A Matter of the Heart

The Question

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The Answer:

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (See also 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 44:21; Proverbs 24:12)

The Bible tells us in Matthew 12:34 why we speak the way we speak.

Matthew 12:34 - O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (See also Luke 6:45)

Notice what the Bible says is in our hearts:

Matthew 15:17 - Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

Matthew 15:18 - But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Matthew 15:19 - For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Matthew 15:20 - These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

None of these are good things. None of these are things we should be guilty of. Yet we are, and the Lord tells us that it is with this deceitful and desperately wicked heart that we must believe the truth of the gospel in order to be saved.

Romans 6:17 - But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Man may say in his heart, “I do not need God, I can make on my own!!”, but the Scriptures warn of such haughtiness and pride.

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Matthew 7:13 - Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Friend, do not be one of the many. Receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour today.

2 Corinthians 6:2 - (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Acts 16:30 - And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 16:32 - And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

Romans 10:8 - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:10 - For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:11 - For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:12 - For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.