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The element or foundation of sin begins in the heart, the inner core of one’s inner being. However, the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. Sin causes hearts to grow hard, especially continual and unrepentant sin. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of stubborn hearts, hardened hearts, hearts that are far from God. He also speaks of evil in the heart. Ultimately the hardness of the human heart can only be repaired by the grace of God. He can bring about the transformation that is so desperately needed. It is he who can restore us, by taking away our heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh. “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord” Ezekiel 11:18–21 (NKJV). If we need a new heart from God, we can have one through faith in the Lord Jesus. ““I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” Ezekiel 36: 26–27 (NKJV). Under the influence of an evil heart, everything appears in false colors. But the most dangerous form of this deceit is, when persons, never transformed or renewed, are induced to believe that they are saints. While we can be deceived by our own self–delusion; God knows our deepest and innermost thoughts and motives. The heart characterizes the overall reaction of a person to life around them and to the religious and moral demands of God. Hardness of heart thus describes a negative condition in which the person ignores, spurns, or rejects the gracious offer of God to be a part of his or her life. The Scriptures speak on this in a variety of ways and tell us emphatically that God weighs the motives of the heart.
Thus, God can truly render to each what his deeds justly deserve. Jesus taught, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness” (Mark 7:21–22). In the Scriptures various aspects of human anatomy are used to define the whole person, but the most frequently used is heart. Often, the heart refers to the soul of a human being that controls the mind, will and emotions. As sinners, all of us need a new heart, however, we should know that God’s plan for change begins with regeneration and continues through sanctification. We need our minds renewed because we can be quickly taken captive by the world. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2 (NKJV). Lasting change comes through the word of God and only God can change the heart. A new heart contrasts with the old. The old heart is alienated from God; the new heart cleaves to God with supreme affection of love. The old heart is sold under sin; the new heart is redeemed from all iniquity. The old heart is accompanied by carnal–mindedness, which is death; the new heart by spiritual–mindedness, which is life and peace. God gives this new heart; it effects an entire change in us. There is a new purpose of life, new understanding about life, new destiny and new attributes of character consequent upon the desires, affections, and function of a new heart.
His grace is what teaches us to resist temptation and learn how to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self–controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:11–13 (NKJV). The human heart was created to mirror God’s own heart. Throughout Scripture the change in the heart is ascribed to God. It is the work of Omnipotence. Someone whom God has given a new heart behaves differently. The Gospel gives you the power to give up (put off) your sinful desires and replaces them with the fruit of the Spirit. This must begin in the heart (mind) first. You must choose to renew your mind. Every area in your life will be different when your hearts desires are changed. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes” Psalm 119:11–12 (NKJV). Our walk with God is always a matter of the heart. However, as one of the consequences of the fall, people look on the outward appearance. God, however, is always concerned with the heart, with the reality and condition of what is on the inside. One of the goals of the Christian life is the formation of Christ like character, the character of Christ formed in our lives through the various life changing tools that God has chosen to use.
To avoid hardness or uncaring of heart, we must submit and yield our heart and will to God’s Word and God’s ways, especially in times of testing of our faith. We desperately need new hearts, for we are unable on our own to soften our hard hearts. We can become like Jesus only when we allow God to rid us of our old, hardened hearts and give us new hearts. A change of heart toward God requires a supernatural transformation. This transformation process come from salvation, which is being “born again.” “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3 (NKJV). Once, we’ve decided to make Jesus our Lord and Savior, we can now ask that the Holy Spirit directs our daily affairs. When we are born again, God performs a heart transplant, as it were. He gives us a new heart. The power of the Holy Spirit changes our hearts from sin–focused to God–focused. God’s desire for every human being is that we become like His Son, Jesus. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” Romans 8:29 (NKJV). We can become like Jesus only when we allow God to rid us of our old, hardened hearts and give us new hearts.
J. Wesley quote about regeneration:
“It is that great change which God works in the soul, when He brings it into life; when He raises it from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. It is the change wrought in the whole soul by the Almighty Spirit of God, when it is "created anew in Christ Jesus," when it is "renewed after the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness"; when the love of the world is changed into the love of God, pride into humility, passion into meekness; hatred, envy, malice, into a sincere, tender, disinterested love for all mankind. In a word, it is that change whereby the earthly, sensual, devilish mind is turned into the "mind which was in Christ Jesus." This is the nature of the new birth. "So is every one that is born of the Spirit."