Topical Bible: Character of the Unrenewed Heart: Not Prepared to Seek God

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The unrenewed heart, as depicted in the Scriptures, is fundamentally characterized by its lack of preparedness and inclination to seek God. This condition is a central theme in the biblical narrative, illustrating the natural state of humanity apart from divine intervention and regeneration.

Biblical Descriptions

The Bible frequently describes the unrenewed heart as inherently resistant to God. In Jeremiah 17:9 , it is written, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This verse underscores the innate deceitfulness and corruption of the human heart, which is not inclined to seek God or His righteousness.

In Romans 3:10-11 , the Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment, stating, "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; no one who seeks God.'" This passage highlights the universal condition of humanity's estrangement from God, emphasizing that without divine intervention, the heart remains unprepared and unwilling to pursue a relationship with the Creator.

Spiritual Blindness and Hardness

The unrenewed heart is often described as spiritually blind and hardened. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 , Paul explains, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." This blindness prevents individuals from recognizing their need for God and the truth of the gospel.

Furthermore, Ephesians 4:18 describes the condition of the unrenewed heart as being "darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts." This hardness and ignorance result in a life that is disconnected from God and His purposes.

Rebellion and Self-Sufficiency

The unrenewed heart is also marked by rebellion and a sense of self-sufficiency. Isaiah 53:6 states, "We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way." This verse illustrates the tendency of the unrenewed heart to pursue its own desires and paths, rather than seeking God's will.

Proverbs 14:12 warns, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." The unrenewed heart often trusts in its own understanding and wisdom, leading to spiritual death and separation from God.

Resistance to God's Call

Despite God's continual call to repentance and relationship, the unrenewed heart often resists. In Acts 7:51 , Stephen addresses the Sanhedrin, saying, "You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did." This resistance to the Holy Spirit's prompting is a hallmark of the unrenewed heart, which remains unyielding and unresponsive to God's overtures of grace.

Need for Transformation

The Scriptures make it clear that the unrenewed heart requires transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. 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 divine transformation is essential for the heart to become receptive and prepared to seek God.

In summary, the unrenewed heart is depicted in the Bible as deceitful, blind, hardened, rebellious, self-sufficient, and resistant to God's call. It is only through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit that the heart can be renewed and made ready to seek and follow God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 12:14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Spiritualism.
... a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its ... All who indulge sinful
traits of character, or wilfully ... peep, and that mutter: should not a people ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /34 spiritualism.htm

Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
... a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its ... All who indulge sinful
traits of character, or willfully ... peep, and that mutter: should not a people ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 34 can our dead.htm

Attendance on Holy Communion.
... Doubtless this it is which the unrenewed heart cannot bear ... will be his security that
his heart will not ... me mention another sin of a similar character into which ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xi attendance on holy.htm

Snares of Satan.
... His word sufficient evidence of its divine character. ... the natural outgrowth of the
unrenewed heart, which is ... concerning that which they do not understand, let ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... His word sufficient evidence of its divine character. ... the natural outgrowth of the
unrenewed heart, which is ... concerning that which they do not understand, let ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

The Heart's Desire Given to Help Mission Work in China.
... carelessness or self-righteousness of their unrenewed hearts, then ... our every need,
of whatever character it may ... THOROUGHLY IN HEART PREPARED FOR TRIALS OF FAITH ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/muller/answers to prayer/the hearts desire given to.htm

Aims of the Papacy.
... A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart. ... The Saviour's heart
overflowed with love. ... Bible would show Protestants the real character of the ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /35 aims of the papacy.htm

Liberty of Conscience Threatened
... A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart. ... The Saviour's heart
overflowed with love. ... Bible would show Protestants the real character of the ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 35 liberty of conscience.htm

Walking with God
... observations, on Enoch's short but comprehensive character: the thing ... as any part
of him remains unrenewed, is enmity ... You see, my brethren, my heart is full; I ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/walking with god.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