Topical Bible: Character of the Unrenewed Heart of Little Worth

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The concept of the "unrenewed heart" in biblical theology refers to the state of the human heart before it undergoes spiritual transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. This condition is often characterized by a nature that is contrary to the will and purposes of God, as depicted throughout Scripture. The unrenewed heart is described as being of "little worth" in the sense that it is incapable of producing the fruits of righteousness and is often inclined towards sin and rebellion against God.

Deceitful and Desperately Wicked

Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" This verse highlights the inherent deceitfulness and wickedness of the unrenewed heart. It is a heart that is prone to self-deception and moral corruption, unable to discern its own true condition without divine intervention.

Foolishness and Darkness

The unrenewed heart is often associated with foolishness and spiritual darkness. In Romans 1:21 , Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts." This passage illustrates how the unrenewed heart, despite having knowledge of God, fails to honor Him and instead becomes ensnared in futile and darkened reasoning.

Hardness and Stubbornness

Scripture frequently describes the unrenewed heart as hard and stubborn. In Ezekiel 36:26 , God 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." The "heart of stone" symbolizes the obstinate and unyielding nature of the unrenewed heart, resistant to God's commands and guidance.

Enmity Against God

The unrenewed heart is in a state of enmity against God. Romans 8:7 declares, "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so." This hostility is a defining characteristic of the unrenewed heart, which is naturally opposed to God's law and incapable of true submission without the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

Lack of Spiritual Understanding

1 Corinthians 2:14 states, "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." The unrenewed heart lacks the spiritual discernment necessary to comprehend the truths of God, viewing them as foolishness.

Inclination Toward Evil

Genesis 6:5 provides a stark depiction of the unrenewed heart: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time." This verse underscores the pervasive inclination toward evil that characterizes the unrenewed heart, which is consistently bent towards sin.

Conclusion

The unrenewed heart, as portrayed in Scripture, is a heart of little worth in terms of spiritual value and righteousness. It is deceitful, foolish, hard, hostile to God, lacking in spiritual understanding, and inclined toward evil. The transformation of such a heart is a central theme in the Christian doctrine of salvation, emphasizing the necessity of divine intervention for the renewal and regeneration of the human heart.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 10:20
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Victory Over the World through Faith
... as they might do in an unrenewed mind, but ... respecting them must at least embrace
their general character. ... Deep in their heart lies the conviction that here and ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xxii victory over the world.htm

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
... reason for it the most satisfactory, however little we may ... The tendency that there
is in the unrenewed heart to seek ... in a state of sin, has the character of a ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vii covenanting adapted to.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

Aims of the Papacy.
... as has been supposed, and that a little concession on ... their eyes to the real character
of Romanism ... A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /35 aims of the papacy.htm

Liberty of Conscience Threatened
... has been supposed, and that a little concession on ... their eyes to the real character
of Romanism ... A religion of externals is attractive to the unrenewed heart. ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 35 liberty of conscience.htm

The Necessity of Divine Influences.
... this mode of existence, and thinking little or nothing ... These were men whose character
compared with that ... man of irreproachable morals but unrenewed heart is as ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the necessity of divine influences.htm

The Parable of the Wedding Feast
... the subject in the more honorable character of the ... illustration of the folly of the
unrenewed heart, and a ... wrath is kindled but a little." Indifference covered ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the parable of the wedding.htm

Having used these means to procure them
... and death should find me in an unrenewed state? ... pardon all your sins, and change
your heart, and show ... you make a difference according to the character of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/article 2 2.htm

Entire Sanctification
... spirit of error will work in the unrenewed heart, filling it ... man that he ever met."
As the character of Socrates ... few love God with all their heart, soul mind ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clarke/entire sanctification/entire sanctification.htm

Four Soils for one Seed
... shall prosper, whether this or that.' The character of the ... of the desires and
inclinations of the unrenewed man is ... Any heart that will, can do that; and that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/four soils for one seed.htm