The inner thoughts and feelings of an unregenerate person are opposed to God, making that person reject God and his love. At conversion the renewing work of the Holy Spirit transforms the human heart, enabling it to love and obey God.
The unregenerate heart
Hostile to God
Psalm 14:1 parallel Psalm 53:1 See also 1 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 12:14; Proverbs 19:3; John 5:42; Acts 8:21–22; Romans 1:31, Romans 8:7; Hebrews 3:12
For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
Hardened against God
Jeremiah 18:12 Exodus 4:21, Exodus 7:3, Exodus 7:14, Exodus 7:22–23, Exodus 8:15, Exodus 8:32, Exodus 14:8; Deuteronomy 2:30; Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 42:25; Jeremiah 16:12; Daniel 5:20; Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27; Romans 2:5; Revelation 16:9, Revelation 16:11
But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’”
Spiritually ignorant
Ephesians 4:18 See also 2 Samuel 6:16 parallel 1 Chronicles 15:29; Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
Proud
Psalm 73:7 See also Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 21:4; Jeremiah 48:29, Jeremiah 49:16; Ezekiel 28:2, Ezekiel 28:17; Obadiah 1:3; Revelation 18:7
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Deceitful
Jeremiah 17:9 See also Job 31:33–34; Psalm 5:9, Psalm 28:3, Psalm 62:4; Proverbs 6:14, Proverbs 23:7, Proverbs 24:12, Proverbs 26:23–25; Isaiah 44:20; Jeremiah 22:17; 2 Timothy 3:13
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Sinful
Genesis 6:5 See also Job 36:13; Psalm 10:3, Psalm 41:6, Psalm 55:21; Proverbs 6:18, Proverbs 20:9; Isaiah 1:5; Matthew 9:4 parallels Mark 2:8, Luke 5:22; Matthew 15:18–19 parallel Mark 7:20–23
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
Condemned
Proverbs 11:20 See also Psalm 101:4–5; Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 17:20; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Isaiah 10:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 25:6–7; Romans 1:24
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
Conversion: the changed heart
Convinced of need
John 16:8 See also Jeremiah 29:12–14; Acts 2:37, Acts 16:30; Romans 7:7; 1 Corinthians 14:25
And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
Changed by the Holy Spirit
Ezekiel 36:25–27 See also Jeremiah 4:14, Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 18:31; John 3:5–6; Romans 2:29; Titus 3:4–5
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
Given faith
2 Corinthians 4:6 See also Acts 5:31–32, Acts 15:9, Acts 16:14–15; Romans 10:8–10; Ephesians 2:8
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Spurious conversion
A less-than-saving change
1 Samuel 10:9 See also Matthew 13:5–6 parallels Mark 4:5–6, Luke 8:6; Matthew 13:20–21 parallels Mark 4:16–17, Luke 8:13; Hebrews 6:4–8, Hebrews 10:26–29
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.