Will only the pure in heart see God?

If a verse gives an action with a positive outcome, it does not always imply the opposite or limit the outcome to the action. "see God" in this context could be figurative. Being comforted does not mean that God will literally hug them and give them a soft pillow and teddy bear to cuddle with. Bill Gates seems to have "inherited the earth" in our eyes, is he meek? In some aspects he is, but he does press harsh restricting deals with his retailers in order to maintain his monopoly (for a different thread).

Seeing God, could also be figurative within the context. When people claim that they have seen the hand of God, does that mean that they physically have? If one has a pure heart one is guaranteed to see God.

For example: I knew a girl who got into a relationship that was against my conscience. Although I loved her and was closer to her than any girl I ever knew, I never once prayed to God that I could date her. Instead I prayed that she would marry a man who loves the Lord with all his heart and cared about souls. I poured my heart to her about this. She even cried and told me that praying to date her was not wrong, but I knew in my own heart that to me, such would be selfish.
She continued to date this person in a continuingly more sensual manner. I was sick to my stomach because she was losing her spirituality that she used to have.

Moved with compassion and love for her spiritual well-being, I prayed every day with unwaivering faith, yet weeping at the corner of the restroom floor and banging my head against the wall. I told God that I am clinging to His promise that if we ask anything acording to His will, He WILL hear us. I was not asking amiss. This was not for me, but for her... she did not need me, she needed a man who Loved God!

Although I waited over half a year of nothing but seeing things get worse, I would pillow my head every night with a knot in my throat too large to swallow, and a faith that God was going to answer my unselfish prayer. I asked for either two things to happen, either her boyfriend would change, or she would break up with him and find a man who Loved God.

What happened at the end? You probably think that I'm talking about my current wife. Better than that, I saw the miraculous hand of God. He answered both. She is now married to a faithful soul-winner. Her x-boyfriend, moved from the breakup, has sworn to make God his number one priority.

You may ask what did I get out of this? If this was a movie from Hollywood, it would have ended with me getting the girl at the end. People, I want you all to get something. This is not a Hollywood movie. This is reality! There is nothing more blessed than seeing God! In this scenario, I was pure in heart and I did see God! No one can convince me otherwise that God does not exist! It's ALL about GOD!:godisgood:

 

Naw, not really! But it is true----that we can only see God in Christ. Good posts and points Bro. Bob!

 

Having just read this thread, I'm going to start tossing in my two 'ha-penny's' worth, shortly. As the guys on radio and TV say, I'll be back shortly.

Ed

 

Uh- where does the Bible ever say "repent of (one's) sins"? Somehow I've never been able to find this in Scripture, even though I manage to hear it in church a lot.

Ed

 

Act 2:38 (KJV1611 Edition):
Then Peter said vnto them, Repent, and be baptized
euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ,
for the remission of sinnes, and ye shal receiue the gift of the holy Ghost.

 

A couple of verses, that I was intending to merely quote, but the format required me to comment, hence take away from what Scripture said.

Ed

 

LeBuick- Why is it that somehow I preferred the caricature of 'Snoopy' to that of the Rev. Al Sharpton? :laugh: :laugh: Just wonderin'!

Ed

 

I'm not blackbird, but Language Cop says that the word is spelled "invisible".

But I would add that the implication made could be the problem, with what Scripture does not say, here in the Beatitudes. And that is it does not says that -

'unless one is ''pure in heart'', then they will not see God'.

We always have to let Scripture temper Scripture, IMO, not merely hunt for a 'proof-text' to show something.

Some one on the BB once said, apparently quoting another (I don't know who either of them were.) that

"A text, out of context, is a pretext to a prood-text."

I agree! :thumbsup: And it is well said, IMO. :thumbsup:

Ed

 

Wow! Wonderful post Jeep Dragon! I'm thrilled that you shared such a personal story with us. God Bless you!

Sometimes a 'living faith' moves all the intellectual mumbo jumbo out of the way...

 

Sorry, Ed!!!! Blackbird ignores the Language Cop's "Blue Lights":laugh: :laugh:

 

Edward? (if that happens to be what Ed is short for), my near name-sake? (I am technically Edmond), respectfully, 'mayeth' I suggest you re-read this verse, and my point, as well.

The 'uerse' yov here 'qvoteth', saith grammateicallie, as toeth the subiecte' :laugh: (Language Cop is 'splitting a gut' here, at my poor attempt at 17th Century spelling.),

"Repent (and be baptized euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ) and ye shal receiue the gift of the holy Ghost."

