PURE IN HEART

By Jay Moceri

Chapters 

1 Pure in Heart
2 False Prophets
3 Covenant and Dispensation Deceitful Heart?
4 Purified Our Hearts
5 True Heart
6 The Power of the Cross Living Out of a Pure Heart 

Chapter 1

PURE IN HEART

“Blessed is the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) 

God told us, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. This makes it clear that God’s word is spiritual food. In going through Matthew 5:8, there is so much truth to be ingested that like a full meal we must take it one bite at a time. To get the maximum nutrition from God’s word, a person must 1) hear it and then 2) receive it as an absolute truth for them to live by personally. In the process of hearing the truth of God’s Word, if a person comes up with reasons why it does not apply to them (based upon any list of reasons, but not limited to). 

1. a) That has not been my life experience

2. b) I have been taught differently

3. c) That is not culturally or politically correct

4. d) You don’t know the wrongs that have been done to me by my Father,

Mother family, Husband, Wife, Friend, Boss, Co-worker, Leaders at church, etc. etc. 

1. e) You don’t know the emotional pain I have been through or am living in.

2. f) This list can go on forever...

Though each one of those reasons may be true to their life, it is only truth that is in and of God’s word that will set them free. Any person that has come up with reasons not to hear and receive the truth of God’s word can be likened to a person who has become sick due to malnutrition. The reason they have become sick is because they have not eaten the healthy nutritious truth of God’s Word. When they have been offered the truth of God’s word it is as though they sat down at an amazing banquet that is rich in nutrients, but rejected the opportunity to eat based upon their list of reasons. As a result of rejecting the nutritious food of the truth of God’s Word they stay sick and never become well. Once most people decide to leave the banquet table of the truth of God’s word, they proceed to find the nearest candy store or the place they have been getting junk food from. Then they gorge on food that has no nutritional value and become even more sick. One thing to note is, it is only the truth of God’s word that will set you free. The Truth will set you free, the Lie will make you die. Many people including myself have been taught lies about God’s word and have become sick. When I say sick I am not talking about just physical sickness. There are so many other ways to be sick: spiritually, emotionally, relationally and financially are just some. When a person has accepted a lie or misunderstanding of truth that is found in God’s word, it is as though they are eating the food that has no nutrition and that will make them sick. lies or misunderstandings of the truth of God’s word, often come from well-intended pastors and teachers who believe they are teaching the truth. The way to know what is a true teaching of the word of God is to observe “The Word Of God’s Life”. Jesus according to John chapter 1 is the Word of God. His life, actions and teaching are the way to filter all theology (new or old testament). Remember He is The Way The Truth and The Life. 

The scriptures warn us about many things that are unhealthy for God’s children. God’s word even goes as far as to let us know that some things may be hard to understand and that some people will take the truth of God’s word and twist it into something destructive. Second Peter states the following concerning some of the difficult to understand teachings of the Apostle Paul. 

2 Peter 3:15-16
as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which ​untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 

Satan twisted the truth of the Word of God when he tried to tempt Jesus into sin. Jesus Christ being the “Word of God” and the “Truth” was not led to destruction by Satan who twisted the truth of God’s Word. I have found that I have had to repent and relearn much of the Christian teaching that I had been taught by Pastor’s and Teacher’s that (again) were well intended. Repent means to change your thinking. 

In 2 Peter 3:15-16 when it states that they are untaught it does not mean that they did not go to school or seminary and learn. What it means is that they did not learn the truth of God’s word by the Spirit of truth. What they were taught was lies rather than the truth of God’s word. This has been going on since the beginning of time. There are many warnings in the bible about the topic of false teaching and exhortations towards those who teach. 

James 3:1 let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment 

2 Tim 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

Mythos is the word for Fables which can mean a fable but also means an invention, a falsehood 

1 Tim 1:3-5
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

The word “command” is strictly used for commands received from a superior (In this case “JESUS who is the Truth of Word of GOD”) and transmitted to others. In other words, if it does not come from the truth of God’s word then, it is false teaching and it will not produce God’s life. Jesus is the Truth, of the Way, to live Life on earth. 

