Posted on 04/19/2016 7:03:13 AM PDT by metmom
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8).
The way you think determines the way you behave.
God is concerned about the way you think. That's why Paul said, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2). In Philippians 4:8 he instructs us to think about that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and praiseworthy.
When Jesus spoke of a pure heart in Matthew 5:8, He was talking about sanctified thinking. The Greek word translated "heart" is kardia, from which we get the word cardiac. While we often relate heart to the emotions (e.g., "He has a broken heart"), the Bible relates it primarily to the intellect (e.g., "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders"; Matt. 15:19). That's why you must "watch over your heart with all diligence" (Prov. 4:23).
In a secondary way, however, heart relates to the will and emotions because they are influenced by the intellect. If you are committed to something, it will affect your will, which in turn will affect your emotions.
The Greek word translated "pure" in Matthew 5:8 means "to cleanse." In the moral sense it speaks of being free from the filth of sin. It also refers to something that is unmixed, unalloyed, or unadulterated. Spiritual integrity and sincere motives are appropriate applications of its meaning to the Christian life.
Jesus was saying the kingdom citizen is blessed because he or she has pure thoughts and pure motives that together produce holy living. Someone might say he's religious and has pure motives, but if his behavior isn't righteous, his heart isn't fixed on God. Similarly, you can go to church, carry a Bible, and recite verses, but if your heart isn't clean, you haven't met God's standard.
You must do the will of God from a pure heart (Eph. 6:6). Toward that end, make David's prayer yours as well: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Memorize Psalm 19:14 and make it a part of your daily prayers.
For Further Study:
Read the following verses, noting the characteristics of a pure heart: Psalm 9:1, 26:2, 27:8, 28:7, and 57:7.
Studying God’s Word ping
In many cases He controls the way you think.
Deuteronomy 5:17 Thou shalt not kill.
Joshua 6:2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
Joshua 6:21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
I am seeing some duplicity here. Don't kill.... unless I say so...
If God "knew" He was going to give the land to the Jews, why let the Canaanites occupy it in the first place?
The Hebrew word is *murder*.
Still rabble rousing, eh?
God is the creator of life and is the only one who has the right to take the physical life of anyone. Even then, the soul/spirit still lives so your attempt to defame God fails because He is not killing it.
I take it you are also opposed to abortion and the death penalty.
IF you ever learn that the Ten Commandments were a measure of God's Character (He is not an adulterer, He is not a liar, He is not an idolater, He is not a murderer, etc.0 THEN you might try to read The Bible for the spiritual rather than trying to find an escape clause.
The Hebrews just out of Egypt insisted on Moses going to talk with God and get a list of rules and regulations they insisted that they could follow and be righteous enough in God's sight. So GOD sent Moses down with a list that reflected on GOD'S righteousness. Only JESUS has ever fulfilled that list as a man.
To prepare the land for Gods chosen people, plant trees, dig wells, irrigate, etc. Giant men built some amazing things back then.
Does this count as "mind reading"?
No. I didn’t say you were. It was a conclusion.
I’ll rephrase that.
Are you also opposed to abortion and capital punishment?
That’s easy, a yes or no answer.
New American Standard Bible
"You shall not murder.
King James Bible
Thou shalt not kill.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not murder.
International Standard Version
"You are not to commit murder.
Take your pick, seems capricious on "God's" part. Let people occupy a land let them build it up then wipe them from the face of the Earth.
Still rabble rousing, eh?
Is this an example of Christian charity? If I did a search on your "Handle" would I see you being all sweetness and roses, or would I see some genuine rabble rousing?
God is the creator of life and is the only one who has the right to take the physical life of anyone. Even then, the soul/spirit still lives so your attempt to defame God fails because He is not killing it.
A) You have failed to provide definitive proof of the existence of this "god" or the soul/ spirit.
B) If he does exist: Why not offer those residents the opportunity to come around to his way of thinking?
C) Can anyone claim they are acting as his agents and kill anyone?
abortion and the death penalty.
I am not this "god" of yours and it is not my view we are discussing.
Thales feel free to hang out with the Catholics, we are real Christians.
I will contact some of the Catholic Caucus members and see about getting you permission to join some of our discussions.
BTW love your "nick", I wonder if anyone else sees the irony. I guess Diogenes was taken.
According to this web site the KJV, which I quoted, is the most common translation. are you saying it should not be used, or are you saying that it is a bad translation? http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2014/march/most-popular-and-fastest-growing-bible-translation-niv-kjv.html
I also have to ask. Why are you allowed to cross thread post? I have noticed that other groups are not allowed to.
He’s not cross thread posting.He’s commenting on your post which is permitted. This is an open thread and anyone is allowed to join the discussion who wishes.
He was also pinged to this thread at the beginning before you jumped in, as if it were any of your business.
Did someone die and leave you the RM that you seem to feel that people answer to you?
He made a post to Verga on another thread about this one, the same thread YOU went to and made a comment about me on. Are you sure you are a “christian” I have seen kinder attitudes from atheists. Further YOU seem to attack every question I ask. If you can’t defend your beliefs, why do you believe them?
I’ll jump in (and then I need to get to bed!).
The King James Bible is great. Very poetic, and is probably the most “popular”. However - it was written a long time ago. We have learned more of the ancient Hebrew language and many of the newer Bibles are more accurate in their translations. Of course some of the even newer Bibles are goofy with the translations - but are more readable. They all have their place imho.
As far as I can tell, most theologians have the commandment as “murder”.
And iirc God even gave the Amorites(?) lots of time to turn around their sinful ways. But, a just God also punishes the wicked.
I just found the following. God gave the bad guys 400 years to try to turn things around. But they didn’t. Snake worship, human sacrifice, void of any morality, etc. I didn’t read much of the commentary - mainly just the various Bible passages:
http://www.apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1630
I am sad to say that I see America headed down the same path. Abortuarys in every city, leaders supporting and promoting the most deviant of perversions. Celebrities viewed as deities with people paying more attention to their fads and foibles than to their own children. And the list goes on seemingly with out end.
I pray we wake up and soon.
Go ask your father these questions. I'm sure he, being the father of lies, can feed you many more little faux gotchas.
AMEN verga. But I have little hope of a turnaround now. The father of lies has too many eager servants. They even go out of their way to find forums in which to spittle their father’s notions. The killing of millions of innocent, alive, unborn, for utilitarian purposes is not something GOD will wink at and we have been racing along that demonic trail for too long to trace our steps back in repentence, IMHO. There is too much profit for the ungodly to stop their service to Molech. And Political correctness has mutated America into something the founders would not recognize, for they had a clear taboo structure tot he society they founded.
When I lived up north the neighbor across the street was in his 70’s (Probably around 80 if he is still kicking) He was in WWII. He was on a landing craft on D-Day. His job was to pull the slide latch that held the access ramp in place. This job required two hands, which meant he did not have a free hand to hold a weapon to fire back with. I look at this current generation that is the same age he was and I wonder if we could muster the same level of commitment to God, Country, and family that his generation had.
Warfare has become something beyond the scope of average citizens carrying rifles. And I suspect that the enemies of America are about to bring their terrorism to our heartland, removing the vagaries of civilized society from us in a sweeping act of utter ruthlessness. Our Republic will collapse upon itself when the technological advantages are swept aside by an EMP or activation of something like the Yellowstone caldera.
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