As I drop the attempts at the archaic spellings, what this verse does not say (which is my contention, incidentally, if one has read my ten or so, varied responses on this subject on other threads before), is this. The verse does not in any way, say -

"Repent of (or from) (your) sin(s), ... for the remission of sins, and you will receive...", for those words I here embldened are not to be found together as a phrase, in any way or any place in the KJV, NKJV, RV or ASV, nor any other 'standard' version either good or bad, that I recall, save one instance I believe, in one verse in a single version, and that I cannot even recall off the top of my head.

As I've also said several times before, repentance that has anything to do with 'saving faith' is directed 'outwardly', toward God, and away from 'dead works', and not 'inwardly' toward sin, according to Scripture. (Acts 20:21; Heb. 6:1), notwithstanding the large number of times I've heard this (and also "be sorry for your sins") 'canonized rhetoric' preached in Baptist churches over the years. Both of these phrases are simply not found in Scripture. And also simply put, the issue is not sin, for God long ago concluded or 'confined' "all under sin" (Gal. 3:22). Now the only 'issue' is "The Son!?!"

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31; c.f. and cp. John 3:16,36; 6:47; Romans 3:10-6:23)

Ed

 

Maybe he needs to enlist, as well, the assistance of robycop3. :laugh: :laugh:

Ed

 

I take it he's not getting your vote for president... I'll put that dwn, one vote no for Al.

 

Uh- Al (or anyone else) might or might not get my vote for anything, but it will not be determined by any photo or cartoon caricature of the same.

Consider that in the 230 odd years since this country declared its independence, we've had a flag with a snake; we've had Political parties whose symbols included a rooster, an elephant, a bull moose, a worthless 'greenback', a log cabin and a jug of 'shine', and jackass, and which often had candidates who aptly fit their party's symbols.

We've had one occupant of the nation's highest office in recent years who managed to fall into an airplane, and up a stairs; and several other occupants who are remembered for noted quotes, as Richard Nixon said, "I am not a crook!", Jimmy Carter said, "I lusted in my heart!", Ronald Reagan said, "I don't remember!", George H.W. Bush said, "Read my lips!", Bill Clinton said, "I didn't inhale!", and George W. Bush said, "You're doing a helluva job!" :laugh:

And some, who were only one, two, or three heartbeats away from that office, included some caught with "their hand in the cookie jar", in Maryland and Texas, one guy who can't spell, one so deluded he thought he invented the internet, one who shoots first and asks questions later, one guy who ran for President the year I was born (1948) who was three heartbeats away at the age of 97, and preceeded and followed by a one-time member of the KKK, himself at the age of 84 who turned 85 in that office. :laugh:

So it'll probably take more than one who may or may not be particularly photogenic to catch my attention, good or bad.:laugh:

Ed

 

Well, you thoroughly described the pool of candidates, which you voting for? Unfortunately those were the only ones who would run.

 

Not so, far more than any I listed ran, especially in the primaries, including the aforementioned Rev. Al Sharpton. And there were some 50 candidates either on the ballots of the several states, with about six on the ballots in all 50 states and DC, or as registered write-in candidates in one or more states, but less than 50, in the election of 2004.

Ed

P.S. I did not describe a pool of candidates, but rather verbally caricatured various individuals who actually held the offices of President, Vice-President, Speaker of the House, and President Pro-tem of the Senate, with each an every one duly elected or selected to the offices they held, over the last 38 years. Let's not get the thread totally derailed, if it hasn't already been. If you'd like to add more, may I suggest you PM me, and I will respond further there, to this.

 

I personally think the beattitudes were spoke concerning the spiritual and NOT physical.

So the pure in heart are those who have no agenda (get out of hell free card) but a pure intention of seeking after God.

We agree that only those who honestly and truly desire know God will ever be saved and therefore WILL SEE God! (no matter what brought them to that point, it is their hearts cry in sincerity that God hears)

We will also agree that one who professes to have prayed a prayer, comes to church and bible studies and can quote scripture, BUT lives a completly contrary life to that of a believer and has no conviction of his sins or intent to ever turn is one that we can account as actually lost. Therefore not one of the pure in heart who will see God!

 

lol, I knew someone would bring that up.

Yes, EVERYONE will see in one form (loving Father) or another (Righteous Judge)

However the verse in discussion is about those within context of the kingdom.

The unsaved are not part of the kingdom