Attitudes of the Heart - God's Work is an Inside Job
God’s work in the life of a believer is an internal work. At the moment of salvation, God sends his Holy Spirit to dwell inside the unworthy sinner. From that time forth, God begins the life-long process of making that man more and more like Jesus Christ. This increasing Christ-likeness begins on the inside but overflows into outward evidences. Over time, affections, attitudes and actions are transformed by the Holy Spirit of God. Whereas many religions of the world demand good works in order to earn salvation, genuine salvation (found only within Christianity) results in good works as the evidence of salvation. The changed life of the believer is the outward evidence of the internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit.The religions of this world offer salvation based upon the external performance or good works of their adherents. The Christian however, does not inherit Heaven as a reward for his good works (Titus 3:5, Eph 2:8-9). On the contrary, he obtains salvation by declaring his utter inability to earn it by his own merits. He expresses faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness as the only basis from which to enter Heaven (Matt 18:4, Rom 4:4-5, 2 Cor 5:21).Christianity is unique in that its veracity is entirely dependent upon the supernatural, transforming work which God does in the heart of His followers (1 John 2:5, 1 John 3:14).Man is naturally prone to self-righteousness. He is content to invent religions which smile upon his efforts to earn salvation. Because salvation by grace alone excludes the works of men and exposes man as sinfully unable to save himself, it has always been met with opposition from this self-exalting world. This is true today, just as it was true in Jesus’ day.
Matthew 23:23-28 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v23. How did Jesus describe the scribes and Pharisees?Q. What were the “weightier matters of the law?”[/su_box][su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]What do you think Jesus meant when he said “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”?[/su_box]The Jewish leaders in Christ’s day were meticulous in observing the outward ceremony of the law. In addition to the law as explicitly taught within the Torah, they also observed a multitude of other rules which tradition had added to their religion. They would go through great pains to obey rules that they had invented themselves, like giving precisely ten percent of even their smallest spices (even though God’s law did not require it). The most damning thing about their religious zeal is that while they staked their reputations on how well they kept their own rules, they completely neglected the matters of greatest importance. They missed the fact that God was most concerned with matters of the heart. (See also Isa 1:11-17)[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. Look back at Matthew 23. In your own words, what do verses 25 and 27 mean?Q. v26. What did Jesus tell the Jews they should have done?Q. v28. What was the difference between how the Jews appeared externally and how they appeared internally?[/su_box]During Jesus’ earthly ministry he continually rebuked the Jews for their religious hypocrisy. He reserved his harshest words for the religious crowd because they celebrated external legalism above a heart-felt devotion to God (Matt 23:13-33). The Pharisees felt that keeping rules lead to righteousness. In reality, such legalism does nothing but build men up in pride.God’s desire has always been that those who worship Him would do so, not with a mere external show of righteousness, but with genuine, heart-driven righteousness. God hates hypocrisy (Job 13:16; Job 27:8).
Matthew 15:7-9 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. How did the Jews honour God?Q. What was far from God?Q. How did God describe their worship? (v9)Q. What were they teaching as doctrine?[/su_box]The Jews religion had become so corrupt that they had begun to value and teach their tradition above God’s explicitly revealed word. They became so enamored with rules and commandments that they replaced faith with works and lost the heartfelt motivation that was intended to drive their obedience. Jesus repeatedly confronted this gross corruption of worship, and as a result, incurred the wrath of the self-righteous Jews (Matt 15:12).[su_box title="Think and Apply" style="soft" box_color="#E67600"]Religious legalism and hypocrisy are not limited to Christ’s day, but are alive and well today. Can you think of other religions or denominations where we can observe these attitudes?[/su_box]
Always a Matter of the Heart
Jesus was not teaching anything new. God has always been after the heart. Nevertheless, the Jews of Christ’s day had so corrupted their religion, that by the time He arrived, they were so steeped in their own tradition and self-righteousness that they rejected the teachings of their messiah. What they missed was that his message was entirely consistent with what God had already revealed throughout the Old Testament concerning worship – a relationship with Him begins in the heart.In Deuteronomy 6 we find what is commonly called the Shema. This portion of scripture is the centerpiece of Jewish morning and evening prayer services. The Shema is often spoken as a Jew’s last words and is diligently taught to Jewish children.
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]According to the Shema, how were the Jews to love God?[/su_box]
Joshua 22:5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."
