Topical Bible: The Heart: we should Believe With

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The concept of the heart in the Bible is rich and multifaceted, often symbolizing the center of human emotion, will, and intellect. In the context of faith and belief, the heart is portrayed as the core of one's spiritual life and relationship with God. The heart is not merely a physical organ but represents the inner being of a person, encompassing thoughts, desires, and intentions.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of the heart in the process of belief and faith. In Romans 10:9-10 , the Apostle Paul writes, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved." This passage underscores the necessity of heartfelt belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a cornerstone of salvation.

The heart is also depicted as the seat of faith in Hebrews 3:12 , which warns, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God." Here, the heart is seen as capable of both belief and unbelief, highlighting the importance of maintaining a heart that is steadfast in faith.

The Heart's Role in Faith

The heart's role in faith is further illustrated in Proverbs 3:5 : "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding." This verse calls for complete reliance on God, suggesting that true faith involves surrendering one's heart entirely to Him, rather than relying solely on human reasoning.

In the Gospels, Jesus emphasizes the significance of the heart in belief. In Mark 11:23 , He states, "Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him." This teaching highlights the power of unwavering belief that originates from the heart.

The Heart and Spiritual Transformation

The transformation of the heart is a recurring theme in Scripture, indicating that belief is not just an intellectual assent but a profound change within. 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 prophetic promise points to the transformative work of God in renewing the heart, enabling genuine belief and obedience.

In the New Testament, the heart's transformation is linked to the work of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 15:8-9 , Peter declares, "And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith." This passage illustrates that faith, facilitated by the Holy Spirit, purifies the heart, making it receptive to God's truth.

Guarding the Heart

Believers are admonished to guard their hearts diligently, recognizing its central role in spiritual life. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life." This instruction highlights the heart as the source of life and vitality, emphasizing the need to protect it from influences that could lead to unbelief or spiritual decay.

The heart's condition is crucial in one's relationship with God, as seen in Psalm 51:10 , where David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." This plea for a pure heart reflects the desire for a heart aligned with God's will, capable of true belief and worship.

Conclusion

The heart, as depicted in the Bible, is integral to the life of faith. It is the seat of belief, the source of spiritual transformation, and the focus of divine renewal. Through the heart, believers are called to trust, believe, and maintain a steadfast relationship with God, ensuring that their faith is genuine and life-giving.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 8:37
And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believes to righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

There are those who Think that the Christian Religion is what we ...
... which you say unto us that we should believe, you neither ... may merit to see eternal
things also, which we believe. ... be perceived by the motion of your own heart. ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /1 there are those who.htm

For this Reason we Believe Also in his Son...
... the father of a family and he hath a son, so we should say, the ... If ye make to yourselves
such like in your heart, ye set up idols ... First believe, then understand ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the creeds/section 3 for this reason.htm

Believe Just Now
... If our helplessness and hardness of heart lessened our guilt ... more wicked we became,
the less guilty we should be. ... he who says, I cannot even believe, is taking ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter ix believe just now.htm

But You Say, that You Therefore Believe Your Friend, Whose Heart ...
... you therefore believe your friend, whose heart you cannot ... Why should I now speak
of the other connections ... ability, but be hateful, wherein we believe not that ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /3 but you say that.htm

Exploring Canaan by Faith
... "But something in my heart said that ... Considering doubters more closely, we find that
doubters believe ... but they believe the opposite of what they should believe. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter five exploring canaan by.htm

The Occasion and Purpose of this "Manual"
... Therefore we may return to these three ways in which, as we said, God should be
served ... It is also necessary that a great zeal be kindled in the heart. ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter i the occasion and.htm

The Heart of the Gospel
... THE heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of ... that some of us, who know
what we believe, and have no secret meanings for our words, should just put ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the heart of the gospel.htm

Introduction.
... of the laws of nature: when they behold the heart of them ... Every true father wills
that his child should be as he is in ... What we see in the Son is of the Father. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/miracles of our lord/i introduction.htm

Pricked in their Heart
... It was aimed, not at the head, but at the heart. ... Oh, that we could so preach that
our hearers should be at once pricked in their hearts, and so be led at ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/pricked in their heart.htm

Clifford -- the Forgiveness of Sins
... Every time you ask God for forgiveness you should feel yourself pledged ... as really
believing that God forgives us, so that we may not lose heart, may never ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/clifford the forgiveness of.htm