PICTURE THREE – THE CLEANSED HEART
How different everything is now!
Into the heart has come the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, filling it with light.
This is just what happens when a person allows God to work in his heart and is willing to receive these two Gifts from Him.
They have been given to make known the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save people from their sin and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18).
When, nearly 2,000 years ago, the Lord Jesus came into this world, He did so for the express purpose of becoming our Savior. To cleanse away our sin He had Himself to bear the consequences of that sin-death and take our place as Substitute so that we might be forgiven and set free.
“He Himself bare our sins in His own body on the tree (that is, the cross at Calvary) so that we having died to sins, should live unto righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24)
“He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6)
THE CROSS
It is to signify all this that the cross is now shown in the heart.
Only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can we be saved, because there is salvation in no other, for “there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
With Christ enthroned in the heart, that heart is cleansed from all its sin. Every sin should go, just as the animals have fled from the heart. Remember, though, they have not gone of their own choice they long to return – but a greater power than theirs has conquered them.
Where man himself is powerless to overcome and expel them, Christ Himself has done this, for the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7).
The man whose heart has been cleansed, is no longer blinded by Satan, for Christ has given new sight, the eyes of his understanding have been opened (Ephesians 1:18).
In the old days He gave sight to those who were physically blind, (as in Matthew 9:27-31, 20:30-34; John 9:1-41) but it is far more wonderful to receive spiritual sight.
The old conscience, once dulled and hardened by sin, has now been completely changed. It has become responsive to God’s voice, pure and clear before God and before others (Acts 24:16).
AN OPEN MOUTH
A person who has experienced such wonderful salvation cannot easily remain silent about it.
This is symbolized by an open mouth.
Everyone who has been delivered from the power of sin should be witnessing to others about his Savior.
To a man freed trom the bondage of demons our Lord said, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19).
If you know what it is to have your sins forgiven by the Lord Jesus and what it is to be a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17) then it is your responsibility as well as your privilege to witness to others about Him.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
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