.
Scripture quotations from the King James Version (KJV)
unless otherwise noted; excerpts are taken from our book to be released next
year. *(Matthew 12:35; Luke 8:15; John 16:22; Acts 8:37; 1 Corinthians
7:37; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Jeremiah 24:7 and Luke 16:15;
Hebrews 10:16; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 3:15;
respectively).
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