heart, manifest.
“Regenerate man has the power of contrary choice, the ability to good in virtue of the holiness implanted in regeneration, and the ability to sin because of indwelling sin. Romans 7.25 is explicit to this effect.”
Romans 7.25- Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
When it comes to choice, “volition then is determined by the inward disposition…in no case is the volition contrary to the immanent disposition of heart and mind…he [humanity] is responsible because they are…expressive of what he is in the innermost bent, bias, and disposition of heart and mind.” John Murray, Collected Writings, Vol. 2.
Prov. 4.23- Out of the heart are the issues of life.
Matt 12.34- Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
What we choose to do is ultimately from whatever is filling our hearts. We live our lives according to the desires and motives of our hearts. To reduce the complexity of this question, there ought to only be two categories anyone ought to be concerned with. Not, “what is my heart all about, what are my idols?”, but rather, is my heart grateful? Thankful? Worshipful? Am I in awe? Am I living a life of redeemed grace? Or not. Am I worshipping God, or not? There is only one fork in the road, with two outlets, not three, four, or fifty.
Simply put, this is the first question to be asked; digging around the heart for idols and one’s intricate inner workings is of secondary importance. I’m not saying closer examination isn’t necessary, in fact, they often help us answer the first question. However, it’s the answer of the first question which is of greater importance. The first question brings us to repentance, the others, sanctification.
