"Affecting the Heart"

  We know that the death of Jesus paid for our sins. We believe that but many miss the point of forgiveness and being reconciled to God. The Scriptures teach that not only forgiveness was achieved but there was also a transference (Col. 1:13). Apart from Jesus we are darkness (Eph. 5:8). It doesn't say we were in darkness (which is true) but that we are darkness. In all this, it is not just a matter of guilt and punishment but it was a state of heart. The mind is corrupted. The sight is blind. The ability to discern is not there. This is darkness!

  To be reconciled to God, to be forgiven and made holy and pure is more than just sins paid. It is suppose to go to the depth of man's heart turning us to a different state of mind and sight. Forgiveness and fellowship with God, standing in His Light and His holy presence because of Christ goes to the depth of a heart cleansed and wanting to serve. That means the mind must be renewed so sight can guide and lives are lived in the Light. If the heart isn't cleansed then all the statements of forgiveness and reconciliation are meaningless! There is a change of heart in the justification and sanctification of the blood of Christ or we remain in darkness.

  What does a change of heart, a realignment of heart mean? It means we look at things through the eyes of Jesus! It is a complete rejection of ungodliness and an alignment with our Savior and Creator. It is faith in the heart desiring to walk with Him where He wants and that willingness to do it. When we were darkness, we wanted little to do with the Lord and if we did, it was only on a 'have-to' basis. No desire, no faith in the heart. Faith in the heart denies the godless behavior and opens up a new world of newness of life. 

  God does the work of raising us up with Him in baptism but your faith is the determining factor of His work (Col. 2:12). What we must see that if one comes to Jesus, we are delivered from this domain of darkness and the heart is cleansed by faith. That's when we begin our walk as Light in the Lord and it must affect the heart otherwise we remain darkness.