Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: PURE (09/06/24)
-
TITLE: A Pure Heart is a Circumcised Heart | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lakella Davenport
09/12/24 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live,” (Deuteronomy 30:6).
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” (Titus 2: 13-14).
What It Means to be Pure in Heart?
To be pure means to be clean, righteous, freed from sin and a sinful lifestyle. A pure heart is a born again heart that has been washed with the blood of our savior, Jesus Christ. It is through the shedding of the blood of Christ on the cross that we have been made right and pure in the eyes of God. A pure heart is a saved heart that is humble and sincere. It is not an evil, proud, boastful heart.
God desires for all to be made pure; even the wicked.
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby, in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statues of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live,” (Ezekiel 33: 11-16).
Just like in the Old Testament this same concept of obedience and purity is found in the New Testament. The book of Romans speaks specifically on the circumcision of the heart and it also speaks on putting on Christ who is the seal of our purity in God. A circumcised heart is a heart in which the foreskin of sin has been cut away. “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore, if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly: neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God,” (Romans 2: 25-29).
“For there is no respect of persons with God,” (Romans 2:11).
“Blessed are the Pure in Heart for they shall see God,” (Matthew 5:8).
“Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, saw God’s feet. “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abhi, and seventy elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness, And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink,” (Exodus 24: 9-11).
A Prayer for Purity (Psalms 51:7-10).
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” (Psalms 51:7).
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
Blessings