Pure Heart

 Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?

or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;

who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity,

nor sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD,

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Jesus makes this point in the sermon on the mount

Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Paul encouraged Timothy in this doctrine, the the end of the commandment was love out of a pure heart.

1Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

2Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Prov 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,

I am pure from my sin?

Clearly letting us know that man is insufficient for this task

Who can cleanse the heart; the Lord will do so!

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God;

and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence;

and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

You can obey the truth, Christ Jesus is the way, the truth and the life

1Pet 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Leading us the example here:

Heb 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.

What is so hard?

Prov 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

I hear from my own mouth and certainly from many around me how hard they find where they are or what they are doing. It is a very common phrase; I had a hard day/time/issue. I know that most just have come to use the word to express some fatigue or difficulty that they are going through, but it is good to consider dispensing with this phrasing in the life of the believer.

Here is what Jesus has to say:

Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hebrews has an admonition to know and receive the rest of God. Paul gives an example of those who have not entered into that rest. They did not know his ways, nor did they allow their hearts to be softened;

Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

We are warned again to not come short of that rest.

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

We can see a further explanation of the rest looking back to the prophecy of Isaiah:

Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue

will he speak to this people.

12 To whom he said,

This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;

and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

The sabbath, the rest, is a delight for the people of God. God has given the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the flow of the spirit to those who will cease from their own labours and find the place of Joy, Peace and Love the has been provided in Christ Jesus. Cease from your labours, put down your tools of trying to make of yourself something for men to see, let the yoke of Jesus enfold you and trust to the love of God to keep you.

There is so much to say about this subject, the rest of God, the Yoke of Jesus, but let us start with ceasing to identify with the way of the transgressor, that is what is hard.

Fishers of Men

Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

When Jesus called his disciples, this was the purpose he had in mind. He said he would make them fishers of men. He demonstrated the heart of the gospel, to seek and save the lost.

Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus also spoke some parables which illustrate the seeking for the lost.

Luke 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

We see that Jesus also gives direction about the harvest fields, instructing us to pray for laborers to go into the harvest.

Matt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

John 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Lastly we have illustrations of what Jesus did and how we are to live which help to propogate the truth of the gospel.

Acts 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

1Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Which way to go?

Prov 14:12; 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Many men will look at the circumstances around them and believe they see clear enough to make sense of what is right. But these two verses describe a situation where what seems right unto a man is anything but. It is actually the way of death. Only God's word shows the way of life, and that way is Jesus.

Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Jn 14:6)

This is the right way, to come to the Father by Jesus, every other way is the wrong way. Those who try to enter in some other way are thieves and robbers.

But what about my rational mind, my logical thinking. I should be able to see the truth or the right way using those abilities. Can't I discern the truth through observation and testing? The fact is that I can be easily deceived when trusting in my "natural ability". The scripture says that the natural/earthly mind cannot be subject to the ways of God. "(T)he carnal mind is enmity against God:for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Rom 8:7) The word of God is clear. The things which we know by the flesh are suspect at best.

In fact the ways of the world will bring you in opposition to the ways of Jesus. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4)

A famous and popular historian, Barbara Tuchman, wrote it like this:

“AT ABOUT THE TIME COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA, the Renaissance—which is to say the period when the values of this world replaced those of the hereafter—was in full flower in Italy. Under its impulse the individual found in himself, rather than in God, the designer and captain of his fate. His needs, his ambitions and desires, his pleasures and possessions, his mind, his art, his power, his glory, were the house of life. His earthly passage was no longer, as in the medieval concept, a weary exile on the way to the spiritual destiny of his soul.”

— The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam by Barbara Wertheim Tuchman

She saw in history the way of the man who thought he had the right way figured out and yet was moved only to folly. Peter described the ways of man as pollutions; "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning." (2 Pe 2:20)

What can man do to overcome folly? The way of humility is the answer:

Jesus said, in Jn 5:30, "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."

Put your trust in the way of life, the word of God, it will be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path and will lead you to the right way, his name is Jesus!

Word Study: Perverse

 The English word perverse carries a raunchy meaning today, but in the Kings James Bible it translates a different idea.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

The Greek word here is diastrepho; to distort; really to turn away toward moral corruption.

Paul is warning about grievous wolves as well as men arising out of the midst of the company of those who lead the flock. He emphasizes his warning that he has been making for three years as having been done with tears. This is not a light thing.

He warned of a similar thing in Phil 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

This does not use the word in question, but it does describe a group with the same effect.

Jesus said the same:

Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

But what is diastrepho? What do the translators mean by perverse?

Jesus is quoted using the word in Matt 17:17 and Luke 9:41. He uses it in relation to the generation he found around him, perverting the truth of God and his word and overthrowing the faith of many. There is a lot to be said about this story, the follow up is that his own disciples could not cast out the afflicting devil because of unbelief. Their own understanding clouded their ability to hear the word of God as emphasized in Luke 9:45. Perverse are the words which cast doubt and strengthen unbelief.

The next time we see the word is in Luke 23:2 where it is used to describe Jesus in the Jewish leaders accusations before Pilate. The disagreement was real, the mind of man versus the word of God, the very definition of perverse; but used to slander the truth.

In Acts 13:8, 10 we see the word used of Elymas the sorcerer; he seeks to "turn away" the deputy from the faith, and it is asked of him, "wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" We see this as an example of grievous wolves, not sparing the sheep, perverting the truth continually.

Lastly we see an admonition for the positive response to stop perversity, to shine as lights in the world in the midst of the perversity. Avoid words and ways contrary to that taught by God, be the opposite of the perversity which surrounds us.

Phil 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Be warned against the mind of men, be strengthened in the right ways of God. Follow truth without entering into the strife of men. Do not agree with the diastrepho.

PS

The word crooked in Phil 2:15 means warped or winding; an apt description of the perverted truth that surrounds us in the world.

Eternal Judgment

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Rom 5

2Pet chapter 2 and 3

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Underworld

Hell, the grave, the lake of fire and eternal punishment. What does the Bible have to say about these things. Many words are translated differently in different places, so the ability to quickly discern what is being talked about is hindered. What follows is a look at the words in Hebrew and Greek which are used in various ways to discuss the fact of a place where beings are confined and places which are contrasted with heaven.

In the future I will discuss how all these fit in time and place but for now just a repository of scripture on the subject which will be added to from time to time

Hell

G86 Hades

Matt 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell(hades): also Luke 10:15

Acts 2:27 (quoted from psalms); Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

1Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades), where is thy victory?

Rev 1:18; 6:8

Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (hades) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell (hades) were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell (hades) shall not prevail against it.

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell (hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

H7585 Sheol

Gen 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; Num 16:33 (pit); Dt 32:22; 1Sam 2:6; 2Sam 22:6; 1Ki 2:6, 9; Job 7:9; 11:8; 14:13; 17:13, 16; 21:13; 24:19; 26:6; Ps 6:5; 9:17; 16:10 (quoted in Acts 2:27); 30:3; 31:17; 49:14-15; 55:15; 86:13; 88:3; 89:48; 116:3; 139:8; 141:7; Prov 1:12; 5:5: 7:27; 9:18; 15:11, 24 (a place to stay out of); 23:14; 27:20; 30:16; Ecc 9:10; Song 8:6; Isa 5:14; 14:9, 11, 15; 28:15, 18; 38:10, 18; 57:9; Ezek 31:15-17; 32:21, 27; Hos 13:14; Amos 9:2; Jon 2:2; Hab 2:5

G5020 Tartaroo

2Pet 2:4 (referring to angels that sinned reserved unto judgment)

G1067 Ghehennah

Matt 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mar 9:43, 45, 47 (fire never quenched); Luke 12:5; James 3:6

Lake of Fire (and Brimstone)

Rev 19:20; 20:10, 14-15

tormented day and night for ever and ever; the second death

Brimstone

G2303 

Luke 17:29 (fell on Sodom); Rev 9:17-18; 14:10; 19:20; 20:10; 21:8

Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

H1614 (Always associated with final judgment)

Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Dt 29:23; Job 18:15; Psalm 11:6; Isa 30:33; 34:9; Ezek 38:22

Eternal judgment

Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make,

shall remain before me, saith the LORD,

so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another,

and from one sabbath to another,

shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

24 And they shall go forth, and look

upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me:

for their worm shall not die,

neither shall their fire be quenched;

and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Paradise

Luke 23:43; today with me in paradise (2Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7)

The Pit (Sometimes Sheol, others not)

Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Job 17:16; 33:18, 24, 20, 30; Ps 30:3, 9; 55:23; 143:7 Prov 1:12; Isa 51:14; Rev 11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3

Psalm 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell (Sheol), to the sides of the pit.

Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Judgment

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: