How can the inner workings of the heart be changed?
“How can the inner workings of the heart be changed from a dynamic of fear and anger to that of love, joy, and gratitude? Here is how. You need to be moved by the sight of what it cost to bring you home. The key difference between a Pharisee and a believer in Jesus is inner-heart motivation. Pharisees are being good but out of a fear-fueled need to control God. They don’t really trust him or love him. To them God is an exacting boss, not a loving father. Christians have seen something that has transformed their hearts toward God so they can finally love and rest in the Father.”
- Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 86.
What Keller has written may not be commonly understood by many Christians but it is not really controversial. It reflects the classic statement of Christian Theology found in The Westminster Confession of Faith.
In Chapter Twenty on Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience, section 1 of The Westminster Confession of Faith contains the following words:
The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation; as also, in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing mind...
Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Larry is the senior pastor at 
I’ve found this to be the most profound principle that I have learned from my time here at Christ Community Church. Even as a pastor I needed to learn the true nature of the gospel, that it is not what I do but what Christ has done that matters. Then, out of a heart that is satisfied from drinking deeply of the love of God, I can both rest in him and risk for him.
I like that phrase Matt “I can both rest in him and risk for him.” Thanks.
Yeah, I have to confess that it’s not original to me! Mark Buchanan coined the phrase in his book “The Holy Wild”, but it definately resonated with me.
I really like this phrase “You need to be moved by the sight of what it cost to bring you home.”….so if you close your eyes and you envision, you can see. I think often about Jesus praying in the garden. I have a vision in my mind of what that looked like. The anguish he felt. Any time I am nervous or afraid, I envision what that looks like and I want to cry at how much more important it is what he did for us rather than whatever was making me nervous or fearful. I need to read more of the bible to have many more wonderful visions! To truly see the cost of what it took to bring me home.
I really like what Matt quoted, too. I want to be a warrior for God and be more courageous to take much, much more risk!!! I will do this.
Thanks Marissa, You are an encouragement also!