Born again – Part 11

What Miracle Does The Holy Spirit Do In The Heart Of Man?

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezek 36:25-27)

“A new heart” God promised to restore Israel not only physically, but also spiritually. This restoration involves giving them a new heart that is as tender as flesh and pliable, so that they will respond to God’s Word. Also, God will put His Holy Spirit within them (see 11:19-20; Psalm 51:7-11) to transform them and empower them to do His Will. This work of God encompasses the new covenant established by Christ (see Jer 31:31-34). Again, the new covenant was promised (Ezek 16:61-63; 34:23-25) ultimately to be fulfilled in Christ.
Read Heb 8:10,11,12

This passage is a quotation of Jeremiah 31:31-34, which compares the new covenant with the old (1) The old covenant was a covenant of law between God and Israel. (2) The new and better way is the covenant of grace—Christ’s offer to forgive our sins and bring us to God through His sacrificial death. (3) This covenant is new in extent. It goes beyond Israel and Judah to include all the Gentile nations (4) It is new in application because it is written on our hearts and in our minds (5) It offers a new way to forgiveness, not through animal sacrifice but through faith.

Heb 8:10. If our hearts are not changed, following God’s rules will be unpleasant and difficult. We will rebel against being told how to live. The Holy Spirit, however, gives us new desires, helping us to want to obey God (see Phil 2:12,13). With new hearts, we find that serving God is our greatest joy

Heb 8:10,11. Under God’s new covenant, God’s law is inside us. It is no longer an external set of rules and principles. The Holy Spirit reminds us of Christ’s words, activates our consciences, influences our motives and desires, and makes us want to obey. Now, doing God’s Will is something we desire with all our heart and mind.

Heb 8:10-12 is a quotation from Jeremiah 31:31-34 containing prophetic announcement and definition of the new covenant, which is different from the Sinatic covenant (v9). Its superior benefits are: (1) God’s laws will become inner principles (v10a) that enable His people to delight in doing His Will (cf Ezek 36:26-27; Rom 8:2-4); (2) God and His people will have intimate fellowship (v10b); (3) Sinful ignorance of God will be removed forever (v11) and (4) Forgiveness of sins will be an everlasting reality (v12).

No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers you a fresh start. You can have your sins washed away, receive a new heart of God, and have His Spirit within you—if you accept God’s promise. Why try to patch up your old life, when you can have a new one? Have you entered into the new covenant and begun walking in the better way?

The Heart of Man: definition; unregenerated; regenerated
Definition: When the Bible speaks of the “heart,” it is not referring to our physical organ that pumps blood throughout our body.