No one is making that claim. Perhaps you might actually read the post before succumbing to the fleshes insatiable desire to justify itself.
The Doctrine of Faith
- Thread starter civic
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No one is making that claim. Perhaps you might actually read the post before succumbing to the fleshes insatiable desire to justify itself.
civic
Well-known member
no you add obeying the law tying it to ones salvation.
I posted Paul's words that you omitted. It was him and Jesus, and their Father who teaches, "If thou would enter life, keep God's commandments" (That HE before ordained that men should walk in them)
Your adopted religious sect doesn't believe in or promote these Inspired Words of God given to His Son Jesus, and the Apostles He gave to His Son, like Paul. I do believe Him, therefore, we disagree.
civic
Well-known member
More out of context isolated verses to support your FALSE TEACHING- Legalism
The person Jesus was talking to obeyed the commandments and Jesus told him he was still lacking. And he walked away from Jesus since the Lord demanded more from him.
next fallacy from your pharisaical religion of the law.
Matt 19
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
dwight92070
Well-known member
I heard it put this way: Faith is to believe in and to trust in His faithfulness.
dwight92070
Well-known member
I agree real faith like James says results in good works but they are not in the flesh but in the spirit. Paul says the same thing in Eph 2:10- we were created and saved for good works.
The reformers got that wrong. They need reforming.
They have created a false dilemma fallacy with their position on works. We are not talking about the law but obedience and the will which Jesus and the Apostles addressed in their teachings. Synergism is clearly taught in the entire N.T.
What do you mean by "synergism is taught in the N.T.?
civic
Well-known member
Good definition
civic
Well-known member
Meaning man has a responsibility to respond to the gospel with their willingness to believe and receive the message by faith
dwight92070
Well-known member
I still see baptism as a work.
Synergism - Interaction of discreet agencies, agents, or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Sorry, I'm still not getting the connection.
Synergism - Interaction of discreet agencies, agents, or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Sorry, I'm still not getting the connection.
civic
Well-known member
Baptism is a work which follows salvation
civic
Well-known member
Calvinism/ Monergism teaches God saves/ regenerates man prior to believing the gospel and its Gods work whereas synergism teaches man by faith receives / believes the gospel then is regenerated by God and therefor saved by God.
But the Jesus "of the Bible" teaches that "many", after having the heard the gospel, will preach in His Name, do wonderful works in His Name, but refuse to "put on" the New man, "which after God" (Not religious man) is created in righteousness and "true holiness". These men choose instead to live by and promote the religious traditions, doctrines and philosophies of this world's religious sects and business. Jesus warns specifically about these "many"
I advocate that men listen to the Jesus "of the Bible" and the Holy Scriptures inspired by His Father "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works".
"Good Works" that Jesus instructed His people to Live By, that God before ordained that men should walk in them. For this understanding, I am labeled as a heretic by these same promoters of this world's religions. In this I am Blessed.
civic
Well-known member
you are rambling and your comments have nothing to do with my quote you responded to.
civic
Well-known member
maybe you could attempt to answer the questions in the OP.
The thing is.. Jesus is the object of faith.. He is the one that saves us eternally. So, He promises, that by belief on Him, He will give the gift of eternal life to the person believing.
So its about Him..not us doing good.
Doing good before salvation is just putting perfume on a corpse. It does nothing for our eternal destiny.
Doing good after wards is for Jesus. In response to the gift given by Him.
Not to gain salvation or earn it.
John 3:16, 5:24, 6:40. Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9 are some among many verses that show this.
The object of the faith is not us. It's Jesus. Therefore good works are give backs to Him..not to earn salvation.
So its about Him..not us doing good.
Doing good before salvation is just putting perfume on a corpse. It does nothing for our eternal destiny.
Doing good after wards is for Jesus. In response to the gift given by Him.
Not to gain salvation or earn it.
John 3:16, 5:24, 6:40. Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9 are some among many verses that show this.
The object of the faith is not us. It's Jesus. Therefore good works are give backs to Him..not to earn salvation.
Johann
Well-known member
You are correct @Studyman
Titus 3:8:
"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."
Titus 3:14:
"And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful."
Matthew 5:16:
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Ephesians 2:10:
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Colossians 1:10:
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."
2 Timothy 3:17:
"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Hebrews 10:24:
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
1 Peter 2:12:
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."
James 2:18:
"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
Galatians 6:9-10:
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Romans 12:21:
"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
1 Timothy 6:18:
"That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate."
James 1:27:
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
These passages collectively affirm that good works are an essential fruit of faith, not for salvation but as evidence of a transformed life in Christ.
It should be heart knowledge and not head knowledge.
J.
These would be "Good works" as defined by God, Yes?
Deut. 28: 28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Rom. 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
But these wouldn't be "man's" religious traditions, man's religious high days, man's judgments, man's images of God in the likeness of men. According to Paul, these would be "good works, which God (Not religious man) hath "before ordained" that we should walk in them.
In other words, the "works" men would see, are God's Works that HE before ordained that men should walk in them. And then it is God who is glorified, not religious traditions of men.
As Paul also teaches in Romans 2: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing "seek for" glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
And where does a man "Seek for" these things, according to Jesus? Do I go to the religious businesses of this world and Live By their definition of "good"? Or do I "Seek first, the Kingdom of God and HIS Righteousness" to find these things? Here is what Paul teaches.
1 Tim. 3: 16 All scripture (Not all religious sects and businesses of this world) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, "for instruction in righteousness": That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto "all good works".
Actually, according to Scriptures, a man's works shows who he has faith in, or as Paul teaches, who he has yielded himself a servant to obey. Even if a man calls Jesus Lord, Lord, and teaches in His Name, and transforms himself into an apostle of Christ, if he "Works Iniquity", the Jesus "of the bible" says HE doesn't know them.
This is why this same Jesus warns us specifically about the "Many", "who comes in Christ's Name", to take heed of their preaching.
Therefore, men who reject God's Judgments and create their own. Reject God's Commandments and sabbaths and create their own. Create images of God in the likeness of man. Who reject the Feasts of the Lord but create their own high days in worship of their created image of God, these are not "Fruits" of the Faith promoted by the Jesus of the Bible.
It should be knowledge of God and HIS Righteousness, and the "Yielding of ourselves" to Him, as Paul teaches. Not just with lip service, but to actually become "Servants of HIS Righteousness", not the traditions, high days and philosophies of the world God placed us in. At least this is what the Scriptu5res teach when Every Word of God is considered.
civic
Well-known member
It’s both the mind and the heart
The Spirit and the Mind. A check up from the neck up! The Mind is a Battlefield.
Battlefield means the field or ground upon which a battle is fought. 2. and area of contention, conflict, or hostile opposition.” A battlefield is a place of hostile opposition. A battlefield is a place where battles are won and lost. Everyday – every moment – there is a battle going on in our minds between right and wrong, good and bad, God’s way or Satan’s way, the Spirit or the flesh. It is our wills that determine who wins control of our minds, and because actions follow thoughts, ultimately who wins control of our very lives
The enemy attacked Eve in her mind/reasoning and tried the same with Jesus. He tried to cause doubt with Gods word and succeeded with Eve (did God really say? And you will not surely die) and he failed with Jesus. He attacks us today in the same way. The sword of the spirit which is the word of God is our only offensive weapon and defense against our enemy. Jesus did not use Hid Divine power as God to defeat satan, He used the same means we have at our disposal to defeat the enemy- the Word of God!
1-We must know Gods Word- Jesus used Gods word against the enemy.
2-We must memorize Gods Word. Ps 119:11, Ps 37:31, Ps 40:8
3- We must meditate on Gods Word- Joshua 1:8, Ps 1:2, Ps 119:147-48
4- We must use Gods Word- John 14:26. It is written was Jesus’ response. Matt 4:1-11
5- We must train ourselves in Gods Word- discipline, training, practice. 1 Tim 4:7, 1 Cor 9:25-27, 2 Tim 2:1-7.
Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Our destiny is tied directly to and starts with our thoughts.
Romans 8:5-14-Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit havetheir minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mindgoverned by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindgoverned by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God
Colossians 3:1-10- Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that areabove, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.5 Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it
1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.
Galatians 5:16-18- So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16- However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 12:1-2-Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesians 4:17-25-Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Philippians 2:1-5 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Philippians 4:8-Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
Proverbs 4:23- Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Proverbs 23:7- As a man thinks in his heart so is he. Cf Deut 4:9, Proverbs 4. Col 3:23, Prov 22:29
hope this helps !!!
civic
Well-known member
Continued with the heart
It’s a Matter of the Heart, what consumes your heart?
