Part 1 of the Spirit, Soul and the Body series examined the spiritual ‘organs’ God has provided to us within our “Inner Man“. This article examines the HEART and how it relates to the other spiritual ‘organs‘ and how they function in the controlling of the body.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Key Takeaways
- This article explores the concept of The heart as a spiritual organ within our Inner Man.
- It discusses the need for circumcision of the heart to remove its spiritual foreskin, which symbolizes a hardened attitude towards God.
- The heart can either be good or evil; while influencing the mind’s decisions and actions.
- A New Heart transforms a person’s spiritual condition, aligning them with God’s requirements.
- The article emphasizes that God promises a New Heart represents to those who strive to follow His words.
Our physical BODY also contains our SPIRIT and SOUL; and within our SOUL, the Bible says is our HEART.
This article follows on from the previous article in the series titled “Spirit, Soul and Body – the MIND“.
The highlighted section of the image below represents the various ‘organs’ of our bodies that we will be looking at in this article—in particular the HEART and how it impacts the MIND.
1. Circumcision of the HEART
The Bible states that the hearts of both men and women have been created with a (spiritual) “foreskin”. God requires that ALL of His people (both Jews and Christians) are to personally remove these foreskins. The two scripture verses that follow identify what this foreskin represents.
"CIRCUMSIZE therefore THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART, and be no more STIFFNECKED." (Deut 10:16)
NOTE: From the above verse it can be seen that the “foreskin” represents a “stiffnecked” Jew or Christian. This term was used in the scriptures to express the stubborn, intractable spirit of a people. It indicates they are not responsive to the guiding of their God (Exodus 32:9; 33:3; Deut 9:6; 2 Chron 36:13; Jer 17:23, etc. and Acts 7:51:
“Ye STIFFNECKED and UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART and EARS, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7:51)“CIRCUMCISE YOURSELVES to the Lord, and TAKE AWAY THE FORESKINS OF YOUR HEART, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest MY FURY come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." (Jer 4:4)
“And REND YOUR HEART, and not your garments, and TURN unto the Lord your God…and repenteth him of the evil [that He will bring if the heart is not circumcised].” (Joel 2:13)“For we [the born-gain Gentiles] are THE [true] CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philip. 3:3)
“In whom also ye are circumcised with THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST:” (Col. 2:11)
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but A NEW CREATURE.” (Gal 6:15)
2. How to circumcise the Heart
This involves the removal of all:
- False reservations about God and His requirements of His people;
- Coverings (that disguise or to conceal something hypocritically);
- Secrets;
- Unbelief.
If God’s people do the above things, God promises to help His people achieve this cleansing. He does this by giving them a “new heart“.
"A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezek 36:26)
The prime requirement to be able to achieve this ONLY by “circumcision”. To obtain a “tender heart” one must HUMBLE themselves before God.
"Because THINE HEART WAS TENDER, and thou didst HUMBLE THYSELF BEFORE GOD, when thou HEARDEST HIS WORDS...I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord." (2 Chron 34:27)
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and A PURE HEART; who hath NOT LIFTED UP HIS SOUL unto vanity, nor SWORN DECEITFULLY.” (Psalm 24:4)
3. The nature of the human HEART
The Bible states that the human heart in its un-regenerated form is:
"...DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, and DESPERATELY WICKED: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9)
In addition to this the nature of the heart can be either “good” or “evil“, with nothing in between:
“A GOOD MAN out of the GOOD TREASURE of the heart bringeth forth GOOD THINGS: and an EVIL MAN out of the EVIL TREASURE bringeth forth EVIL THINGS.” (Matt. 12:35)From God’s perspective, every individual can either “soften” or “harden” their hearts towards God:
“...To day if ye will hear his voice, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS.” (Heb 4:7)MEANING: These verses clearly reveal that the human heart if left to its own desires is at best very unreliable. It is something that one should NOT depend upon for guidance. This is because it is deceitful above all things!!
If the human heart is “desperately wicked” so that “nobody can know it”, maybe this is the reason why so much evil has been perpetrated throughout the world’s history?
Summary
In summary, the HEART:
- Contains “treasure” — meaning, it is classed by God as containing either “good treasure” or “evil treasure”; and
- Is “deceitful above all things,
- It is also desperately wicked”
- Can be “circumcised” or remain “uncircumcised ”by the individual
- It can be made “tender” or “hardened” by the individual.
4. Examining the Heart’s relationship to the Soul and the Mind
From the previous articles in this series, we learned:
The MIND weighs the various inputs from the FIVE Senses. It then compares them with other References we use within us to help us make a Decision.
Each decision becomes a Command for the body to implement that decision. Such simple decisions are to simply move one’s eye from observing one object to another object.
The SOUL represents our Inner Man that departs our Outer Man when we die.
The SOUL contains the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life. Each of these ‘qualities’ have the ability to override any rational thinking that take place in the MIND.
