InstaStudy

The Vision of God Reserved for the Pure in Heart

A comprehensive New Testament study on the absolute necessity of holiness, both inward and outward, to behold the face of God, emphasizing the revelation of the Father in Jesus Christ and the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost.

1. The Invisible God Manifested in Jesus Christ

1.1 The Invisible Essence of the Father

Verses: John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16
  • God in His divine essence is Spirit and invisible to the human eye.
  • No man can approach or behold the absolute deity apart from divine self-revelation.

1.2 Jesus as the Express Image of the Father

Verses: Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3
  • Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
  • To behold Jesus is to look upon the express image of the Father's person.

1.3 The Oneness of the Father and the Son

Verses: John 14:9; 2 Corinthians 4:6
  • Jesus declared that he who has seen Him has seen the Father.
  • The light of the knowledge of the glory of God is revealed solely in the face of Jesus Christ.

2. The Absolute Requirement of Holiness

2.1 The Beatitude of the Pure in Heart

Verses: Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:3
  • Only those with purified hearts are promised the ultimate vision of God.
  • Every man who has this hope purifies himself, even as He is pure.

2.2 Holiness Without Which No Man Shall See the Lord

Verses: Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16
  • Peace and holiness are mandatory pursuits for every believer.
  • Without personal holiness, it is scripturally impossible to see the Lord.

2.3 Cleansing of Flesh and Spirit

Verses: 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:7
  • Believers must cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
  • God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

3. The Transforming Power of the Holy Ghost

3.1 The Washing of Regeneration

Verses: John 3:5; Titus 3:5
  • Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
  • Salvation is accomplished through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

3.2 Sanctification by the Spirit and Truth

Verses: 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  • Believers are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit.
  • Sanctification is an ongoing work of the Spirit coupled with belief of the truth.

3.3 Mortifying the Deeds of the Body

Verses: Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16
  • Living after the flesh leads to spiritual death, but mortifying the body through the Spirit brings life.
  • Walking in the Spirit prevents the fulfillment of the lusts of the flesh.

4. The Ultimate Vision of God in Glory

4.1 Conformed to His Image to See Him

Verses: 1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12
  • When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
  • Our present partial sight will be replaced by seeing Him face to face.

4.2 The Exclusion of the Defiled

Verses: Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:14-15
  • Nothing that defileth or worketh abomination shall enter the holy city.
  • Only those who do His commandments have the right to the tree of life and entry through the gates.

4.3 Beholding His Face Eternally

Verses: Revelation 22:3-4; Psalm 17:15
  • His servants shall serve Him and they shall see His face, with His name in their foreheads.
  • The ultimate satisfaction of the believer is beholding His face in righteousness.