Chapter 2

FALSE PROPHETS

Mat 7:15 Jesus said
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves”. 

The warning here is these teachers, can and do look, and act very much like a normal pastor teacher, but unfortunately if it is not the truth of the Word of God then it will avail no spiritual freedom and life. 

I am not on a Witch hunt here or saying you have been intentionally taught lies by all the church pastors and teachers you have learned from. In fact most teachers have much truth mixed in so it is hard to tell them apart. 

Luke 4:18 Jesus said
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. If these things are not being taught as part of the foundational truths or there is contrary teaching to these things then they are false. I could go on with another twenty or more scriptures that teach us to be aware of false teaching, but I think the point has been made. 

1 John 2:26-27
These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 

John 14:16-17
And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

This teaches that every believer has God’s Holy Spirit of Truth in them. Yet there are many verses that warn us that there are deceivers who seek to rob you of the truth that lives in every believer of Jesus Christ. 

Chapter 3

COVENANT AND DISPENSATION (Deceitful Heart?)

Many New Testament believing Pastors teach from a lack of understanding and revelation concerning the ramifications of what Jesus did on the Cross and what transpired when Jesus secured the new covenant there. If a teaching is not taught and or lived out by Jesus, who is perfect theology, then it will not have the benefits that came through the new covenant dispensation which we are currently to be living in and by. Please note this does not mean that we should throw out everything in our bible but the Gospels. What it means is we are in Christ and it is in Him we live and move and have our being and He is the author and finisher of our faith therefore we look unto Him and His life to see how we should live. Jesus is the same today yesterday and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God showed me one way that He is and has always been the same. He is the God who has always made covenants with 

humanity. Each one is unique and separate from each other. The two primary covenants are 1) The Mosaic which is known as the Law. 2) The New Covenant which came through Jesus and is known as the covenant of Grace. 

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

Here is a list of Biblical covenants that I got from Wikipedia 

1. Innocence, in​ Eden​, before​ sin​ (Genesis 1:26-2:3)
2. Conscience, Adam and Eve, after sin (Genesis 3:14-19)
3. Civil government, (Genesis 9:8-17)
4.​ Abraham​, blessing (Genesis 12:1-3)
5. Abraham, land, (Genesis 15:9-21)
6. Abraham, circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14)
7. Abraham, offspring (Genesis 22:16-18)
8. Law,​ Moses​ and the Israelites (Exodus 19:5-6; 3:4-10; 6:7) 9. Land, Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy 30)
10. David and the Kingdom of Israel (2 Samuel 7:8-19)
11. The Kingdom proclaimed: John the Baptist (Luke 1:68-78) 12.​ Jesus​ (Matthew 26:28; 16:17-19)
13. The church (Acts 2)
14. The gentiles (Acts 9)
15. The tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
16. Kingdom and Millennium (Revelation 20)
17. The new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21) 

Number 12 (the New Covenant) is the game changer for number 13 (God’s covenant with the church). 

In the Bible a Covenant has the idea of cutting a deal or coming into an agreement with someone. Even in the old covenant God spoke of the new covenant and how He would give people a new heart and spirit. In the new covenant He also states He will put His Spirit within people and by His Spirit people will walk in His ways. The new heart is a pure heart. The new spirit is one that has been purified by the redemptive work of Jesus dying of a broken heart on the cross. Once people are given a new pure heart then the Holy Spirit of God moves into their heart (John 14:17). It is by the in-dwelling of God’s Spirit that individuals know Him and His will. Then it is by the power of His Spirit that they will then live-out their lives as witnesses of God (acts 1:8) doing the works and will of God on earth as it is in the kingdom of heaven. 

Ezekiel 36:26-27
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do ​them. 

