Topical Bible: Heart: The Unregenerate is Malicious

◄ Heart: The Unregenerate is Malicious ►

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In biblical theology, the heart is often seen as the center of human will, emotion, and intellect. It is the seat of moral and spiritual life, reflecting the true nature of a person. The unregenerate heart, in particular, is depicted in Scripture as inherently malicious and deceitful, a condition that underscores humanity's need for divine redemption.

The prophet Jeremiah provides a stark description of the unregenerate heart: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). This verse highlights the intrinsic deceitfulness and incurable nature of the heart without divine intervention. The unregenerate heart is not only deceitful but also desperately wicked, indicating a profound moral corruption that affects all aspects of human life.

In the New Testament, Jesus further elaborates on the condition of the unregenerate heart. In the Gospel of Mark, He states, "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly" (Mark 7:21-22). This passage lists a litany of sins that originate from the heart, emphasizing that the source of human wickedness is internal rather than external. The unregenerate heart is the wellspring of evil actions and thoughts, revealing its malicious nature.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the state of the unregenerate heart in his epistle to the Romans. He writes, "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The venom of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery lie in their wake, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Romans 3:13-18). This passage paints a vivid picture of the destructive and malicious tendencies of those with unregenerate hearts, who live in rebellion against God and His righteousness.

The unregenerate heart is also characterized by its resistance to God's truth and its inclination towards idolatry. In Romans 1:21-23, Paul describes how humanity, despite knowing God, failed to honor Him and instead became futile in their thinking, with their foolish hearts darkened. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (Romans 1:22-23). This exchange reveals the heart's propensity to turn away from the Creator and towards created things, further illustrating its malicious nature.

The unregenerate heart's malice is not only directed towards God but also towards fellow human beings. In 1 John 3:12, the apostle warns believers not to be like Cain, "who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous" . Cain's actions exemplify the enmity and hatred that can reside in an unregenerate heart, leading to violence and destruction.

Throughout Scripture, the unregenerate heart is depicted as fundamentally opposed to God's will and purposes. It is a heart that is in desperate need of transformation, a transformation that can only be accomplished through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.

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Psalm 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
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Psalm 140:2
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
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Proverbs 24:2
For their heart studies destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
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Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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Ezekiel 25:15
Thus said the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
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Library

Evidences of Regeneration.
... the sense, that he has no and no malicious feelings or ... but does not in fact forsake
it, in his heart. ... certain than of his regenerate or unregenerate state; and ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxx evidences of regeneration.htm

Questions and Answers
... of evil thoughts.1. The devil himself directly.2. A corrupt, unregenerate heart,
which is a ... Satan with all his malicious and crafty devices is lying in wait to ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xii questions and answers.htm

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
... I confess they are grievous to the unregenerate man ... God winks at infirmities where
the heart is right ... Satan is implacably malicious, and as he sometimes accuses ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/an appendix to the beatitudes.htm

The Character of the Persons for whom this Rest is Designed.
... In the soul of every unregenerate man the creature is both God ... thine ears may be
open, and thy heart yield to ... love his own wife, or to a malicious person that ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter iv the character of.htm

Meditations on the Hindrances which Keep Back a Sinner from the ...
... drunkard, thief, usurer, oppressor, proud, malicious, covetous, profaner ... for it,
and will incline his heart to keep ... 5. When the unregenerate man hears that God ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/meditations on the hindrances which.htm

Snares of Satan.
... King, but to further his own malicious designs against ... bring into the church insincere,
unregenerate elements that ... God's word with humility of heart to obtain ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... King, but to further his own malicious designs against ... bring into the church insincere,
unregenerate elements that ... God's word with humility of heart to obtain ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

The Sorrowful Man's Question
... kept a sharp look-out with his malicious eye, could ... description of a very sad condition
of heart and mind ... passed upon you if you die unregenerate: "Depart from ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/the sorrowful mans question.htm

The Greatest Trial on Record
... and sat down with great delight to the malicious work ... take him to be Lord of your
heart, and that ... morning"the very same thing; and every unregenerate man will ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/the greatest trial on record.htm

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to the Killing and ...
... great, so its nature is wicked and malicious; for it ... that the thing is done which
the unregenerate soul would ... all the faculties of it"in the heart, mind, will ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter vi how christ is.htm