Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see
God. (Matthew 5:7 KJV)
Jesus is saying what King David said so many years ago: Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a
pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what
is false. (Psalm
24:3-4 NIV)
By being truthful and seeking God a person can begin to have a pure
heart. When he does these things, He
will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his
Savior. (Psalm 24:5 NIV) There is more to being pure in heart, however. Solomon said,"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I
am pure from my sin?" (Proverbs 20:9 KJV). The
answer is that no one can do it by himself. That is why "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans
5:8 NKJV). Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, we can believe with our heart unto righteousness. The
scriptures say, "The word is near
you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which
we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will
be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans
10:8-10 NKJV).
Paul told Timothy that he could call on the Lord with a pure heart if
he departed from sin in the name of Christ and cleansed himself. He
said, "Nevertheless the solid
foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who
are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from
iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and
silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for
dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will
be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared
for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out
of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19-22 NKJV).
Peter also explained how we can come to have a pure heart through Jesus
Christ. He said, "...you were not
redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your
aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in
God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your
faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren,
love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again,
not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God
which lives and abides forever, because "All flesh is as grass, And all
the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its
flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this
is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1
Peter 1:18-25 NKJV).
We are all unclean. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver
me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our
Lord. (Romans 7:24-25 KJV).
