A New Heart
We will explore this “New Heart” concept in this Article. The text with the most information is this one found in Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].” So guess who was trying to find this verse in the New Testament, it is amazing how many of these top quality verses that we often quote are either only in the Old Testament or the New Testament just simply re-quotes them from the Old Testament.
Earlier Ezekiel had asked this question in Ezekiel 18:31 “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” This has a ring of that John the Baptist preached, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” that each one of us need to cast off our old life, and have a new heart and a new Spirit filled life in Christ Jesus.
Some people try to bluff their way through like this, Ephesians 6:6-7 “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:” As they say, “Going to church no makes you a Christian than going to a Hospital makes you a Surgeon.”
Are you a servant of the Living God? Then here is a verse for you, Colossians 3:22-23 “Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
Here is another concept from scripture, Job 41:24 “His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether [millstone].” Paul puts it this way, 2 Corinthians 3:3 “[Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.” and
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.” And 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Or Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Or Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Much food for thought.
Here is a list of Quotes to help us better understand this. “It is peace that you need—Heaven’s forgiveness and peace and love in the soul. Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift, “without money and without price.” Isaiah 55:1. It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it. The Lord says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” Ezekiel 36:26. You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then believe that He does this because He has promised.” {CSA 29}
“You must make the Bible your guide… Let the life and character of Christ be presented as the pattern for them to copy. If they err, read to them what the Lord has said concerning similar sins. There is need of constant care and diligence in this work. One wrong trait tolerated by parents, uncorrected by teachers, may cause the whole character to become deformed and unbalanced. Teach the children that they must have a new heart; that new tastes must be created, new motives inspired. They must have help from Christ; they must become acquainted with the character of God as revealed in His Word.” {CG 515}
“Arguments will not bring light to your soul. You must have a new heart, or you cannot discern the kingdom of heaven. It is not greater evidence that will bring you into a right position, but new purposes, new springs of action. You must be born again. Until this change takes place, until all things are made new, the strongest evidence that could be presented would be useless. . . .” {CTr 233}
“The words “A new heart will I give you” mean “A new mind will I give you.” This change of heart is always attended by a clear conception of Christian duty, an understanding of truth. The clearness of our view of truth will be proportionate to our understanding of the Word of God. A person who gives the Scriptures close, prayerful attention will gain clear comprehension and sound judgment, as if in turning to God he or she had reached a higher grade of intelligence. . . .” {CTr 351}
“Go to Him (Jesus), and ask that He will wash away your sins, and give you a new heart. Then believe that He does this because He has promised . . . . It is our privilege to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame or remorse.” {FLB 103} So will you “Go to Him (Jesus)”?
