This week Bro. Leo continues our study of the “be attitudes” with a deeper look at the importance of purifying our hearts daily.

From last weeks study: To purify our hearts we must confess our individual sins daily, tell God I am guilty of (blank) with Godly sorrow and repentance (Rom.3:19-20, Psa.51:6-7). We commit our sins individually daily and we must confess them individually daily. Cleansing is an act of God, confessing is an act of ours.

There are three elements of purifying our hearts, 1) confession – audibly telling God He is right and we did wrong, 2) Godly sorrow – being truly distraught about committing the sin, knowing the sin we committed was laid on Jesus at Calvary  3) true repentance – from the Greek word “metanoia” = a change in a persons mind, concerning a certain sin, that results in a change of this sinful action from sinful activity to righteous activity.  “metanoia” (repentance) involves our mind and our actions.

In this study Bro. Leo uses two Biblical examples of “metanoia” (repentance).

1) David in Psalms 32, 38 and 51 had committed adultery and murder.  The Scriptures give us details of how David felt before, during and after he purified his heart (Psa.38:1-7, 17-18, Psa.51:4, 17, 3, 6).

2) Saul, in Acts 8:1, Acts 7:58-60, Acts 8:3, Acts 22:3-5, 1Cor.15:3-6, 9-10, goes from persecuting and killing Christians to preaching the Gospel.

Confession leads us to Godly sorrow, Godly sorrow leads us to repentance, the power of repentance delivers us from that particular sin and we will not regret not committing that sin again (2Cor.7:10).

In 2Cor.7:10 the word “salvation” is translated from the Greek word “sōtēria” which means rescue or safety (physically or morally): – deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.
In the context of 2Cor.7 the word “deliverance” would be a better translation because Paul is writing to the Corinthians about a particular sin that they were aware was happening within their congregation (a man sleeping with his step Mother).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Psa 38:1 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Psa 38:2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
Psa 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
Psa 38:4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Psa 38:5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
Psa 38:6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
Psa 38:7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
Psa 38:17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
Psa 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psa 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

2Co 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Act 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Act 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Act 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Act 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Act 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Act 8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Act 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
Act 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Act 22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.