The Pure in Heart Shall See God

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the progressive nature of the Beatitudes, from poverty of spirit to purity of heart, and defines purity of heart as a deep work of God's grace that addresses the…

The Beatitudes are likened to ascending rungs of a ladder, showing a definite progression in God's work of grace in the human heart, starting with poverty of spirit.

We have seen in our studies in the beatitudes that there seems to be a definite progression in the truths embodied in these beatitudes. We saw the ascending rungs of the latter in God's dealing with the human heart through his grace. The bottom rung, or as one man of God said, when God begins to form the cord of grace, he always starts with the base note. And the base note is poverty of spirit.

0:26 - 1:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the progressive nature of the Beatitudes, from poverty of spirit to purity of heart, and defines purity of heart as a deep work of God's grace that addresses the…

God's formation of grace in the heart is compared to a cord, always starting with the 'base note' of poverty of spirit, emphasizing its foundational role.

We have seen in our studies in the beatitudes that there seems to be a definite progression in the truths embodied in these beatitudes. We saw the ascending rungs of the latter in God's dealing with the human heart through his grace. The bottom rung, or as one man of God said, when God begins to form the cord of grace, he always starts with the base note. And the base note is poverty of spirit.

0:26 - 1:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He outlines three manifestations of a pure heart: a vital inclination to holiness, a consciousness and burden over the lack of holiness, and a serious regard for all means of…

The lives of Brainerd, Edwards, and Henry Martyn are cited as examples of the holiest men who were most conscious of their unholiness, illustrating that purity of heart leads to a burden over its lack.

The most holiest men who ever lived died panting to be more holy. The most holy men who ever lived were the ones who were most conscious of the remains of their unholiness and their corruption. Read the life of the Brainerds and the Jonathan Edwards and the Henry Martins of India and these mighty men whose holy lives glowed like diamonds against a black velvet backdrop. These were the men, when you read their writings, you find that they were the ones who were most conscious of their unholiness and their corruption.

4:35 - 5:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that 'seeing God' has both a present fulfillment through the eyes of faith (like Moses seeing the invisible God) and through the revelation of God's Word, as well…

Moses' forsaking Egypt without fearing the king's wrath is used as a prime example of present spiritual sight, enduring 'as seeing him who is invisible,' which fortified him against immense opposition.

By faith, he, Moses, forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king. Remember what that involves. The wrath of the king, Egypt, the most powerful nation in its time, the most powerful army.

14:32 - 14:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that 'seeing God' has both a present fulfillment through the eyes of faith (like Moses seeing the invisible God) and through the revelation of God's Word, as well…

The Israelites' fear at the Red Sea, seeing only obstacles, is contrasted with Moses, who saw 'him who was invisible,' demonstrating how faith provides courage in adversity.

And the gains of the soul upon his God was that which fortified him and strengthened him. To do the will of God no matter what opposition stood before him. And as you read the life of Moses, you see this again and again. When he came out of Egypt with that great host of the Israelites, and there was the Red Sea before them, mountains on one side and the other in the Egyptian army behind them, all the children of Israel saw was the Red Sea, the mountains, and the Egyptian army.

15:43 - 16:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: A Christian is a man or woman in whom there has been awakened a desire which nothing less than the sight of God in glory can satisfy.

Certain blessed truths or statements are described as 'blessed hounds' that pursue one's mind in a positive, edifying way, contrasting with defiling thoughts.

I want to read a statement that was such a blessing to me and it's just sort of hounded me. You get a thing sometimes that hounds you and you wish you would.

19:12 - 19:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: A Christian is a man or woman in whom there has been awakened a desire which nothing less than the sight of God in glory can satisfy.

A quote from an unnamed author defines a Christian as one with a desire that nothing less than the sight of God in glory can satisfy, serving as a central theme for the future fulfillment of 'seeing God'.

A Christian is a man or woman in whom there has been awakened a desire which nothing less than the sight of God in glory can satisfy.

