Faith, Part 1 of 3Sample

Faith cleanses our hearts

[God] “made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)

When we humans sin, our hearts become contaminated as a result. They become dirty and unclean. The good news, however, is that the Lord God wants to wash our hearts clean. This is beautifully demonstrated in baptism. Just as water can make our bodies clean, so the Lord wants to cleanse our inner being.

You need never fear that your heart is so badly affected by sin that there would be no hope for you. Just listen to what God promises in Isaiah 1:18.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.”

We find the same promise in 1 John 1:9, where it says, “If we confess our sins, he [=God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Acts 15 makes it clear that this offer of God to be cleansed by Him is for all nations. Through faith in the Lord Jesus, we may stand pure and clean before God. Our thoughts, motivations and feelings are freed by Him from the negative influence of sin.

Do you feel the need to be pure before God? Does that feel like a real possibility? Why or why not?