In the new testament alone over a dozen times it states, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”! In that sentence the verb parsing for the first time the word “hear” is used is an Infinitive Mood meaning it is an absolute fact that you have an ear to hear. The second verb parsing is Imperative Mood which means and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. It is an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers. In other words it is very important that you really pay attention and get what is being said. Why would God be so intense about a person hearing? Well because He knows what He has to say is super healthy nutritious food that will make you well and keep you from being sick. In other words He is a good Father saying.... Eat your vegetables because you will grow up and be healthy and strong. My prayer is that all who read these words will take them to heart and live out healthy lives, because they have heard it and then receive it as an absolute truth for them to live by personally. 

Blessed is the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mat 5:8)
To start our meal let’s start with course one of this amazing meal, which is found in the word heart. Heart in the Greek is Kardia and though it does refer to the physical heart it also means so much more and for what God is communicating in Mat 5:8 the aspects of the Greek word are as follows. 

The soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors, emotions, 

Of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence Of the will and character
To summarize the meaning of the word “HEART” in Mat 5:8 it is the THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS AND WILL  

It is from our heart our character is expressed through the way we live our life. 

Chapter 4

DECEITFUL HEART?

Here is a question. WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD HEART in the context of God and the Bible have you ever or do you currently think and believe what God said about the heart of humanity as expressed in 

JER 17:19 

“MY heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it? 

It is important to NOTE THAT WHAT WAS STATED BY GOD IN JER 17:19 

WAS ALL SAID BEFORE JESUS died for our sins and was buried and rose again on the third day which is better known as the Gospel of the New covenant. 

.... JESUS SAID ....Not my will be done.... 

How often do we say O JESUS I want to be like you, Jesus Make me like you.... 

Jesus heart was and is pure..... and because it was He saw God 

REMEMBER BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD 

And Jesus saw God and He did His will, Jesus said I only do the will of My Father and I only do the things I see my Father doing John 5:19 

The cool thing is when we pray Jesus make me like you.... He says I did at the cross. You may say wait a minute my heart is not pure. Well that all depends on who you are listing to and believing. If you are listing to your flesh then no its not, but when does God ever tell you to listen to your flesh? In fact, the mind of the flesh is death and at war with God (Romans 8). If you are listing to the devil (or one if his followers, demons or people that are teaching their doctrine’s) then for sure you will believe your heart is not pure. Lastly if you listen to what God has to say about what He did for you when you believed in His Son's death and resurrection then you will conclude “Thank You God you have made me pure”! 

Thank You Father, that Your intention in making mankind was that all would look and act just like You Father God. Thank you Father, you have taught me the truth that I was born with an impure heart through my for-father Adam who was lied to and Kidnaped by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Thank You Father the last Adam Your Son Jesus came and redeemed me and made my heart PURE AND CLEAN. Thank you Jesus You washed me and purified my soul when I believed in you. That is really Good news (Gospel). 

Chapter 5

PURIFIED OUR HEARTS

There are many verses that teach that God purified our hearts 1 Peter 1:22 

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 (kä-thä-ro's) heart, 

The verb parsing for love one another fervently with a pure heart is
Tense:​ Aorist​ The action is to be done now
Voice: Active The active voice represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action
Mood: Imperative expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers. 

God is telling us we have purified our souls and we are to take the action currently of loving fervently with a pure heart 

2 Tim 2:22
pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

The parsing information for “call on the Lord out of a pure heart” is as follows 

Tense: Present​, The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. 

Voice: Middle​, The middle voice indicates the subject performing an action upon himself 

Mood: Participle​, The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting "-ing" or "-ed" being suffixed to the basic verb form. 

Below is the word for a “PURE” heart kä-thä-ro's 

1. Clean, pure 

1. Physically

   1. Purified by fire

   2. In a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so

fitted to bear fruit 

1. In a Levitical sense

1. Clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness 

3. Ethically 

1. Free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt

2. Free from every admixture of what is false, sincere

genuine 

1. Blameless, innocent

2. Unstained with the guilt of anything

What part of that definition has to do with a life full of sin or a life focused on sin? 

