36:27Ezekiel 36:27

God first washes people clean from sin, filthiness and idols and gives them a new heart and a new spirit, taking away the stony heart and giving a heart of flesh.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+2 He himself then puts his Holy Spirit within them and by that inward presence causes them to walk in his statutes and to keep and do his judgments.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+2 This is the new covenant work of true reformation, regeneration and reconciliation, making them children of God with transformed character restored to live as his people.Ms 128, 1901, par. 34–36+2 It is given in answer to the contrite prayer for a clean heart and right spirit by those who see themselves as they are, humble themselves, confess and repent of sin, and respond to Christ's invitation and yoke.11MR 216.4–217.1+2 The Spirit so renews mind and heart, opening blind eyes and writing God's law within, that loving obedience flows from a new moral taste, supreme love to God, and participation in the divine nature.2MR 21.2–22.2+2

Ezekiel 36:27 belongs to a promise in which cleansing comes first, for God washes His people from sin and from all filthiness and idols and then gives a new heart and a new spirit, taking away the stony heart and giving a heart of flesh, after which He puts His Spirit within them and causes them to walk in His statutes and to keep and do His judgments.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+4 This obedience is therefore not self-produced but follows God's cleansing and renewal, by which He restores His people to Himself in blessed reconciliation and causes them to live as His people.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+4 Without cleansing of life and transformation of character the Holy Spirit cannot accomplish its work upon hearts, and when the tempted stand against the enemy it is because God helps them from within.RH Jul 15, 1902+1

The promise is offered to those who hear the truth and repent, and it is God's answer to the contrite prayer for a clean heart and a right spirit.11MR 216.4–217.1+4 Those who see themselves as they are, humble themselves, confess their sins, and respond to Christ's invitation and accept His yoke have hope that their lives will be changed, for God cleanses them from all filthiness and idols, removes the stony heart, gives a new heart of flesh and a new spirit, and puts His Spirit within to cause obedience.11MR 216.4–217.1+4 This daily prayer is answered by recreated power through the Holy Spirit taking possession of the whole being to renovate, cleanse and refine, appearing in a continual and not occasional spirit of kindness and a decided change in attitude, deportment, words and actions toward all, not magnifying infirmities or exposing faults in an unfavorable light, but patiently healing, binding up and restoring in meekness in Christ's lines and manifesting the love Christ has shown in an upright, unselfish life, and by keeping the law through loving one's neighbor as self.Lt 15, 1895, par. 27–30+1 In contrast stands the stubborn stony heart that refuses to hear God's continued messages, as Pharaoh hardened his heart against God's messengers and message, while conversion makes defective lives fit vessels through whom the Spirit can work.Lt 30, 1895, par. 29–31

This inward cleansing is the new covenant work and the beginning of true reformation and regeneration, making people children of God, transforming character, pardoning the penitent through conviction of sin, restoring them to be God's people, and preparing them to worship God in spirit and truth.Ms 128, 1901, par. 34–36+3 The Spirit changes heart and mind so that heaven's commandments are willingly obeyed, bringing a change of life.Lt 41, 1903, par. 10+1

The verse teaches the new moral birth of renewed knowledge and holiness that Christ explained to Nicodemus, which outward zeal for the letter of the law cannot replace.Lt 54, 1894, par. 13+3 The manner of accomplishment need not follow a precise methodical pattern; what matters is that the heart is renewed and the sincere prayer for a clean heart and right spirit is answered with a responsive heart in place of the stony one.Lt 54, 1894, par. 13 It means the inward work of grace upon the unregenerate heart, cleansing it from natural defilement to fit it for the kingdom of heaven, not the resurrection of the body from the grave when a nation shall be born in a day, and a master and teacher in Israel, as an expounder of the prophecies, should have learned the manner of the new birth from these sacred writings.DA 173.2–174.1+2

The promise is that God himself puts his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, within people and by that indwelling causes them to walk in his statutes and to keep and do his judgments.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+4 That obedience follows his cleansing from sin and idols and his gift of a new heart and new spirit in place of the stony heart.Ms 16, 1898, par. 12–13+2 The same converting power is what parents need as they repent of neglect and wrongdoing, and what students need as they seek help and submit to discipline, so that transformed hearts appear in transformed conduct in the home and in life.Ms 31, 1910, par. 11+1 This inner renewal enthrones God in the heart, displaces selfishness, and issues in practical obedience and unselfish service.1MR 206.1–207.2

The Spirit's work of salvation cleanses and renews the mind and heart, replacing spiritual lethargy with conviction, confession, and a changed life of obedience.Ms 122, 1903, par. 8+1 Those who turn to the Lord are led to confess their sins, and when tempted God helps them stand against the enemy.2MR 21.2–22.2+1 Working from within the heart, the Spirit makes room for victory over wrong and enables right desires.Ms 180, 1897, par. 8–10

God must create a clean heart and a new moral taste before a person will love to obey, and the Spirit opens blind eyes to see his statutes and writes his law on the hearts of the truly penitent.2MR 21.2–22.2+2 Keeping the law by loving one's neighbor as oneself expresses supreme love to God with implicit trust in Christ.Lt 15, 1895, par. 27–30+1 It is participation in the divine nature after escaping the corruption in the world through lust, with the great principles of truth established in the heart and revealed in the life by love, faith, humility, and obedience, exercising a controlling power over the entire man.Lt 19a, 1875, par. 16–17 Believers thus united are made of one mind and one soul, unitedly loving God and keeping his commandments.2MR 21.2–22.2+1

This inner work fulfills the promise of the new heart, as the Holy Spirit works within mind and heart to cause a life to bear the right kind of fruit and follow God's ways.Ms 73, 1897, par. 28–31+1 As the will is surrendered, the Spirit replaces the evil of the rebellious, stubborn heart, turning it from self-rule and unbelief, and Christ abides within with his life, love, and joy.Ms 235, 1902, par. 2+1 The change is made evident in holy conduct and speech, in sincerely kept vows, and in a life of service to God.Ms 73, 1897, par. 28–31+2 The recreated power of the Holy Spirit takes possession of the whole being to renovate, cleanse, and refine.Lt 15, 1895, par. 27–30

That refining appears in a continual and lasting spirit of kindness and a decided change in attitude, deportment, words, and actions toward all.Lt 15, 1895, par. 27–30+1 It does not magnify infirmities or place others in an unfavorable light, nor expose and publish faults, but puts forth patient efforts to heal and bind up and restore in meekness, working in Christ's lines and manifesting the love Christ has shown in an upright, unselfish life.Lt 15, 1895, par. 27–30+1 For the people of God in the last days this transforming of heart and character to keep the way of the Lord makes them safe apart from trusting in men and making flesh their arm.Ms 61, 1890, par. 21 They are taken as rough stones out of the world to be hewed and squared and polished for the heavenly building, hewed by reproof, warning, admonition, and counsel until fashioned after the divine pattern.Ms 61, 1890, par. 21

The blessing comes when the church shakes off death-like slumber, recognizes God's blessing, and diffuses it in clear, strong rays of light.Lt 77, 1893, par. 56–58 When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon God's people, the wilderness of the church becomes a fruitful field and the fruitful field becomes a forest, bringing renewal and fruitfulness.Lt 77, 1893, par. 56–58+1 Through the Spirit working through sanctified human instrumentalities, the church convinces the world of sin as transgression of God's law, and heavenly agencies wait for sanctified human agents to cooperate with them in this work.Lt 77, 1893, par. 56–58

Cleansing from all filthiness and idols and giving a new heart and new spirit with a heart of flesh in place of a stony heart is the descent of the Holy Spirit sent from God to do its office work upon mind and heart.RH Oct 13, 1904 To put the Spirit within to cause walking in God's statutes means believers are imbued with the Holy Spirit and baptized with the grace of salvation through saving knowledge of God purifying every believer.RH Oct 13, 1904 The Spirit opens the eyes of the blind to see God's statutes and writes His law upon the hearts of the truly penitent, and working through human agencies in gospel proclamation leads believers to be of one mind and one soul, unitedly loving God and keeping His commandments in preparation for translation.RH Oct 13, 1904

The promise means cleansing of life and transformation of character by the converting power of God, without which the Holy Spirit cannot accomplish its work upon hearts, and it calls for evangelical and converting work in the home and school.RH Jul 15, 1902 It speaks especially to families who claim to be Christians, to fathers and mothers and to students who seek God's help and submit to His discipline, showing their need for cleansed lives, for removal of the stony heart, and for a new heart and new spirit with cleansing from all filthiness and idols as the ground of obedience.RH Jul 15, 1902+1 As parents repent of neglect and wrongdoing and are converted, God transforms their hearts and their conduct in the home and gives them a godly influence that prepares their children for life with Christ.Ms 31, 1910, par. 11+2

This renewing work is begun in those who belong to Christ's spiritual kingdom, making them fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. It is God's reply to the contrite heart that prays for a clean heart and a right spirit: to those who see themselves as they are, humble themselves, confess their sins and repent, God promises cleansing, removal of the stony heart, gift of a new heart of flesh, and the indwelling of His Spirit to cause obedience, pardoning the penitent through conviction of sin.Lt 30, 1895, par. 29–31 By this conversion defective lives are made fit vessels through whom the Holy Spirit can work, in contrast to the stubborn stony heart that refuses to hear God's continued messages as Pharaoh hardened his heart against God's messengers and message.Lt 30, 1895, par. 29–31 Those who have nothing good in themselves find righteousness and strength in Jesus, who clothes them in His own character and presents them to the Father, with the promise joined to receiving a new heart and becoming God's people.