19:35 - 19:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He presents the idea that a Christian is characterized by an awakened desire that only the sight of God in glory can satisfy, contrasting this with the wicked who are satisfied…

Martin recounts seeing nudity and immorality on TV at Montgomery Wards, using it to illustrate the pervasive worldliness and to warn against letting such content into homes, connecting it to the psalmist's description of the wicked being satisfied with this life.

They're satisfied with things. Home, car, family, refrigerator, washing machine, TV. And may I say, dear ones, I hadn't watched the TV as far as the sport thing once in a while, so I was down in Montgomery Wards yesterday to pick up something, and I saw the Olympics on there, so I stood to watch. And on the other TV, they had a movie or a play or something, and I came home stunned.

21:35 - 22:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: As for me, he said, I shall behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake, and your Bible says, with thy likeness.

The last verse of a hymn by Faber is quoted, expressing the rapture of lying prostrate before God's throne and gazing upon Him, illustrating the crowning glory of salvation for the saint.

We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. This is why Faber wrote the last verse of a hymn that's in our new hymnal. Father of Jesus, love's reward, what rapture will it be? Prostrate before thy throne to lie and gaze and gaze on thee.

24:47 - 25:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He presents the idea that a Christian is characterized by an awakened desire that only the sight of God in glory can satisfy, contrasting this with the wicked who are satisfied…

Saintly Rutherford's words about the bride eyeing her bridegroom's face, not her garment or the crown, but the King of grace and His pierced hand, illustrate that the greatest reward for a saved man is seeing God in Christ.

But he says that this is the glory of it all. Prostrate before thy throne to lie and gaze and gaze on thee. The saintly Rutherford wrote words like this. The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face.

25:40 - 26:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Blessedness is only blessedness when we're fitted for the thing that's promised.

A parable about offering an ocean to a bird or heaven to a fish illustrates that blessedness is only true blessedness when one is fitted for the promised thing, explaining why only the pure in heart can enjoy seeing God.

Jesus said only the pure in heart will see God for the simple reason that they alone are fitted to enjoy the sight of God. Let me give a little parable, if I may. Suppose I were to say to a bird, if I could talk bird language, suppose I were to say to that bird, bird, you're a blessed bird and you're so blessed it is a reward of this, you shall have the whole ocean for your habitation. And the bird looks up at me and says, huh, some blessing that is.

27:03 - 27:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Find tremendous comfort in the truth that your groaning over impurity is evidence of a pure heart, and one day you will see God and love Him with an unsinning heart.

Robert Murray McShane's words, 'when I see thee as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart,' are quoted to express the comfort and joy of future perfect purity in God's presence.

There are times when there's the struggle and the consciousness of the defilement of the flesh and when there would be that desire to love Him and serve Him and praise Him. There's that dullness and slowness and the wandering of the thoughts and the fickleness of the heart and you cry out as Paul did, we that are in this tabernacle do groan and there are times when you could groan before God for the lack of purity. Ah listen to me dear child of God, that very groaning is an evidence, that God's given you a pure heart. And the Lord would comfort you this morning with this glorious truth that on...

32:33 - 33:24 Read in full sermon

The point: Pray that the thought of being destined to see God will do something in believers that nothing else could do.

An extended quotation from a hymn, 'Eternal Light, Eternal Light,' is used to summarize the sermon's themes, particularly the challenge of an impure soul dwelling with pure light and the way provided through Christ to achieve this.

It deals and perhaps summarizes what we've been dealing with better than anything I could do. The hymn writer said, eternal light, eternal light, speaking of God, how pure that soul must be when placed within thy burning light, it shrinks not, but with calm delight can live and look on thee. The spirits that surround thy throne may surely bear this bliss, but truly that is theirs alone, for they have never, never known a falling world like this. But how shall I, whose native sphere is dark, whose mind is dim, before the ineffable appear, and on my naked spirit, bear the uncreated being? There ...

38:42 - 39:55 Read in full sermon