All of Our Heart

When we have turned our back on sin, and have been born again of water and Spirit, we are born of God.

We have repented, we have been baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and we have received the gift of God’s Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

We have become His child, and He has become our Father. (John 1:12-13, John 3:5, Acts 2:38)

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

The next verse is,

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1

As His beloved, and because of our deep respect and awe of Jesus, we desire to be holy as He is holy.

When we hear the preaching of the word, and when we read our Bibles, His Spirit within us, the Holy Ghost, reveals areas in our life that need correcting.

Jesus leads us to repentance in these areas, and by His blood that we applied to our life in baptism in Jesus name, these areas of spots and blemishes are cleansed. By this process, we progress towards holiness.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27

We turn away from the lifestyles of the world to a lifestyle of holiness and faithfulness to God.

We make sure that Jesus has all of our heart, and we are not sharing our heart with a love for the things of the world.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." - James 4:8 (“…for your loyalty is divided between God and the world”. NLT)

When we truly humble ourselves before God in repentance and awe of His holiness, with the realization that our righteousness really is as filthy rags in comparison to His righteousness, we enter into another dimension with Him.

His mercy and love surrounds us, letting us know there is nothing and no one more intimate and more caring of us than Jesus. By His love, He brings us into His glory.

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." - James 4:10

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8