Mat 5:8; How the Devil Makes You Comfortable in the Wrong Skin.

Class Outline:

Tuesday April 23, 2024

 

Idea: The Christian heart must be clean of ideas that allow living outside God’s will without feeling conviction. 

 

Introduction:

 

We are clean by the blood of Christ and that allows us to draw near to God to see Him.

 

HEB 10:19-25; Christ Jesus inaugurated the open door and He is forever our high priest, so draw near knowing you are cleansed and then also do for others. 

 

The way of cleansing our hearts is merciful acts from clean hearts - serving others or showing mercy. 

 

JOH 13:10; 15:3. The disciples were already clean through their faith in His word. 

 

Impure is waste:

 

The wasted life of a believer is likened to a large pile of days thrown on to the garbage pile, which is burned up; JOH 15:3-11. 

 

This fire is also a reference to judgment, but not eternally so. It is the stubble that is always thrown on to the burn pile. It is judgment because only God knows our good deeds. 

 

1CO 3:10-15. 

 

No believer wants to end his life with a vast pile of days on the garbage heap. 

 

The vessel of honor in the Master’s house - 2TI 2:20-26. 

 

Success at being a vessel of honor is having a heart that is cleansed from falsehood that allows self to live outside of God’s will without conviction. 

 

The context in Paul’s letter is the Jewish mysticism that was prevalent in the early church that was predominantly Jewish. Jews opposed Paul the most. Mysticism that consisted of strange doctrines, secret messages in genealogies, myths, and false prophecies. 

 

Broadly speaking, dangers to Christians today (would include any false teaching): 

 

Bias (religious, cultural, familial). 

 

Elevating the non-essential to essential. 

 

False ideas about the nature of God, especially holiness. 

 

False ideas about the role of the Holy Spirit and how He fills us for all good works of obedience. 

 

False ideas about the fear of God that result in not having it or having the wrong kind. 

 

False ideas about our accountability in trust and obedience. JOH 14:23; 15:10. 

 

The vessels of honor (good stewards) are in a continuous cycle of giving mercy and cleansing their hearts more and more.  

 

They avoid foolish speculation (falsehood that is designed to remove the heart from God’s will). 

 

Pure of heart is not stained (mastered) by sin. 

 

Will alone will not overcome sin. The heart must change (ISA 29:13).  

 

1TI 1:3-7, false mystic doctrine again (in Titus also - all pastorals; the way to keep lies out is to put truth in - both cannot coexist). 

 

Pure heart understands and trusts without doubting the sovereign commandments from God; the way, the truth, the life of Christ. 

 

Pure heart rejects all substitutes. 

 

Pure heart serves as the Lord’s slave as a vessel of honor, and every act of mercy purifies his heart even more. 

 

The result is seeing God more clearly as Father, Son (Brother), and Helper - more on seeing God tomorrow.