1-As a man thinks in his heart so is he – Proverbs 23:7
2-A man speaks from what fills his heart- Luke 6:45. Where your treasure is there you heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
3-Jesus said to the church in Ephesus: I have this against you- you have left your first love, therefor remember from where you have fallen, repent and do the things you did at first- Revelations 2:4-5- “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “’I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Jeremiah 2:2
4-What was it like when you first came to Christ and experienced His love? Remember what it was like when you pursued your first love or the one you married? How much time did you spend together? Asking questions getting to know each other better? Finding out what she liked, disliked, pleased her, made her happy, the things you did together, etc…… Those are the same types of things in our relationship with Jesus we should consider. That 1st love , seeking to spend time with our Lord getting to know Him through His word, prayer, fellowship, growing in our relationship with Him.
5- The hearts condition: The heart is desperately wicked who can understand it. Jeremiah 17:9. the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2. Galatians 5:17. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11
Bible Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heart
Heart
"Heart" (Hebrew lebab/leb [b'bel], Gk. kardia [kardiva]) occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the Scripture. It denotes a person's center for both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities; sometimes it is used figuratively for any inaccessible thing.
The Heart as Center of Physical Activity. "Heart" denotes to both ancient and modern peoples the beating chest organ protected by the rib cage. Ancient people, however, understood the heart's physical function differently than moderns. From their viewpoint the heart was the central organ that moved the rest of the body. Ancients ate to strengthen the heart and so revive the body. Abraham offers his weary guests food so that they might "sustain their hearts" and then go on their way ( Gen 18:5 ). Since moderns understand the anatomy differently than the ancients, the English versions gloss the Hebrew to accommodate it to a more scientific viewpoint.
A Figure of Inaccessibility. The hiddenness and inaccessibility of the physical heart give rise to its figurative sense for anything that is remote and inaccessible. The "heart of the seas" ( Jonah 2:3 ) refers to the sea's fathomless, unapproachable depths and the "heart of the heavens" is its most unreachable height.
The Heart as Center of Hidden Emotional-Intellectual-Moral Activity. "Man looks at the outward appearance, " says Samuel, "but the lord looks at the heart" ( 1 Sam 16:7 ). The king's heart is unsearchable to humankind ( Prov 25:3 ), but the Lord searches all hearts to reward all according to their conduct ( Jer 17:10 ). In the time of judgment God will expose the hidden counsels of the heart ( 1 Cor 4:5 ).
Jesus says that the heart's secrets are betrayed by the mouth, even as a tree's fruit discloses its nature ( Matt 12:33-34 ). "A wise man's heart guides his mouth, " says Solomon ( Prov 16:23 ). Most important, the mouth confesses what the heart trusts ( Rom 10:9 ; cf. Deut 30:14 ).
Moderns connect some of the heart's emotional-intellectual-moral functions with the brain and glands, but its functions are not precisely equivalent for three reasons.
It’s a Matter of the Heart, what consumes your heart?
1-As a man thinks in his heart so is he – Proverbs 23:7
2-A man speaks from what fills his heart- Luke 6:45. Where your treasure is there you heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
3-Jesus said to the church in Ephesus: I have this against you- you have left your first love, therefor remember from where you have fallen, repent and do the things you did at first- Revelations 2:4-5- “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the LORD says: “’I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown. Jeremiah 2:2
4-What was it like when you first came to Christ and experienced His love? Remember what it was like when you pursued your first love or the one you married? How much time did you spend together? Asking questions getting to know each other better? Finding out what she liked, disliked, pleased her, made her happy, the things you did together, etc…… Those are the same types of things in our relationship with Jesus we should consider. That 1st love , seeking to spend time with our Lord getting to know Him through His word, prayer, fellowship, growing in our relationship with Him.
5- The hearts condition: The heart is desperately wicked who can understand it. Jeremiah 17:9. the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2. Galatians 5:17. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11
Bible Dictionaries - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heart
Heart
"Heart" (Hebrew lebab/leb [b'bel], Gk. kardia [kardiva]) occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common anthropological term in the Scripture. It denotes a person's center for both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities; sometimes it is used figuratively for any inaccessible thing.
The Heart as Center of Physical Activity. "Heart" denotes to both ancient and modern peoples the beating chest organ protected by the rib cage. Ancient people, however, understood the heart's physical function differently than moderns. From their viewpoint the heart was the central organ that moved the rest of the body. Ancients ate to strengthen the heart and so revive the body. Abraham offers his weary guests food so that they might "sustain their hearts" and then go on their way ( Gen 18:5 ). Since moderns understand the anatomy differently than the ancients, the English versions gloss the Hebrew to accommodate it to a more scientific viewpoint.
A Figure of Inaccessibility. The hiddenness and inaccessibility of the physical heart give rise to its figurative sense for anything that is remote and inaccessible. The "heart of the seas" ( Jonah 2:3 ) refers to the sea's fathomless, unapproachable depths and the "heart of the heavens" is its most unreachable height.
