The Need for a New Heart (Jn. 4:21-24)

The Gift of a New Heart (Ezek. 36:25-28)

! The Background

" The Book

• A prophet and a Priest

• “God will strengthen”

" The Message of General

" The Message of Restoration in Specific

! The Cause of Their Salvation (36:22-24)

" Stated: God’s Own Glory

• vindicate make holy

" Illustrated: Moses’ Concern

! The Accomplishing of Their Salvation (36:25-28)

o Salvation brings about a change of lifestyle, it is not caused by a change of

lifestyle.

" A Change of Status (36:25)

• Water and Cleansing in the Law

N The Ordinance of the Red Heifer (Num. 19)

N Uncleanness Due to Human Discharges (Lev. 15)

• Ceremonial vs Actual Cleansing

" A Change of Nature (36:26)

• The Nature of the New Heart

o spirit, soul, mind, or heart all refer to or describe the same thing,

the inner man.

• The Reason for the New Heart

" A Change of Behavior (36:27-28)

o Tied to the New Covenant

A spiritual act entailing (1) the altering of a person’s status regarding sin, justification, (2) the

severing of a person’s nature from sin, regeneration, and (3) the altering of a person’s behavior

regarding sin, the Spirit’s indwelling and its consequence, sanctification.