The concept of the unrenewed heart, as understood within the biblical framework, refers to the natural state of humanity before experiencing spiritual regeneration or renewal through faith in Jesus Christ. This state is characterized by a heart that is "not perfect with God," indicating a lack of alignment with God's will and purposes.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently addresses the condition of the human heart, emphasizing its natural inclination away from God. In Jeremiah 17:9, the prophet declares, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" . This verse underscores the inherent deceitfulness and corruption of the unrenewed heart, which is incapable of achieving perfection in the sight of God on its own.

Separation from God

The unrenewed heart is marked by a separation from God, as it is not in harmony with His holiness and righteousness. Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear" . This separation is a direct result of sin, which creates a chasm between humanity and the divine.

Lack of Spiritual Understanding

An unrenewed heart lacks spiritual understanding and discernment. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Apostle Paul writes, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" . This verse highlights the inability of the unrenewed heart to comprehend spiritual truths, as it is not attuned to the Spirit of God.

Resistance to God's Will

The unrenewed heart is often resistant to God's will and commands. In Romans 8:7, Paul explains, "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so" . This hostility and rebellion against God's law are indicative of a heart that is not perfect with God, as it refuses to submit to His authority.

Need for Renewal

The Bible calls for the renewal of the heart as a necessary step toward perfection with God. Ezekiel 36:26 promises, "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 transformation is essential for aligning the heart with God's will and achieving spiritual renewal.

Conclusion

The character of the unrenewed heart, as depicted in Scripture, is one of imperfection and separation from God. It is marked by deceit, resistance, and a lack of spiritual understanding. The Bible emphasizes the need for a renewed heart, one that is transformed by the Spirit of God, to achieve true alignment with His will and purposes.1 Kings 15:3
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 8:21
You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 6:18
An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Sinner's Need of Christ
... Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart. ... There is no true excellence of
character apart from Him. ... to urge us to give the heart's loving service to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 2 the sinners need.htm

General Character of Christians.
... by love to God and duty; the unrenewed by fear ... yea not only in every field, but in
every heart. ... just be made perfect""those of the opposite character put on ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xi general character of.htm

The Test of Discipleship
... And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not ... of God, yet they realize that their
character is imperfect ... love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 7 the test of.htm

God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man. [*Continued]
... Hence men generally, and unrenewed men always, are unacquainted ... and reads the secret
thoughts and feelings of our heart. ... we take into view the character of the ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/gods exhaustive knowledge of man 2.htm

Character and Condition of the Churches to whom the Epistle was ...
... spirit shows itself equally, when the unrenewed nature of ... while yet the whole inward
character has formed ... his treasure in heaven and his heart directed thither ...
/.../the epistle of james practically explained/ 4 character and condition.htm

The National Preacher.
... no conspicuous standard of Christian character is visible ... subject discover the
ungodliness of the unrenewed heart. ... the highest wisdom, is not merely presumptuous ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/the national preacher.htm

Paul, the Teacher of Prayer
... with, apart from, aloof from The natural, unrenewed heart has no part ... Prayer is the
true test of character. ... Not to pray in some conditions seems heartless and ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/xii paul the teacher of.htm

Spiritualism.
... years, and in these its real character stands revealed ... a manner that is pleasing
to the unrenewed heart, while its ... the people that the deception is not discerned ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /34 spiritualism.htm

Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
... years, and in these its real character stands revealed ... a manner that is pleasing
to the unrenewed heart, while its ... the people that the deception is not discerned ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 34 can our dead.htm

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
... less consistent with the excellence of the character of God ... The tendency that there
is in the unrenewed heart to seek ... the works of the law shows, not that the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vii covenanting adapted to.htm

What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to guard your heart? | GotQuestions.org

What is the heart? | GotQuestions.org

Heart: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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