In this chapter Joshua is dismissing the eastern tribes to their homeland after assisting in battle. Joshua gives them a charge before they leave. In it he quotes Deuteronomy 13. Notice that he encouraged them love the Lord their God and to serve him with all their hearts.God has always sought men and women who would wholeheartedly worship Him in love. This is a consistent theme throughout all of scripture. (John 4:24-25)
A New Heart Needed
There is however a problem with this command to love God with all of our heart, soul and might.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What does this verse say about the heart of man?[/su_box]
Matthew 15:18-20 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]According to Jesus, what comes from the heart?[/su_box]The fact is, man cannot truly and fully worship God in the sincerity of his heart while his heart is in bondage to sin (Rom 8:7-8). Man’s mind, emotions and will have all been tainted by sin (Rom 8:20-23). Consequently, his sinful heart naturally tends toward sin, self-righteousness and legalism. What is needed to bring men into fellowship with a holy God is not more commandments or stricter rules, but a renewed heart.This is the main truth that the guardian of the law was meant to teach us. Specifically, that man cannot please God in and of himself (Gal 3:24; Rom 8:8). He must be given a new heart (John 3:3). Man’s need for a renewed heart is the driving force behind God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again all so that man could be made new, from the inside out.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Here Ezekiel speaks of the new covenant which God would one day make with His people. What did God say He would take from them? What would he replace it with?[/su_box]
Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What would God give Israel? How would they return to Him?[/su_box]
Jeremiah 31:31-34 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. What did God say he would make with Israel?Q. What would this covenant not be like?Q. What would God do with His law? [/su_box]God promised that he would make a covenant with his people unlike the covenant which he made with the patriarchs. This new covenant would involve, not just the giving of the law, but the writing of the law on the heart of man. He would take out the stony (corrupt, sinful) heart and give man a renewed heart. This is the divine solution for man’s heart problem and the only way that men could worship God in heartfelt sincerity.
A New Covenant Given
Hebrews 9:15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.Hebrews 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What is Christ the mediator of? [/su_box]God’s new covenant promise was not simply that he would become a God to his people, but that he would also give his people a new heart. With this new heart, they would have the desire and ability to worship him in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24; Php 2:13).When we speak of the heart we are really talking about all of the inward characteristics of man; his mind, his will and his emotions. All of these must be salvaged from the curse of sin and experience spiritual renewal (Ro 12:2; 2Co 4:16; Eph 4:23; Col 3:10). This is exactly what God has done through the New Covenant. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God gives the believer a new heart. He writes His law on the heart of man, puts His spirit inside of him and enables him to worship in sincerity. Through the New Covenant, God is creating a host of genuine worshipers.
Salvation – The Renewing of the Heart
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What must a man be in order to see the kingdom of God?[/su_box]
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]If a man is in Chirst, what is he? What have all things become?[/su_box]When a man receives Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord, the Bible teaches that he is made spiritually alive (Eph 2:1,5). He is actually renewed on the inside (Titus 3:5, Col 3:9,10). This is a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the New Covenant.
Titus 3:5-6 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What is it that renews us at salvation (regeneration)?[/su_box]The fulfillment of God’s new covenant was accomplished by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Christ rose from the dead, having defeated death, sin and Satan, he sent the Holy Spirit of God to dwell inside of God’s people (John 14:17, John 16:7, 1 Cor 3:16). It is by the Holy Spirit of God that he took away our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. It is also the Holy Spirit which wrote his law on our hearts and fulfilled every other aspect of the New Covenant (Eze 36:27; Heb 9:14; Titus 3:5-6; Eph 2:5; Eph 3:14-17; Php 2:12)When a man is saved, there is a real change which happens on the inside. God actually makes a spiritual transformation inside of him. Now, having been made spiritually new, this man has the ability to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, to worship God in sincerity and to please Him through obedience.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v10. Whose workmanship are we?Q. v10. What has he created us for?Q. v8,9. What part did we play in this transformation? [/su_box]God is very clear. Salvation is not the result of outward works, but of His divine action on the inside of man. He makes us spiritually new and enables us to exercise good works. Our ability to please Him comes only after salvation and is the result of His renewing work in our hearts. This is profoundly different from those religions which teach we must, by our own ability, earn favour with God.
Attitudes of the Heart – The Spirit’s Fruit
Upon salvation, man is made spiritually new. He has been given a new heart, yet he remains in a sinful body, and in a sinful world (Rom 7:24, John 17:15). For this reason, God’s work inside of man begins at the moment of salvation but continues his entire life. There is an immediate spiritual renewal, but a progressive work of conforming him to Christ-likeness. (Eph 4:30)
Galatians 3:2-3 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]How did Paul describe the person who thinks they can be “perfected” by works?[/su_box]Not only is it foolish to think that we can be saved by our own efforts, but it is also foolish to think that we can maintain our salvation through our own good works. Anything that we do that is pleasing to God is directly attributal to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. This does not mean however that our effort has nothing to do with it. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit works in tandem with our own diligent effort.Are we then entirely responsible for our spiritual growth? No. Even though we must discipline ourselves and labour for the glory of God, we can in no way take credit for any of it. If God did not graciously give us his Holy Spirit, transform our hearts and continue to work in us day by day, we would have absolutely no desire to please him, let alone the ability to do so. (Rom 8:29; Php 2:12-13).Even as the the life of the growing believer begins to change on the outside, we must remember that the Spirit’s work remains in the realm of the heart. He continually works to bring our thoughts, emotions and will under his control. It is his work that begins on the inside and ultimately affects our affections, actions and attitudes on the outside.
Galatians 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What was Paul labouring to see done in the lives of the Galatians?[/su_box]The formation of Christ-like character in believers is the chief goal of the church. All the spiritual gifts given to the church are for the purpose of bringing men and women into spiritual maturity, that is, Christ-likeness (Eph 4:11-16). As we have already learned, this work takes place in the heart. Therefore, the focus of the ministry of the church should not be on outward conformity, moral reformation, or rule-keeping but on spiritual transformation. (Rom 12:2)
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church in this passage offers valuable insight into Paul’s approach to ministry. Answer the questions below to see what Paul’s concern and emphasis was.Q. v16. Paul wanted the Ephesians to be strengthened by what? Where?Q. v17. What would the result of this spiritual strength be? [/su_box]The word “dwell” here means to “settle down.” To be strengthened by the Spirit means to have Christ settled in our hearts. That is, he is comfortable and at home. This happens as our lives line up with his will through obedience to his commands (John 15:7, John 14:21).[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]Q. v18-19. What else results from being strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man? Q. v20. God is able to do far more than all we ask or think, according to what? [/su_box]Paul desired that the Ephesians be strengthened on the inside by the Spirit. This was the focus of his ministry. We should also seek to promote the work of the Spirit inwardly. How then should our church go about this? Do we use guilt, gimmicks, programs or pressure to help develop the heart attitudes of faith, hope, and love? Do we devise rules to help people live disciplined lives of unity, humilty, joy and thankfulness? Do we offer incentives and rewards if people exhibit compassion, contentment and self-discipline? Or is there a better way? What is the Biblical way?
Spiritual Fruit by Spiritual Means
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What are Christ’s words? [/su_box]
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What is God’s word a discerner of?[/su_box]
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
[su_box title="Question..." style="soft" box_color="#2AA3CE"]What is at work in believers? [/su_box]Since man’s sanctification (or increasing Christ-likeness) is an internal work produced by the Spirit of God, it only makes sense to use God’s means to encourage that growth. His main method of promoting spiritual growth is the ministry of the word. This is why it is absolutely essential that the Christian avail himself to the word of God (Luke 4:4). This also gives the church a mandate to focus on strong, accurate, Biblical teaching and preaching. If God’s chief work is internal, by the Spirit, through the word of God, than it makes no sense to deemphasize Biblical teaching or to seek new means or methods to produce growth (1 Thess 5:20).God also does His internal work through the ministry of spiritual gifts. God has given every believer a spiritual gift (Eph 4:11, Rom 12:5-8) for the purpose of edifying or building up the church (1 Cor 12:7). These gifts produce spiritual maturity (Eph 4:13), doctrinal stability (Eph 4:14) and, loving unity (Eph 4:15-16) in the congregation.
The Bottom Line
God desires men and women to worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Man’s sinful heart has prevented him from worshipping God in this way. He continually falls back into sin, self-righteousness, and legalism. But, from the beginning of time God planned on remedying man’s sin problem by providing him with a new heart. This is what he called the new covenant. He accomplished the new covenant through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Upon Christ’s ascension to Heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers. It is through the Holy Spirit that God renews the hearts of men and women, reconciling them to himself and enabling them to worship Him in spirit and in truth.God’s work is an inside job! As the church we must seek to encourage and promote this inner work by using God’s means and methods. Emphasizing outward conformity to rules is not God’s way. He has not told us to manipulate, threaten or guilt people into obedience, but to preach, teach and practice His word in the power of His Holy Spirit.The faithful teaching of God’s word and the production of spiritual heart attitudes is a long and sometimes difficult process. Paul compared it to labouring in birth! But it is God’s way and we dare not deviate from it. This means that as a church we will continue to make the teaching and preaching of God’s word the centerpiece of our ministry. We will seek to promote inward transformation to Christ-likeness and not outward conformity to rules, preferences or the standards of men. The life of a growing Christian will predominantly be characterized by spiritual heart attitudes. Outward changes will occur in every believer’s life, but this is the evidence of an interal work and not a replacement for it.[su_box title="Review!" style="soft" box_color="#FF4D2C"]1. Why do you think man tends to create religions which rely on good works?2. What type of ungodly attitudes do you think a works-based religion might lead to?3. What type of worship has God always desired?4. Why can’t man worship God in a way that pleases Him?5. How did God solve this problem?6. What work is God continually doing in the life of a Christian? Where does He do it?7. How might we help or hinder the work that God is doing in us?8. If we lose sight of the fact that God’s work happens in the heart of man by his Holy Spirit, how might our church become imbalanced? [/su_box]