Something we all need.
When Christ was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” his answer showed where true spirituality begins: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart”
If this is as important as Jesus says it is—and it is. It's Beyond what we could ever imagine—then we need clarity about what he meant, so that we will have greater clarity in how to obey. A pure, uninterrupted commitment to God and His will is the very basis of a proper relationship with Him.
Heart is in the Bible just under 1,000 times, the word “heart” is used in the Bible more than any other for the inner self.
Inner self? There is more to it than the "inner self." There is also the "outer self." Or, as I like to call it, the "whole being" of a person, for a born-again person would have been restored to a trichotomy, or a three-fold person: body, soul, and human spirit.
The "heart" in the Old Testament always referred to the "whole being of a person" although before the advent of the Holy Spirit of Promise was not yet given to Israel and so God's chosen people were only body and soul - no human spirit. For the human spirit was created the moment one became born-again, and God restored the person to a trichotomy of body, soul, and human spirit.
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness. Eph 4:24.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new *
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Co 5:17.
*created and creature are the same Greek words which when translitered back into Hebrew is the word "bara" which is the same word in Genesis used of God creating "something out of nothing."
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and
soul and
body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:23.
Those that are not born again, such as the unchosen and non-covenant and unconverted remain as they were born into the world as only body and soul - no human spirit.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28.
There are no three-part persons in "hell."
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6:45
Just as only a good tree can bear good fruit and a grapevine produce grapes, so only a good heart can produce good. We can tell if someone has a bad heart by listening to their words.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Why do Gentiles always quote the Hebrew Scriptures as though God is speaking to them? That "new heart" God promised was a promise made to Israel, not Gentiles.
There is nothing significant about the proverbial "heart" that only pumps blood. It is the mind where all salvation occurs, not the proverbial "heart." Jesus does not live in anyone's "heart." Jesus resides in heaven, and it is the Holy Spirit who dwells within the born-again believer. The Spirit of Christ is He whom God gave to His elect people and He is also known as "Christ" or "Comforter" or "Advocate" or simply, "Holy Spirit." Holy Ghost is the same for "Spirit" and "Ghost" were words the KJV translators used as they were chosen from out of both Cambridge and Westminster universities.
Thus, repentance occurs in the mind for the word "metanoia" is Greek for "changing one's mind." All the proverbial "heart" does is pump blood, which is all. True conversion occurs in the mind which is part of the soul. God commands His people to not only get wisdom, but also to get knowledge and knowledge is what takes place in the mind. Proverbs bear this out.