What part of that definition has to do with a heart that is not pure? 

Hagnos is akin to "pure" (see CHASTE​), "to purify, cleanse from defilement," is used of "purifying" 

(a) ceremonially,​ John 11:55​;​ Act 21:24​, 26 (cp. No. 3​ above​);​ 24:18​; 11

(b) morally, the heart,​ Jam 4:8​; the soul,​ 1Pe 1:22​; oneself,​ 1Jo 3:3​.
This word comes from the root word holy, which is used in the following ways in the 

new testament​ holy​ 161,​ saints​ 61,​ Holy One​ 4 

God tells us to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Why did God tell us to do this? God is using His Manifold wisdom here. One side of His wisdom is giving us instruction as to what we should pursue (righteousness, faith, love, peace) which are all things of His character so that we look and act like Him. The second thing God is doing in this verse is making it clear that there are people who call on Him out of a pure heart. For people to call on God out of a pure heart they must have a pure heart. God wants us to know that the Cross and the empty tomb is a game changer when it comes to the issues of the heart. What was impure He has made pure, the old selfish heart has been made new into a selfless heart. The heart that was full of sin and deceit has been made pure and is now full of righteousness and truth. 

He cleansed our heart’s when each one of us called Jesus to save us from our sins. Remember Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the Sin of the world. 

Mat 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." 

The word “save” in the above passage is Sozo in the Greek and there are many amazing blessings that come from Jesus “Sozo”ing us from our sins. Just one of the aspects of the definition is “the present experiences of God's power to deliver from the bondage of sin”. 

Here is the definition of the word “cleansed” in the phrase “what God has cleansed” 2. To make clean, cleanse 

1. From physical stains and dirt 

1. Utensils, food

2. A leper, to cleanse by curing

3. To remove by cleansing

12

2. In 

1. To free from defilement of sin and from faults

2. To purify from wickedness

3. To free from guilt of sin, to purify

4. To consecrate by cleansing or purifying

5. To consecrate, dedicate

3. To pronounce clean in a Levitical sense. 

Again what part of that definition has to do with a life full of sin or a life focused on sin or a heart that is not pure? The real question is do: you, I and the rest of the church believe this as an absolute fact and way to live from? 

2 Peter 3:1
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder) Take note Peter states “your pure mind”. 

Chapter 6

TRUE HEART 

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

True Heart. The word true is ​alēthinos and this is its meaning 

That which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine. 

1. Opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended 

1. It contrasts realities with their semblances

2. Opposite to what is imperfect, defective, frail, uncertain. a moral sense

It is the Name of Jesus we are name by and we are partakers of His divine nature (​2Pe 1:4​) 

Therefore, our hearts have been made like His Heart which is not Fictitious, Counterfeit, Imaginary, simulated, or pretended. Our hearts are therefore also now the opposite of that which is imperfect or defective, frail and uncertain. Why is it that our hearts are not uncertain, because....We can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith 

“Full Assurance of faith” means: a most certain confidence of Faith, therefore we are not uncertain, because we have had our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. 

The word sprinkled (​rhantizō)​ means to cleanse by sprinkling, hence to purify, cleanse 

Here we see that God tells us we can draw near to Him with a True Heart by faith because we have had our Hearts sprinkled (cleansed/purified) 

What are we having our hearts sprinkled from? An evil conscience. 

Evil is defined as ​ponēros
Full of labours, annoyances, hardships 

1. Pressed and harassed by labours

2. Bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith

and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble bad, of a bad nature or condition 

1. In a physical sense: diseased or blind

2. In an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad

The definition for Conscience in the Greek is 

The witness borne to one's conduct by conscience, that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives;" hence the sense of guiltiness before God; 

The question may be how then do we separate our minds from the constant bombardment of a world filled with sin and temptation. The understanding of the word “from” is powerfully impactive to help us. 

