Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 52)
Introduction:
1. According to James 1:27, two important activities for Christians are included in "pure and undefiled religion before God." a. "Visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction" is one activity. b. The other activity is "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world." 2. God has blessed us abundantly by providing instructions in His Word to help us remain unspotted from the world. 3. In this lesson we are concentrating on principles that relate to the sixth Beatitude (Matthew 5:8). 4. Having pure hearts is essential for remaining free from the world's spots. Discussion: I. LET US FIRST EXAMINE THE BLESSING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BEATITUDE
A. The blessing is "seeing God." B. No one has experienced this blessing. 1. We learn from Deuteronomy 34:10 that the Lord knew Moses "face to face;" however, Moses was not allowed to see God's face (Exodus 33:18-23). 2. John clearly showed how no one has seen God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). C. While no one has seen God, Jesus taught that certain people "shall see God." II. LET US NEXT EXAMINE THE LORD'S REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BLESSING
A. The requirement is "being pure in heart." B. God has always required His people to have pure hearts. 1. Consider: a. the answers to David's questions in Psalm 24:3-4 b. Solomon's statement in Proverbs 4:23. 2. We need to understand that: a. God knows the condition of our hearts (Psalm 44:21) b. the condition of our hearts will positively or negatively affect our words as well as our actions (Matthew 12:34-37; 15:18-19). C. The Scriptures teach how the heart is purified [made free from the world's spots]. 1. God is the One who makes the heart pure (Psalm 51:10). 2. God purifies our hearts when we obey the Gospel. a. 1 Peter 1:22-23; John 3:3, 5 b. Romans 6:17-18, 3-4 D. The Scriptures also teach how the heart is kept pure [unspotted from the world]. 1. We must invite God to search our hearts regularly (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. We must hide God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). 3. We must allow Christ to dwell in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17a). 4. We must think on the right things (Philippians 4:8; Proverbs 23:7). 5. We must not allow our hearts to become hardened (Hebrews 3:12-13). Conclusion:
1. Having pure hearts is one of the keys to keeping ourselves unspotted from the world. 2. This can be challenging because we live in an impure world (1 John 5:19). 3. Looking forward to seeing the Lord when He returns at that last great day should motivate us to be pure in heart (1 John 3:2-3).
