The Radical Teachings Of Jesus Christ
In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.
Radical Concept #6
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." [Matthew 5:8 KJV]
Definition of “pure”.
Physically: “purified by fire” or “like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit.”
Ethically: free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt.
Free from what is false. Sincere or genuine. Blameless, innocent.
Unstained with the guilt of anything.
What is the ultimate revelation of God to mankind?
After a person comes to know Jesus Christ, do the previous levels of revelation remain active in the believer?
What role do they continue to play in the believer’s life?
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." [2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV]
"Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:" [1 Timothy 1:19 KJV]
Will the conscience of every believer be the same? What factors will affect this?
"For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence." [Romans 14:20 KJV]
"Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." [Titus 1:15 KJV]
Is it possible for a conscience to create/maintain guilt that does not correlate to Divine judgment? Explain.
Is it possible to “fine tune” your conscience? How?
"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:" [1 Peter 1:22 KJV]
In what way will a “good conscience”, or pure heart, manifest itself in the life of the believer?
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:" [1 Timothy 1:5 KJV]
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." [2 Timothy 2:22 KJV]
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world." [James 1:27 KJV]From where does the believer’s purity come?
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." [John 15:3 KJV]
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." [1 John 1:9 KJV]What is the connection between purity and seeing God?
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." [1 John 3:2-3 KJV]
