The Heart is Evil?
In Christian teaching, the heart holds a significant place—a symbol of our innermost being, the seat of our emotions, thoughts, and will. However, the biblical perspective on the heart is nuanced, reflecting a tension between its inherent deceitfulness and the transformative power of God’s grace.
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
– Jeremiah 17:9
This verse is often cited to emphasize the fallen nature of the human heart, tainted by sin and prone to deception. It underscores the inherent brokenness within humanity, a condition that requires divine intervention for restoration.
As Christians, maintaining this perspective can limit our ability to follow the Lord. Jesus said that the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8), but if it is deceitful above all things, we have no hope of seeing God. We are also called to love God with all of our heart (Matthew 22:37). Again this is impossible if there is nothing good in it.
God’s Promise of a New Heart
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. – Ezekiel 36:26
However, the God does not end our story with this grim assessment. Ezekiel 36:26 offers a glimmer of hope and desire of God for each of us. This verse speaks to the transformative work of God, who replaces the deceitful heart with a new, receptive heart—a heart that is responsive to His leading and filled with His Spirit. This divine exchange is central to what happened for us at salvation, we were born anew, becoming new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Believing in the goodness of our hearts is a natural overflow of this transformative process. As new creations, the old nature—the deceitful heart—is dead and done away with. It has been replaced by a heart aligned with God’s purposes.
This does not mean that Christians are immune to sin but our hearts now want to do what is right and good. Instead of being driven by selfish desires and deceit, this new heart is inclined towards righteousness, love, and obedience to God’s will. This transformation is a testament to the redemptive power of God’s grace, which not only forgives sins but also renews and restores the core of our being.
Jesus Says Your Heart is Good
As Christians, God is taking us on a journey from deception to redemption. It acknowledges the fallen nature of the human heart while celebrating the transformative work of God, who gives believers a new heart—a heart that is receptive to His leading and aligned with His purposes. Believing in the goodness of our hearts is not a denial of our sinful nature but a recognition of the transformative power of God’s grace. As we embrace this truth, we start to experience our own hearts as a wellspring of live (Proverbs 4:23).
Believing that your heart is good helps you to live the abundant life. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart (Luke 6:45). We are all learning to discern where our old man is trying to regain control and how to live in this new man. By embracing the goodness of our hearts, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s grace, allowing His love to flow through us and impact the world around us. As we live out this truth, may we be vessels of His love and agents of His kingdom, bringing light and hope to a world in need.
Support this site by grabbing this shirt for yourself on Etsy (v-neck and youth).