A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT


A. "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 A HEART OF FLESH." - Ezek. 36:26
  1. A new heart:
    1. How wonderful the Bible proclaims the doctrine of "the new". It speaks of -
      1. "a new covenant" - Jer. 31:31-36
      2. "a new creature" - 2 Cor. 5:17
      3. "a new heaven and a new earth" - Isa. 65:17
    2. A new heart -
      1. The natural heart is not suitable for the kingdom of heaven.
      2. The Bible speaks of the natural heart as being "double" - Jas. 12:2; "forward" - Prov. 11:20; "backsliding" - Prov. 14:14; "desperately wicked" - Jer. 17:9; "rebellious" - Jer. 5:23; "whorish" - Ezek. 6:9; "spiteful" - Ezek. 25:15; "faint" - Isa. 1:5; "hardness" - Matt. 19:8; "stony" - "deceitful" - as indicated in our text.
  2. A new heart:
    1. A new heart indicates the removal of the old heart; that, in turn, implies a spiritual change in our lives.
    2. It calls for a heart of flesh. A heart of flesh is in sharp contrast to a stony heart. A heart of flesh has the following qualities -
      1. It is sensitive, impressive, easily influenced by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
      2. A heart of flesh is moved now when the Word of God is preached - Acts 2:37
    3. A new heart is the gift of God which we all need - "A new heart will I give you" -
      1. That shows that man can neither change his heart or give himself a new heart.
      2. No amount of effort by a sinner can change his own nature; it is the gift of God.
B. A NEW SPIRIT: "A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU"
  1. Whatever God does, He does well; this is true also of a new Spirit which is in contrast to the old spirit:
    1. The old Spirit is spoken of in the Bible as -
      1. "Spirit of bondage" - Rom. 8:15
      2. "Foul Spirit" - Mark 9:25
      3. "Spirit of the anti-Christ" - 1 John 4:3
      4. "Spirit of error" - 1 John 4:6
      5. "Spirit of jealousy" - Num. 5:14
    2. The new Spirit is spoken of as -
      1. "Spirit of God" - Rom. 8:9
      2. "Spirit of grace" - Zech. 12:10
      3. "Spirit of Christ" - Rom. 8:9
      4. He is spoken of as "the spirit of glory" - 1 Pet. 4:14; "the spirit of adoption" - Rom. 8:15; "Spirit of truth" - 1 John 4:6; "humble Spirit" - Isa. 57:15; "Spirit of knowledge" - Isa. 11:2
  2. It is this new experience that brings true happiness into the life and relationship of God's children:
C. A NEW LIFE
  1. How many of us, dear brethren, have not become tired and discouraged with the old life, full of defeat and dismay?
    1. How often have we wished that our lives were different; when we failed in our objective to keep our promises? Rom. 7:26
    2. How often have we said to ourselves, "I have no confidence in the flesh" - Phil. 3:3
  2. How different is the new life:
    1. It stands for new and sanctified affections - Col. 3:2
    2. It ties us to a new association. Our experience has crucified the world unto us, and us to the world - Gal. 6:14
    3. It gives new and sanctified objectives to strive for. Paul states some of these objectives very nobly -
      1. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Phil. 4:8
      2. "That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection . . . that I may win Christ . . . and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, but that which is through faith in Jesus Christ" - Phil. 3


Design © John Bryant 2011