The Heart 2
Stephen expresses gratitude for the gathering of believers as a family in Christ, emphasizing the importance of a heart-to-heart relationship with God. He highlights that God desires a deep connection with His people, focusing on the heart rather than outward appearances. Stephen references scriptures, including Hebrews 8:10, to illustrate God's covenant with His people, where He writes His laws on their hearts. He stresses that God is unchanging and sovereign, yet desires to be personally involved in our lives as our God. The relationship between God and His people is dynamic and requires a response of love and obedience. Stephen recounts the story of Adam's temptation in the Garden of Eden, illustrating humanity's struggle to honor God as God. He emphasizes that true salvation is more than forgiveness; it is about becoming like Christ. The law of the Spirit of life, which is written on the hearts of believers, empowers them to live according to God's will. Stephen concludes by urging believers to maintain a balance between reverence for God and the closeness of a father-child relationship, encouraging them to allow God's life to operate within them.
Outline of Main Points
- Gratitude for the family of God
- Importance of a heart-to-heart relationship with God
- God's unchanging nature and desire for personal connection
- Dynamic relationship between God and His people
- Adam's temptation and humanity's struggle
- True salvation as becoming like Christ
- The law of the Spirit of life empowers believers
- Balance between reverence for God and closeness as a father
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
