The Pure in Heart

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Tit. 1:15). A lot of religious folks today really need to think about this scripture until they come to the same conclusion that the holy Ghost brought the apostle Paul to. There are far too many commandments of men present in the body of Christ today that have to do with external things. The truth is, God's people have been taught holiness, not according to what the Spirit of truth says, but according to "the precept of men" (Isa. 29:13). Holiness is the absence of sin, and the absence of sin is a pure heart that is free from sin. That is why Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for THEY shall see God" (Mat. 5:8). And that is exactly what the apostle Paul said, giving us the flip side as well: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which NO MAN shall see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14). And I should add that when sin is absent from someone's heart, that heart is going to be FULL of the love of God, as Peter stated: Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (I Pet. 1:22). And as I so often set forth, it is the holy Ghost, and the holy Ghost alone, that can and does purify anyone's heart from sin, and fills it with God's love: "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, [by] the Spirit of our God" (I Cor. 6:11). And again: " And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts BY the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). When we are baptized with the Spirit of God into the body of Christ, we are made a "new creature," and are able to "walk in newness of life" (I Cor. 12:13; II Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3,4). And that newness of life means to "put OFF the old man with his deeds; And put ON the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:9,10). And I assure you that GOD'S image is holiness. And that is why the Lord requires holiness from all who would follow him and attain unto eternal life, as Peter told us: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (I Pet. 1:13-16). And it is certain that we simply cannot do better than being pure in heart and full of the love of God. That is what the apostle Paul was alluding to in the following statement of truth: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Gal. 6:15). Again, we just cannot do better than becoming a new creature in Christ, and thereby full of the love of God. And we cannot add anything to that experience except MORE OF THE SAME!! Not only so, but if we TRY to add anything to the pure love of God dwelling in us, we will end up only taking away FROM it.

Jesus made it abundantly clear that NO EXTERNAL THING could defile a man: "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man... Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats. And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mk. 7:15,19-23). And by the same token there is nothing that can be done by external means that can make the heart pure from sin. Only faith in Jesus that results in the baptism of the holy Ghost can accomplish that, and that is an internal, spiritual operation of the power of God. But the body of Christ today is subject to many commandments and doctrines that apply to external things, and these commandments of men are set forth for the purpose of working in both directions. There are many varying Christian affiliations that have their external commandments in order, whether for hair and dress codes, or dietary matters, or avoiding certain symbols or objects, or observance of carnal ordinances, or observance of days, etc. For instance, Jesus said, as is quoted above, that the law of clean and unclean meats under the old covenant was fulfilled, as he also showed to Peter and to Paul at a later time (Acts 10:9-16; I Tim. 4:4,5). And the apostle Paul made it crystal clear that ALL of the carnal ordinances of the law are fulfilled IN CHRIST (Rom. 8:4; Rom. 10:4; I Cor. 1:17; I Cor. 5:7,8; I Cor. 10:16,17; Gal. 3:3; Gal. 5:18; Eph. 2:15; Eph. 4:5; Philip. 3:3; Col. 2:10,16,17; Heb. 9:9,10). Friend, if you're heart is full of God's undefiled love, you will be led BY that love, which in reality is his Spirit; to do all things in a holy and sensible manner that brings no reproach on his name. On the other hand, if you're heart is NOT filled with the holy love of God, NO DEGREE of external practices and observance will be able to save you. PERIOD! In fact, paying attention to and giving regard to external carnal things, whether for avoidance or observance sake, will TAKE AWAY regard from the heart for the real spiritual things that Jesus died and rose to provide for us (Gal. 5:4,7,8,14-16). Not only so, but being in an environment where any of these kinds of things are upheld and observed, will also cultivate a judgmental, condemning spirit toward others in Christ who do NOT observe the same things. That is why the Pharisees condemned Jesus and his disciples for not observing their traditions such as the vigorous show of hand washing before eating (Mat. 15:2). But if we abide in the love of God, and give all of our focus, priority, and godly regard to the Spirit of his love that Jesus paid with his life for us to have; there will be nothing to take away from our love and regard for him; or to distract from our love for one another. And that is the mind that the apostle Paul was in when he wrote the following words: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Rom. 14:17,19). And all I can say to that my friend, is Amen.