Having A Clean Heart

Scriptural Text: 1 John 3:18-24

Having A Clean Heart

David said, Psalm 51:10 (NKJV) 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

An individual, if renewed and led by the Holy Spirit, will be aware of new spiritual experiences and desires, and also of the Holy Spirit’s work of restoring character. These things provide evidence of the grace of God at work in the life of a believer. (Heart, results of renewal in)

Kind hearts are the gardens,

Kind thoughts are the roots,

Kind words are the flowers,

Kind deeds are the fruits.

Take care of your garden,

And keep out the weeds;

Fill it up with sunshine,

Kind words and kind deeds.

—Longfellow

Introduction: First and foremost is:

Priority of faith, hope and love

Putting God first--living according to his word--serves the glory of God and also the best interests of believers, by giving them true wisdom for daily living.

There are six test that is proof that one really loves God: 3:1-4:21

(1) Experiencing God’s Incredible Love, 3:1-3 (2) Turning Away from Sin and Its Enslavement, 3:4-9

(3) Being Marked by Love, 3:10-17

(4) Having a Clean Heart, 3:18-24 our text for the message

Question: Do we have a clean heart?

A clean heart is produced by loving with actions and not with words only (vv. 18–19).

Text: “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).

I. Hear the Consolation.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14).

A. Many lack love for others. They also find it hard to love God because they are self-centered and self-seeking.

B. We must love one another. Love for others brings a greater capacity to experience God’s lift, life, and love (1 John 3:19).

II. Have the Compassion.“… let us … love … in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

A. Some love in word only. They fail to love in deed and truth. They lack concern for the less fortunate.

B. We must care enough to help the needy. God promises His love to those who have compassion for others (1 John 3:16–17).

Actions rather than mere words (Jas 2:18, Mt 7:21–22; 1 Jn 3:18)

James 2:18 (ESV) — 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Matthew 7:21–22 (ESV) 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

A clean heart is made by God’s knowledge and keeping the commandments (20-22)

a. God knows our need for cleansing and release of conscience

b. Assures us

III. Hold the Confidence (Psalm 38:4; 51:3; Jeremiah 16:17; John 2:25; Romans 8:1; Deuteronomy 5:29; John 15:10, 14; John 15:7; James 1:25; Revelation 22:14)

“… if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (1 John 3:21).

A. Many people are plagued by guilt. Their lack of love for others brings a sense of God’s disapproval of their lovelessness.

Psalm 38:4 (ESV) 4For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

Psalm 51:3 (ESV) 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Jeremiah 16:17 (ESV) 17For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.

John 2:25 (ESV) 25and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

B. God’s love frees us from condemnation. Confidence in Him brings the answers to our petitions. “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him” (1 John 3:22).

Romans 8:1 (ESV) 1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 5:29 (ESV) 29Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

John 15:7 (ESV) 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:10 (ESV) 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

John 15:14 (ESV) 14You are my friends if you do what I command you.

James 1:25 (ESV) 25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Revelation 22:14 (ESV) 14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

IV. Heed the Command(1 John 3:23, John 14:23)

“… love one another, as he gave us commandment” (1 John 3:23).

A. Many lack the fullness of God’s love. Because of their disobedience to His command they do not possess His indwelling Spirit.

John 14:23 (ESV) 23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

A clean heart is made by the Spirit dwelling within (1 John 3:24; John 14:26; Romans 8:16–17; Galatians 4:4–6; Ephesians 1:13–14; 4:30)

A mutual indwelling (He in us, we in God)

The Spirit assures that God lives within us

John 14:26 (ESV) 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Romans 8:16–17 (ESV) 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Galatians 4:4–6 (ESV) 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

The Holy Spirit endues with power and love (1 John 3:24). His abiding presence enables us to share Christ with others.

Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV) 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 4:30 (ESV) 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.