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Is There a Head and Heart Dichotomy?

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7

   I agree with the sentiment that when it comes to saving faith there is indeed no head or heart distinction.  One believes, or assents to the Gospel with their mind.  And this belief affects the entire person, including the affections or the heart of the individual.  However there was a reason that the Apostle Paul used the word "heart" almost as many times as he used the word "mind."

    Those who have been revealed their dark and sinful condition will be broken hearted.  Those who have been shown mercy will want to be merciful to others.    Those who have been shown the love of Christ and had the love of God shed abroad in their hearts will want to and will indeed love others, especially those of the household of faith.  It is simply impossible to believe the Gospel without having your emotions and all of your affections (your heart) changed.

    So if your heart is not changed, it simply means you don't understand the truth in your mind.  You're probably holding to cold and dead orthodoxy.  Your "faith" is simply an academic exercise and in some way you are still basing your salvation on some condition performed in or by you.  Ask yourself, do you truly believe this Gospel that you so boldly claim?  I have seen many men depart from the faith they once claimed.  They went out from us, but they were not of us (1 John 2:19).

    While we should preach to the understanding of men when it comes to the Gospel, if what they claim to understand does not affect their entire person, including their hearts, they simply have not understood the truth.  It is true that we preach to the minds of men, but also long to see men love Christ and His people in their heart.

Note: I received follow-up questions to this article which I have answered here.

Topics: Pristine Grace Church Bulletin Articles
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