The Heart as Center of Hidden Emotional-Intellectual-Moral Activity. "Man looks at the outward appearance, " says Samuel, "but the lord looks at the heart" ( 1 Sam 16:7 ). The king's heart is unsearchable to humankind ( Prov 25:3 ), but the Lord searches all hearts to reward all according to their conduct ( Jer 17:10 ). In the time of judgment God will expose the hidden counsels of the heart ( 1 Cor 4:5 ).
Jesus says that the heart's secrets are betrayed by the mouth, even as a tree's fruit discloses its nature ( Matt 12:33-34 ). "A wise man's heart guides his mouth, " says Solomon ( Prov 16:23 ). Most important, the mouth confesses what the heart trusts ( Rom 10:9 ; cf. Deut 30:14 ).
Moderns connect some of the heart's emotional-intellectual-moral functions with the brain and glands, but its functions are not precisely equivalent for three reasons.
civic
Well-known member
continued :
First, moderns do not normally associate the brain/mind with both rational and nonrational activities, yet the ancients did not divorce them ( Psalm 20:4 ).
Second, the heart's reasoning, as well as its feeling, depends on its moral condition. Jesus said that "from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts" ( Mark 7:21 ). Because the human heart is deceitful above all things ( Jer 17:9 ) and folly is found up in the heart of a child ( Prov 22:15 ), the Spirit of God must give humans a new heart ( Jer 31:33 ; Ezek 36:26 ) through faith that purifies it ( Acts 15:9 ; cf. Eph 3:17 ).
Third, moderns distinguish between the brain's thoughts and a person's actions, but the distinction between thought and action is inappropriate for heart. "The word is very near you, " says Moses to a regenerated Israel, "in your mouth and in your heart" ( Deut 30:14 ).
The Heart's Emotional Functions. The Lord, who knows our hearts ( Luke 16:15 ), experiences its full range of emotions: for example, its joy ( Deut 28:47 ; 1 Sam 2:1 ; Prov 15:15 ) and its sorrow ( 1 Sam 1:8 ); its raging ( 2 Kings 6:11 ) and its peace ( Col 3:15 ); its feeling troubled ( John 14:1 ) and its rejoicing ( 1 Sam 2:1 ; Psalm 104:15 ); its love ( Rom 5:5 ; 1 Peter 1:22 ) and its selfish ambition ( James 3:14 ); its modes of doubts ( Mark 11:23 ) and of fear ( Gen 42:28 ) and its mode of trusting ( Prov 3:5 ); when it rises up in repulsive pride ( Deut 8:14 ) or, as in the case of Jesus, is lowly and humble ( Matt 11:29 ); and when one loses heart ( Heb 12:3 ) or takes heart ( John 16:33 ).
The emotional state of the heart affects the rest of a person: "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit" ( Prov 15:13 ); "a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" ( 17:22 ).
The heart also wishes, desires. The father warns his son against coveting the adulteress's beauty ( Prov 6:25 ) and against envying sinners in his heart ( Prov 23:17 ). Above all else the heart of a saint seeks God ( Psalms 119:2 Psalms 119:10 ). Believers set it on things above ( Col 3:1 ). This is effected, says Jesus, by putting your treasures in heaven, for "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" ( Matt 6:21). If we look for God with all our heart, Moses promises we will find him ( Deut 4:28-29 ).
The Heart's Intellectual-Spiritual Functions. The heart thinks ( Matt 9:4 ; Mark 2:8 ), remembers, reflects, and meditates ( Psalm 77:5-6 ; Luke 2:19 ). Solomon's comprehensive knowledge of flora and fauna is described as his breadth of heart ( 1 Kings 4:29 ).
More specifically, as the eyes were meant to see and the ears to hear, the heart is meant to understand, to discern, to give insight. The Alexandrian Jewish scribes translated into Greek about 200 b.c. the Hebrew text of Proverbs 2:10, "wisdom will enter your heart" by "wisdom will come into your understanding (dianoian [diavnoia])" because to them it meant the same thing. When a person lacks insight the Hebrew speaks of a "lack of heart."
Understanding cannot be separated from morals. Isaiah was commissioned: "Make the heart of this people calloused; otherwise they might understand with their hearts" ( Isa 6:10 ). Pharaoh hardened his heart lest he hear Moses and gain insight about the Lord ( Exod 8:15 ), and the Lord hardened it irrevocably ( 7:13 ; 9:12 ). Paul says of the perverse, their foolish hearts were darkened ( Rom 1:21 ); they could not see the light of moral truth. The hearts of saints, however, are enlightened ( 2 Col 4:6 ; Eph 1:18 ).
