What does "a new heart and a new spirit" mean for believers?

The Promise Stated

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

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What the Heart of Stone Means

• Unresponsive to God’s voice

• Hardened by sin (Hebrews 3:13)

• Incapable of true love for God or neighbor (Romans 8:7-8)

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What the New Heart Is

• A God-given capacity to love and obey (Deuteronomy 30:6)

• Tender, teachable, and alive to righteousness

• The inner transformation promised in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33)

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What the New Spirit Is

• The Holy Spirit Himself dwelling within (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19)

• The power source for new desires and abilities (Philippians 2:13)

• The seal of belonging to God (Ephesians 1:13-14)

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Immediate Results for Believers

• Regeneration—“He saved us… through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)

• New identity—“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• Freedom from sin’s mastery—“Sin shall not be your master” (Romans 6:14)

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On-Going Evidence in Daily Life

• Growing obedience—“I will cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27)

• Spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

• God-centered motives and affections (Colossians 3:1-3)

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Ultimate Goal

• Conformity to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29)

• Eternal fellowship with God, unhindered by sin (Revelation 21:3-4)

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Living Out the Reality

• Rely on the Spirit’s power, not self-effort (Zechariah 4:6)

• Feed the new heart with Scripture (Psalm 119:11)

• Walk by faith, confident that the One who began this work will finish it (Philippians 1:6)