Maintaining One’s New Heart. 1 Peter 3:14-16 – Bible study
MAINTAINING ONE’S NEW HEART
1 PETER 3:14-16
by Cooper Abrams
INTRODUCTION: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: oldthings are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature” (Gal 6:15).
“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandmentscontained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, somaking peace;” Eph. 2:15
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after theimage of him that created him:” Col 3:10
1. DEFINITION: HEART: kardia {kar-dee’-ah}, the heart, i.e.(figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind);.
2. DEFINITION: SANCTIFY: hagiazo {hag-ee-ad’-zo}; to make holy,i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: -hallow, beholy, sanctify.
3.To sanctify one’s heart then is to consecrate or purify one’s thoughts orfeelings.
4. Then we understand there is some action we need to take to maintainour hearts; our feelings or thoughts.
I. First we are made new. That means we receive a new heart. Wethen have the ability to serve God.
A. Having a new heart does not mean we will alwaysuse it. It means we have a new heart with the nature now to want toserve God and the ability as a child of God to please Him.
B. We can choose not to use it.
1. We can choose not to obey God.
2. We can begin to serve the Lord and then quit.
3. We can partially serve the Lord, and be partiallyunfaithful.
C. We then must make a real and honest effort tosanctify our heart. We must make a commitment then to live for theLord. To sanctify means to dedicate one’s self to the Lord, or set one’sself apart to serve God and obey Him.
1. It is easy for a new Christian to be motivated atfirst. Knowledge of ones sins being forgiven and receiving eternal life isan encouragement to live for the Lord.
2. The support of new friends and other Christians inthe church encourages a new Christian.
3. But, when things gets tough or a new believer failsto obey God and commits some sin, he can become discouraged. If anew believer is not part of local church and learning the Bible and thenmaking a real personal effort to use what he learns he can becomeineffective in his Christian life. It is important for a new Christian to havethe encouragement and support of others sustain and challenge him..
4. Like new married couple many new Christian livefor a while on feelings and the newness of their relationship with God. Butin time the newness wears off and it takes a strong commitment tocontinue to grow in Christ and experience a close relationship. Half ofall marriages fail because of a lack of commitment to the marriage.
Making a commitment to the Lord to live for Him ingratitude for His saving them, is vital to continuing on strongly serving theLord.
II. SOME SCRIPTURES WHICH HELP US TO MAINTAIN OURHEARTS.
A. By loving one another.
” And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one anotherand to all, just as we {do} to you, so that He may establish your heartsblameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our LordJesus Christ with all His saints.” 1 Thess. 3:12-13
B. By fleeing lust maintains one’s heart.
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace withthose who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim. 2:22
C. By not hardening our hearts to God’s convictionand urging to do right and follow him.
Using Israel as an example:
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said:”Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, {was it} not allwho came out of Egypt, {led} by Moses? Now with whom was Heangry forty years? {Was it} not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?” (Hebrews 3:12-17)
D. By living by the Word of God.
“For the word of God {is} living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 3:12-17).
E. By drawing near to the Lord.
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the bloodof Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us,through the veil, that is, His flesh, and {having} a High Priest over the house of God, 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. Let us hold fast the confession of {our} hope without wavering, for He who promised {is} faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23).
F. By trusting and living in the assurance of oursalvation.
“And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (1 John 3:19).
H. By resisting temptation.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse {your} hands, you sinners; and purify {your} hearts, {you} double minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:7-9).
III. CONCLUSION: REASONS TO MAINTAIN OUR HEARTS.
A. BECAUSE IT IS PRECIOUS TO GOD.
Do not let your beauty be that outward {adorning} of arranging the hair, of wearing gold, or of putting on {fine} apparel; but {let it be} the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible {ornament} of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
B. CHRIST IS COMING SOON.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See {how} the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8).
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