Moderns speak of learning by heart, by which they mean rote memory. In the Bible, however, learning by heart is not like memorizing the multiplication tables; it must be mixed with spiritual affections. The Lord complains of apostate Israel that their worship "is made up only of rules taught by men" but "their hearts are far from me" ( Isa 29:13 ).
First, moderns do not normally associate the brain/mind with both rational and nonrational activities, yet the ancients did not divorce them ( Psalm 20:4 ).
Second, the heart's reasoning, as well as its feeling, depends on its moral condition. Jesus said that "from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts" ( Mark 7:21 ). Because the human heart is deceitful above all things ( Jer 17:9 ) and folly is found up in the heart of a child ( Prov 22:15 ), the Spirit of God must give humans a new heart ( Jer 31:33 ; Ezek 36:26 ) through faith that purifies it ( Acts 15:9 ; cf. Eph 3:17 ).
Third, moderns distinguish between the brain's thoughts and a person's actions, but the distinction between thought and action is inappropriate for heart. "The word is very near you, " says Moses to a regenerated Israel, "in your mouth and in your heart" ( Deut 30:14 ).
The Heart's Emotional Functions. The Lord, who knows our hearts ( Luke 16:15 ), experiences its full range of emotions: for example, its joy ( Deut 28:47 ; 1 Sam 2:1 ; Prov 15:15 ) and its sorrow ( 1 Sam 1:8 ); its raging ( 2 Kings 6:11 ) and its peace ( Col 3:15 ); its feeling troubled ( John 14:1 ) and its rejoicing ( 1 Sam 2:1 ; Psalm 104:15 ); its love ( Rom 5:5 ; 1 Peter 1:22 ) and its selfish ambition ( James 3:14 ); its modes of doubts ( Mark 11:23 ) and of fear ( Gen 42:28 ) and its mode of trusting ( Prov 3:5 ); when it rises up in repulsive pride ( Deut 8:14 ) or, as in the case of Jesus, is lowly and humble ( Matt 11:29 ); and when one loses heart ( Heb 12:3 ) or takes heart ( John 16:33 ).
The emotional state of the heart affects the rest of a person: "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit" ( Prov 15:13 ); "a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" ( 17:22 ).
The heart also wishes, desires. The father warns his son against coveting the adulteress's beauty ( Prov 6:25 ) and against envying sinners in his heart ( Prov 23:17 ). Above all else the heart of a saint seeks God ( Psalms 119:2 Psalms 119:10 ). Believers set it on things above ( Col 3:1 ). This is effected, says Jesus, by putting your treasures in heaven, for "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" ( Matt 6:21). If we look for God with all our heart, Moses promises we will find him ( Deut 4:28-29 ).
The Heart's Intellectual-Spiritual Functions. The heart thinks ( Matt 9:4 ; Mark 2:8 ), remembers, reflects, and meditates ( Psalm 77:5-6 ; Luke 2:19 ). Solomon's comprehensive knowledge of flora and fauna is described as his breadth of heart ( 1 Kings 4:29 ).
More specifically, as the eyes were meant to see and the ears to hear, the heart is meant to understand, to discern, to give insight. The Alexandrian Jewish scribes translated into Greek about 200 b.c. the Hebrew text of Proverbs 2:10, "wisdom will enter your heart" by "wisdom will come into your understanding (dianoian [diavnoia])" because to them it meant the same thing. When a person lacks insight the Hebrew speaks of a "lack of heart."
Understanding cannot be separated from morals. Isaiah was commissioned: "Make the heart of this people calloused; otherwise they might understand with their hearts" ( Isa 6:10 ). Pharaoh hardened his heart lest he hear Moses and gain insight about the Lord ( Exod 8:15 ), and the Lord hardened it irrevocably ( 7:13 ; 9:12 ). Paul says of the perverse, their foolish hearts were darkened ( Rom 1:21 ); they could not see the light of moral truth. The hearts of saints, however, are enlightened ( 2 Col 4:6 ; Eph 1:18 ).
Moderns speak of learning by heart, by which they mean rote memory. In the Bible, however, learning by heart is not like memorizing the multiplication tables; it must be mixed with spiritual affections. The Lord complains of apostate Israel that their worship "is made up only of rules taught by men" but "their hearts are far from me" ( Isa 29:13 ).
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