The word From is “apo” in the Greek and its definition is of separation, of local separation, i.e. of departing, of fleeing, of separation of a part from the whole
(that is our hearts were as a part evil and are now separated from the whole part of evil) of any kind of separation of one thing from another ​by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed. 

The conscience of Evil according to God has been destroyed. If we are to ever walk in this we must first know the truth of what God’s word clearly states then must cling to it and take it into our hearts and minds as our absolute truth to live by and through. 

Chapter 7

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

How and when were we sprinkled from an evil conscience Through The Cross 

Col 2:14-15
Having disarmed principalities and powers (of evil), He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in THE CROSS 

The Cross is when Jesus made us clean from and evil conscience and made us more than conquerors through His love 

John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends

This is why God states in Romans 8
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

IN WHAT THINGS
Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

All of the things may come our way but Jesus the “Way” said: 

BE OF GOOD CHEER
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 

Why can we have peace in these things? 

JOHN 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

And
EPH 2:14 FOR HE HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE... 

Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” 

But don’t stop there.

God’s workings and goal is not for us to just make it to heaven someday. His Goal is for us to be like Him representing the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth today..... your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.... Not my will be done but yours....why? Because He said, 

“Let us create man in our image...” Gen 1:26...and in Gen 1:27 “So God created man in His own image and in His image God created him.” 

God did not create us in the image of a fallen angel.... not in the image of a serpent ... but Gen 1:26 “we were created in His Image and likeness...” 

God created Adam to look like God....for Adam was the first son of God (Luke 3:33) Adam was the first representation of God on the earth he was made pure, holy and selfless.... In God’s image and likeness. Once Adam was deceived then he took on the likeness of the serpent and sin and the consciousness of sin. It was not the way he was originally created so God sent His Son the Last Adam (1 Cor 15:45) to redeem us back to our original created intention. 

Hebrews 10:2 makes it clear that the life of a worshiper that has been purified would no longer have a consciousness of sin. 

Hebrews 10:2
For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 

If we truly believe the truth of God’s word we should live with our consciousness cleansed from sin. 

LIVING OUT OF A PURE HEART 

Some may say that the teaching of living without a consciousness of sin is a license to sin. The statement is a contradiction in and of itself. How could you live without a consciousness of sin if you are sinning? The only way you can truly live without a consciousness of sin is if you are not sinning, otherwise you would be conscious of it. Some may say that the teaching of living without a consciousness of sin is heretical, because Jesus is the only one that was and is sinless. That statement is true concerning Jesus and at the same time according to what the bible clearly states we have the mind of Christ who is and has always been pure and free of sin. We are to live as He lived... This is not to say that you will never sin but it is to say that God made your heart pure at the point of salvation based on the truth of His Word as noted in many scriptures and the definitions of the words in those scriptures. God designed you to be focused on what He did for you on the cross rather than what His enemy did to you before the Cross or even what lie has tricked you into after the cross. God wants us to live in His truth not His enemies lies. It is the lie of the enemy that leads you into sin not the truth of God. The enemy will accuse you all day long so that you will focus on his word, what he is doing and desire to do, which is condemn you. God did not come to condemn you (John 3:17). God wants you to be blessed and to see Him in your life continually. We may not see God in the physical sense but God tells us we are not to look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen ​are temporary, but the things which are not seen ​are eternal (2 Cor 4:18). In other words we can see the unseen eternal God by faith. When you believe the simple truth that God gave you a pure heart through the work of redemption on the cross then you can see into His pure heart and you will see Him showing up as you live in and through the pure heart He has imparted to you by His grace through faith. When we believe according to the truth of God’s word we are pure in heart and truly blessed because we see God in and through our lives. 

Remember, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 

Author: Jay Moceri http://aliveinus.com/ 

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