BLESSED FOR BELIEVING WITH THE HEART
Jesus said, blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8). For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (Romans 10:10). The Bible reveals that some individuals believe in the Lord with the head; but others believe in him with the heart.
Some people in the Bible, like a sinner up a tree, repented and believed in Jesus Christ with the heart, and were saved. Others did not repent and believe with the heart. The Lord said, unless you repent and believe you will perish (Luke 13:1-3; 6:46). However, whoever repents and believes in Jesus with their heart, as the scripture says, will not be condemned but have eternal life ( John 3:16-18).
HEAD AND HEART BELIEFS
Believing in the Lord with a pure heart causes one to repent of their sinful lifestyle, and become more and more Christ-like, with the help of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23). Belief in the Lord with the head does not cause one to repent and obey the Lord (Luke 6:46). Following are examples of both types of beliefs, which provides for clarification and choice of one’s own belief (Romans 15:4).
BELIEF OF A RECOGNIZED SINNER. In the Bible, a known corrupt tax collector named Zacchaeus demonstrated that his belief in Jesus Christ affected his heart as well as his head. Zacchaeus, who was short in stature, climbed a tree to see Jesus who was passing by in a crowd. The Lord, who knows all heads and hearts (John 2:25), saw him and chose to go to his house . Zacchaeus was impressed by Jesus coming to his house, despite his being known as “a sinner.” He decided to change his sinful way of life. He told the Lord, “I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” The Lord, who knew his head and heart, said, “ today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19:1-9).
DIFFERENT BELIEFS OF TWO CRIMINALS. Two criminals were executed on crosses beside Jesus Christ. One believed he was the Messianic Son of God, and repented of his sins. He admitted he was being “punish justly.” He asked the Lord: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The Lord, who knows every person’s heart and their willingness to obey him, told the repentant man: “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-42; 2 Corinthian 8:12).
The other criminal demonstrated his selfishness and unrepentance, saying to Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
BELIEF OF DEVILS. Scriptures tell us that devils believe with the head that Jesus Christ is the “Son of God;” yet, they continue do works of the devil (Mark 7:7; Acts 19:15). Faith or works alone do not save; faith without repentant works of obedience is dead (James 2:17-19).
AFFRIMATION OF OUR BELIEF
Jesus said, you shall know if ones belief comes from a pure and repentant heart by the fruit they bear. (Luke 6:43-45). The fruit of a repent heart—fruit of the Lord’s Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Contrary to fruit of the Spirit is the unrepentant works of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-19).
- When one truly choose to believe in Jesus with a pure heart, they are drawn by his love for them and decide to repent of their sinful style of life, and follow the way of the Lord. The Holy Spirit inspires and enables repentant believers to produce fruit of the Spirit, and become more like Christ (Romans 8:29).
- Nevertheless, some people may choose not to give up their sinful lifestyles and obediently follow the Lord and become like Christ. Others may plan to delay their decision until they are dying. However, the Lord does not promise that anyone will be given opportunity to be saves when they are dying—The Word of God says, now is the day of salvation, and if you hear the Lord’s voice today do not harden your heart (2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:15). God is willing to save, but continuous sinning may harden a person’s heart to the point that their overriding is to go on doing what they want to do, and not to recognize and submit to the Lord–like the unrepentant dying thief on the cross. More than the fear of death, seeing and responding to the love of Jesus Christ attracts people to him for salvation (John 3:16; John 12:32).
Those of us who see the love of the Son of God, choose to repent and believe in him from a pure heart as the scriptures say. And we are assures by the Lord that we will be blessed now; and be with God forever, when the Lord comes again to take us to be with him in paradise. (Matthews 5:8; Mark 10:29-30).
