Topical Bible: Heart: The Unregenerate is Hard

◄ Heart: The Unregenerate is Hard ►

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In biblical theology, the concept of the heart is central to understanding the spiritual condition of humanity. The heart, in Scripture, often symbolizes the inner life, including the mind, will, and emotions. An unregenerate heart, according to the Bible, is one that remains in its natural, sinful state, resistant to God's truth and righteousness.

Biblical Descriptions of the Hard Heart

The Bible frequently describes the unregenerate heart as "hard." This hardness signifies a spiritual insensitivity and stubbornness against God. In the Old Testament, Pharaoh's heart is a prime example of this condition. Despite witnessing God's mighty acts, Pharaoh's heart remained obstinate. Exodus 7:13 states, "Still, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said."

The prophet Ezekiel also speaks to the condition of the hard heart among the Israelites. In Ezekiel 36:26 , God promises a transformation: "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." This passage highlights the contrast between the unyielding heart of stone and the responsive heart of flesh that God desires to create within His people.

Characteristics of the Hard Heart

1. Resistance to God's Word: The unregenerate heart is often characterized by a refusal to accept or understand God's Word. In Zechariah 7:12 , it is written, "They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets."

2. Pride and Self-reliance: A hard heart is frequently associated with pride and a reliance on one's own understanding rather than submission to God. Proverbs 28:14 warns, "Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble."

3. Spiritual Blindness: The hardness of heart leads to spiritual blindness, preventing individuals from perceiving the truth of the Gospel. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 , Paul explains, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

The Consequences of a Hard Heart

The Bible warns of the severe consequences of maintaining a hard heart. Romans 2:5 states, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed." This passage underscores the eternal implications of remaining in a state of spiritual hardness.

God's Remedy for the Hard Heart

Despite the dire condition of the unregenerate heart, Scripture offers hope through divine intervention. The promise of a new heart, as seen in Ezekiel 36:26, points to the transformative work of God through the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, this transformation is further explained through the concept of being "born again." Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3:3 , "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

The process of regeneration involves the softening of the heart, enabling individuals to respond to God's call, repent, and embrace faith in Jesus Christ. This transformation is a testament to God's grace and the power of the Gospel to change even the hardest of hearts.

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Psalm 76:5
The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
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Ezekiel 2:4
For they are impudent children and stiff hearted. I do send you to them; and you shall say to them, Thus said the Lord GOD.
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Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
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Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
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Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
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Mark 6:52
For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
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Mark 10:5
And Jesus answered and said to them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
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Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
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John 12:40
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
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Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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Romans 2:5
But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
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Library

A Penitent Heart, the Best New Year's Gift
... to repentance; and when thou findest thy heart hard, beg of ... soul; there must be a
change in heart and life ... and the unholy nature of carnal and unregenerate men. ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/a penitent heart the best.htm

Persecution Every Christian's Lot
... and punish them for all their ungodly and hard speeches in ... are not sufficiently sensible
of the bitter enmity of the heart of every unregenerate man against ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/persecution every christians lot.htm

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
... they are grievous to the unregenerate man. To mourn for sin, to be pure in heart,
to suffer persecution for righteousness' sake, is a hard word, grievous to ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/an appendix to the beatitudes.htm

Be not Deceived; God is not Mocked.
... eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." That is Christ's own statement regarding the
unregenerate heart. ... is sin"; "every one that is proud in heart is an ... hard fate ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter ii be not deceived.htm

Christ Condemning Sin
... an intrusive alien force that holds unregenerate human nature ... Guilt stifled leads
to hardening of heart, and sometimes ... evil, and thoughts of Him as hard and an ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/christ condemning sin.htm

Introduction
... This is true; and it is equally true that every unregenerate sinner
has the heart of an Antinomian. ... Nor is this hard to find. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the law and the saint/introduction.htm

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
... copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner ... As the unregenerate cannot keep
the moral law perfectly, so ... man that plies the oar, and rows hard, is hindered ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/3 1 mans inability to keep.htm

Questions and Answers
... that the object of their love will not require anything hard or impossible ...
thoughts.1. The devil himself directly.2. A corrupt, unregenerate heart, which is ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xii questions and answers.htm

Prayer and Obedience
... He is neither a hard master, nor an austere lord ... with tears, with confession, with
penitent heart, and God will ... to God is not possible to unregenerate men, is ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/ix prayer and obedience.htm

Christian Sympathy
... the poor and suffering which exists in many an unregenerate heart. ... will certainly
be to a Christian heart the very ... be forced to drink thereof by hard words and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm