Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew

February 1937

Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew
XI

By Elias Aslaksen

Matthew 5:8; Acts 15:8-9: A pure heart. Cleansing from sin. If we seek to have a pure heart and we keep our heart pure, every other good thing will be added to us.

The cleansing can be divided into three parts:

  • 1. The forgiveness of sins; our bodies washed with pure water (Heb. 10:22). We are cleansed from all the sins we committed in the past (1 John 1:9); it is a cleansing from all the sin that has come out of the body. 1 Cor. 6:18. This, according to John’s special light (John 19:34; 1 John 5:6-8), is a cleansing by the water (the clear liquid in the blood) that flowed from Jesus’ side.
  • 2. A cleansing from all indwelling, conscious sin; crucified with Christ; victory over sin (Rom. 6:6, 8:37; 2 Cor. 2:14; 1 John 2:1, 14, 3:6-10) so that we become perfect according to our conscience (Heb. 9:9); faithful in all things so that we do not do what we beforehand know is against God’s will. This, according to John’s special light, is cleansing by the blood (the red component of the blood) that flowed out from Jesus’ side. According to this cleansing we have in a scriptural sense, a pure heart.
  • 3. This cleansing is mentioned in 1 John 1:7 and is therefore a cleansing that occurs in those who have pure hearts, in those who walk in the light as God is in the light. This is because the heart is not absolutely pure—in spite of a victorious life—yet it is pure according to the conscience, i.e., according the light an individual has at the moment.

    • When you walk in the light you receive new light, and gradually the new light of life reveals new, indwelling sin from which you are continually cleansed by faith, as you partake of the dying of Christ. This is sanctification.

    If you want to continue to walk with a pure heart, you have to continue to enter into new light. The conscience consists of all the light that an individual has at any given moment. There are therefore great differences between people’s consciences. Consequently, there are also great differences between the pure in heart.

    What is pure for someone with less light would be impure for someone with greater light. We cannot, as a matter of course, judge one another, but we have to respect each others’ consciences.

    HomeHidden TreasuresBooksSongsBible
    logoLiterature Portal
    Home
    Hidden Treasures
    Books
    Songs
    Bible
    Authors
    Search
    Copyright Policy
    My activities