Do We Have Our New Heart Yet?

Q. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel prophesied that believers would have “a new heart” (Jer. 31:33, Ezek. 11:19-20 and 36:26-27), and Paul and other N.T. writers seem to indicate this prophecy has come true in Rom. 2:29, Rom. 6:17, and Heb. 8:10.

Would you say that this prophecy has been fulfilled or do you believe the new heart is not yet available to us? Also, if you do agree, why do you suppose so many pastors and teachers still teach the idea that man’s heart is deceitful and exceedingly wicked (especially in light of what seems to be a clear teaching to the contrary)?

A. The promises of Ezekiel were intended for Israel in the Millennium, and Jeremiah 31 is a promise that Israel will receive the New Covenant, so we’ll focus on the New Testament. None of the references you cited actually promise a new heart to believers, nor are there any that do.  In fact the phrase “new heart” does not appear in the New Testament.

But I believe there’s been a partial fulfillment in that believers can recognize sin, feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and seek forgiveness, something non-believers can’t do. This is what Jeremiah 31:31-34 and its twin Hebrews 8:8-12 refer to.  However I don’t believe our hearts will be made fully new until we’re perfected and divested of our sin nature. This will happen at the Rapture when we’re changed in the twinkling of an eye.