Pure in Heart?

[drfuss]

Matt. 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

I can understand the rest of the Beatitudes as to whom Jesus is talking about, but who is Jesus talking about when he says "Blessed are the pure in heart"?

Is there anyone on this earth that is "pure in heart"?

 

[glfredrick]

Not that I can see, which is precisely what Jesus is trying to get us to see... We don't inherit heaven by works of our own doing.

When our hearts are made pure by the imputed righteousness of Jesus (propitiation), then we inherit heaven.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Gil, Did not the Puritians attempt to achieve Pureness of Heart to the extent that human beings could attain it?

 

[glfredrick]

Gil, Did not the Puritians attempt to achieve Pureness of Heart to the extent that human beings could attain it?

Yup, and they failed miserably. They founded Harvard University as a training school for pastors way back when they were still walking with the Lord in righteousness. By the time they ended up straying away from their legalistic means, they became universalist unitarians and Harvard become a secular institution that is now (mostly) at war with authentic Christianity.

Note that I am not saying that we should not strive! That would be falling prey to the logical argument that Paul refutes,

Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Yup, and they failed miserably. They founded Harvard University as a training school for pastors way back when they were still walking with the Lord in righteousness. By the time they ended up straying away from their legalistic means, they became universalist unitarians and Harvard become a secular institution that is now (mostly) at war with authentic Christianity.

Note that I am not saying that we should not strive! That would be falling prey to the logical argument that Paul refutes,

Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Could you point to any that you feel attained purity?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

Matt. 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

I can understand the rest of the Beatitudes as to whom Jesus is talking about, but who is Jesus talking about when he says "Blessed are the pure in heart"?

Is there anyone on this earth that is "pure in heart"?

I tend to think of this in the sense of maintaining a sense of innocence in a corrupt world where people are plotting, coniving, bragging, extorting, etc... Not that the person is unaware of these things but does not have these things as a motivating factor in their decision making process. Maintaining an inocent morality in the face of worldly corruption. I believe this in pure in heart. Not that you are in some sense sinless.

 

[glfredrick]

Could you point to any that you feel attained purity?

Nope... Though I'm sure that some folks will have a different opinion.

I'm not sure how we attain purity on our own, even if we try. And, in fact, from what I've seen both in person and in testimony, is that the more one does try (caveat: see above concerning Paul's argument) the more pride enters the thought process and the farther we fall.


We may have times when we are close to having a pure heart -- enough so that we can have a taste of what it means to be in that place -- but there is far too much world around us and in us to be pure of heart for any length of time on our own. Thank God for Christ's imputed righteousness that allows anyone who has been born again from above to stand before the throne of God actually pure of heart based in the completed work of Christ, our Savior!

 

[drfuss]

Thank you for your interesting views.

I agree that in God's eyes a person becomes pure when Christ's righteousness is imputed to him. But is this what Jesus is talking about. Imputed righteousness occurs during and after salvation.

The other beatitudes involve some action, reaction and/or attitude on the person's part. Imputed righteousness involves only Christ action in imputing righteousness. If imputed righteousness is what Jesus is talking about, then this beatitude is different that the others that involve some action, reaction and/or attitude on the person's part.

This would be like saying "Blessed are those already blessed"'
Unless it means a person can have a pure heart, this beatitude does not seem to go with the other seven beatitudes. What am I missing?

 

[glfredrick]

I'd say that the beatitudes are directed toward those who are saved, not those who are not, for there is no person unsaved that can live out the first action in a way that is pleasing to God. The references to inheriting heaven tip off the reader, but so too do phrases like "You are the light of the world..." and "You are the salt of the earth..." That can only be true of persons who are already saved.

 

[Alcott]

Is there anyone on this earth that is "pure in heart"?

Maybe Pearl Pureheart: