Open Hearts and New Life

Open/Widen Hearts

increase your capacity for sympathy and understanding.....this should be reciprocal

Ezekiel 36:26 MSG

I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed.

James 4:8 ESV

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

speaks to them by name=emotionally deeper

Separation

unequally yoked=donkey and an ox

5 questions asked to stress the difference between Christian and non IN WORSHIP not at work etc..

a Christian should live a Holy life that reflects the nature of God, who saved him. 1 Peter 1:16

1 Peter 1:16 MSG

God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

The believer should separate themselves from actions, influences, or people that will contaminate them. There are Biblical principles of separation we need to apply

1) Biblical standard of purity. sexual, physical, language.

2) Biblical prohibition=the things the Bible says outright are wrong

3) Associations that will harm you---spiritual and physical-tattoos ex.

4) things that are harmful to a brother or sister

James 4:17 LEB

Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

5) separate from anything in your life that fails to follow the example of Jesus

Correct relationship to the Holy Spirit will make a believer Holy and Spiritual.

1 Peter 2:9 MSG

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—

6 Promises and 3 Commands

OFFER and RELATIONSHIP

verse 16 God’s offer 3 promises

the relationship response

3 actions =verse 17

3 promises of personal closeness= verse 18

O.T. promises

These are ot promises that Paul uses to show that we are God’s new covenant people part of the fulfillment of those promises we have been reconciled and restored under the new covenant