I'm not sure where the old thread went, but I want to ask a question regarding this passage:

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Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as persistent, as you would be if your mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin.

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What is she saying when she says "a supposed hope...will prove your ruin"?

Quote:

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Many accept an intellectual religion, a form of godliness, when the heart is not cleansed. Let it be your prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10. Deal truly with your own soul. Be as earnest, as persistent, as you would be if your mortal life were at stake. This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul, settled for eternity. A supposed hope, and nothing more, will prove your ruin.

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I think she is saying "If your religion is merely intellectual, and not heart felt, you are deluding yourself”.

The previous paragraph sheds some light on what she is talking about.



I think she is talking about a superficial religion. There are many religions that are just made up of rites, traditions and rituals but do not have the heart-transforming Christ.

This entire discussion falls under the heading of "Repentance". There are many that see their sinfulness and yet do not see a need for repentance. They have an intellectual form of religion that allows for them to atone themselves or do penance without the need for repentance.

It reminds me of a movie I saw where a man who was committing adultery went into Catholic confession. He confessed his sin to a priest and asked the priest what he must do for forgiveness. He was expecting the priest to give him some form of penance. He was shocked when the priest told him that he must repent. Repentance means turning away from the sin. This character did not want to turn away from the sin. He just wanted to do some ritual that would grant him forgiveness while he continued in the sin.

we are told our hearts are so deceitful and i have found that to be so true. it is so easy to see where another errs, unless i also have that "cherished" fault, then i see it as ok. but it can be hard to see that i also have that very fault to some degree myself...

my only safety has been, search me oh God...and oh what comes up..

Repentance is the 1st step to Christ.
Matthew 3:1-2
(1) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
(2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17
(17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Acts 2:37-38
(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
It was the 1st word of John the Baptist, the first word of Jesus and the first words of Peter.
Repentance means to turn away, we turn away from sin and turn to God.

The confession was forced from (Judas') guilty soul by an awful sense of condemnation and a fearful looking for of judgment. The consequences that were to result to him filled him with terror, but there was no deep, heartbreaking grief in his soul, that he had betrayed the spotless Son of God and denied the Holy One of Israel. Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God, acknowledged his sin in order to escape further punishment, but returned to his defiance of Heaven as soon as the plagues were stayed. These all lamented the results of sin, but did not sorrow for the sin itself. {SC 24.1}

But when the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God’s holy law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. The “Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,” illumines the secret chambers of the soul, and the hidden things of darkness are made manifest. John 1:9. Conviction takes hold upon the mind and heart. The sinner has a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah and feels the terror of appearing, in his own guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. He sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with Heaven. {SC 24.2}

SID

this is a good question

dgrimm60

HEY ALL

every on had very good answers

dgrimm60

SID

I hope you got your answer

dgrimm60