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"If"

“If” is not a certainty. Sometimes people think it is.

“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30)

This “if” is not so. The “right eye” or the “right hand” do not cause sin. “If” they did, it would be a good trade to get rid of the cause.

“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” (Mark 7:21-22)

Jesus does not say “cut out your heart.” He says clean your heart.

“The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god…” (Psalm 24:4)

“He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:9)

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