As shown in the illustration above, the HEART also monitor’s Mankind’s FIVE Senses. Depending upon the state of the individual’s heart (i.e. whether it is “good” or “evil”) the HEART can discourage or encourage the lusts and the pride within the SOUL.
The HEART‘s aim is to force the MIND to comply with its lusts. If successful, the MIND then casts aside any rationale and reasoning associated with the References being used by the MIND. This behavior often represents an arrogant, stiff-knecked individual.
Example of having a “Good Heart”
Firstly, the Bible says that one of the Devil’s titles is termed ‘The Tempter’. This means to make proof of, to attempt to persuade otherwise, or to test the individual:
“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means THE TEMPTER [Satan’s agent] have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” (1 Thess 3:5)
Let’s assume that a “good man” is performing work that he finds boring. His work doesn’t pay much per day, but it is honest work.
The Tempter sends along a man who suggests that there are easier ways of making more money per day. This ‘work’ involves committing acts of crime.
The man analyzes the offer to determine what is “right” and what is “wrong”. These options are placed on the scales of his MIND to determine if he should accept or reject the offer.
Meanwhile, the SOUL commences to bring forth suggestions of a better life. It also suggests the ability to indulge the body in the more pleasurable things of life. The MIND then considers this suggestion.
Similarly, the HEART of the “good man who brings forth good treasures” reveals what the scenarios might be of being arrested for the crime. To the man’s MIND he realizes that he could not endure a period in jail with other criminals. So the MIND and the HEART of a “good man” decide that the offer is unacceptable and it is rejected.
Example of having an “Evil Heart”
Let’s assume that a man associates with criminals, but wrestles within himself about this association. In other words, he knows he shouldn’t commit crime, but he cannot ignore its benefits.
It is God’s desire for ALL people suffering from inner conflict to be set free from these stresses. In this, God may send an evangelist to share the Gospel to help such people become free of this torment.
When presented with the Gospel message, our man begins to weigh up in his MIND what action he should make.
In his MIND, he knows what has been presented is true. He knows he will have to produce far more faith than he is prepared to implement. His SOUL reminds him of the occasional pleasures he experienced from his ill-gotten gains from crime. He remembers that he enjoyed those times.
Then his HEART started mocking the concept of him needing a Savior. It also questioned the possibility of a literal Hell existing. He found it difficult to accept people could burn alive throughout eternity. As the doubts about being ‘Saved’ flooded in from the HEART, these overrode the message from the Gospel preacher.
In this lesson, it must be remembered that both Christians and non-Christians need to be aware of rejecting God’s intervention in their life. If they do, God will most likely become less involved in their spiritual welfare in the future. This means they will be edging closer towards spending eternity in Hell.
5. Create in me a NEW HEART, Oh God…
The un-regenerated heart that somewhat appears to be “good” is not acceptable to God.
“And he [Jesus] said unto him, Why callest thou me good? THERE IS NONE GOOD BUT ONE, that is, God." (Matt 19:17)To be found “good” in God’s eyes, Jesus requires His people to become a “new creature in Christ”!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is A NEW CREATURE: old [sinful] things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
“For in Christ Jesus neither CIRCUMCISION availeth any thing, nor UNCIRCUMCISION, but A NEW CREATURE.” (Gal 6:15)
The Psalmist recorded that he wanted God to create within him a “CLEAN HEART”, as stated below:
“Create in me A CLEAN HEART, O God; and RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT within me.” (Psalm 51:10)6. My experience of being given a ‘New Heart’
Ezekiel prophesied that God will one day place a new heart in the remnant of Israel.
I am firmly convinced that God placed a new heart within me some 30-years ago. This occurred when I had my “born-again” experience (John 3:3-8).
It was at the end of a 12-month period of seeking God with a fervent desire (1 Chron 22:19; Psalm 14:2; Psalm 69:32; Matt 6:33) that I met Him. In this, I could see “through a glass darkly” (1 Cor 13:12) the new way ahead in my troubled life—with peace (John 14:27).
If He has promised to give the Jews a “new heart” He also gave me a “new heart”. If He did this for me, He will do it for you too. However, everyone needs to meet His conditions for being able to receive such a heart:
“A NEW HEART also will I give you, and A NEW SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezek 36:26)It is my firm belief that God only gives Christians a “new heart” if He can see that they are obeying Christ’s words to “STRIVE to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven…”:
“STRIVE to enter in at the strait gate: for many [Christians], I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)
Striving to enter into God’s kingdom is mandatory for the New Birth and the spiritual life
A video presentation produced during a Bible study about this topic can be found here.
Invitation
I encourage you to share this article with your pastor and your trusted church members. This is to determine for yourself whether the claims in this article are true or not.
On the contrary, if this article has caused you any concern about your Christian faith, feel free to post a comment or question in the Comments box below. If you prefer to ask me a private question, feel free to contact me using my website’s Contact form.
Other articles in this ‘Spirit, Soul and Body‘ series are:
- The Inner and Outer Man
- Our ‘Spirit’
- The MIND
- The HEART (this article)
- Evil Spirits
- Communicating with God
