Those who are pure in heart will “ put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you” ( Colossians 3:12-13). All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” ( Mark 7:21-22). “ For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. Our sin is revealed through our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions. Many believe that sin is an outward behavior or action taken, but Jesus teaches that sin is what comes out of the heart. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly calls us to a life of purity-a life without sin and defilement.

Those who have been called and redeemed by God-who “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” ( Matthew 22:37) are those who are pure in heart. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, all sinners who put their faith in Christ alone are granted a pure heart. King David demonstrates this truth as he understands the weight of sin, and asks for a renewed delight in God’s salvation: But in the kingdom of God, to “be blessed” refers to our satisfaction in God and the joy of our salvation. In our culture, the word “blessed” often refers to receiving immeasurable riches, material goods, or fame. The pure in heart are happy because their sin has been pardoned, and they’ve been granted access to God the Father. Being blessed is a state of well-being or happiness in relationship to God. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus teaches His disciples, (in what have now been coined, “The Beatitudes”), “ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” ( Matt. What Is the Meaning of 'Blessed Are the Pure in Heart'? Those who are pure in heart, are happy in God because they have seen God in Jesus and eagerly anticipate the joy of seeing Him fully face-to-face. His blood purifies our souls and grants us the ability to see God-partially now and fully in eternity. It is only through God’s saving grace that we can come to have a pure heart before God. But those who do not believe, those of an impure heart will find condemnation and separation-eternity unfulfilled and devoid of any glimpse of joy. Those-who in faith submitted their lives to Jesus-will experience eternity without tears, sin, shame, or brokenness-finding all happiness and fulfillment in the Lord. Common grace will not exist without His presence, and all happiness will cease. Meeting death without God leads to eternal separation from Him. We only find this kind of lasting happiness through belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The saving grace of God satisfies our souls and offers joy no matter what surrounds us. True and lasting happiness, however, is rooted and overflows from experiencing God’s saving grace. Delicious food, pleasure in sex, a beautiful sunset, and a good friend are all examples of God’s goodness and common grace.

It is because of God’s common grace, (meaning His undeserved kindness bestowed to all people regardless of their love and belief in Him) that all people whether Christian or not-can experience one degree of happiness or another throughout the world that is.

Apart from God’s grace, there is no happiness.

Clean hands pure heart writer