Heart Motivations

Graphic One: Motivated by the Flesh: 1 Corinthians 2:14—“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

This first image portrays a heart that is motivated by the flesh. The central verse, 1 Corinthians 2:14, gives the theological backbone for this condition: it is the heart of the natural man, unregenerate, unable to grasp or apply the truths of God. There’s no illumination from the Spirit, no spiritual discernment, and no internal compass orienting him toward righteousness.

This heart is dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), functioning out of self-centered love, seeking self-glory, self-preservation, and self-gratification. His “righteous” acts—if any—are rooted in self-effort, not gospel transformation. What he does might appear moral, but it cannot please God (Romans 8:8) because it’s not rooted in faith (Romans 14:23).

Graphic Two: Motivated by the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

This second heart is transformed—made new by the gospel. The verse highlights not mere improvement but newness—a regenerated heart, indwelt by the Spirit, now capable of gospel-motivated living.

Where the flesh-led person was blind and powerless, this person has the Spirit (Romans 8:9), and therefore can see, understand, and obey. This does not mean perfection, but capacity: the ability to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, to mortify sin (Romans 8:13), and to pursue righteousness out of Spirit-empowered love (Galatians 5:6).

This is the turning point from the self-centered life to the God-centered life. Motivation is no longer based on fear, manipulation, or approval from others, but by love for Christ and a desire to honor Him.

Graphic Three: Signs of the Gospel: This final graphic offers markers of a gospel-motivated heart—spiritual fruit that grows out of regeneration. Let’s unpack them:

• Bible: Anchored in God’s Word; it is the authority, not feelings or culture.
• Teachable: Willing to be corrected; humility before others and before Scripture.
• Believers: Desires fellowship; values the Body of Christ.
• Pneumatic: Living by the Spirit (Galatians 5); not earthly logic or carnal effort.
• Humility: Sees self rightly in light of God; not proud, boastful, or defensive.
• Repentance: Confession and turning from sin is normative, not rare.
• Prayerful: Dependent on God; understands personal weakness and need.
• Enemies: Radical love, even for those who offend or oppose (Luke 6:27–36).

The inclusion of “enemies” is critical. This is not just a personality trait—it is a gospel test. Only someone operating out of a Christ-centered heart can love those who offer nothing in return, even those who cause harm. That kind of love cannot be manufactured—it must be Spirit-produced.

Case Study: Biff Counseling Bart

Background

• Biff is a lay counselor.
• Bart is a professing Christian who has sought help for persistent sin—sexual immorality and deceit. He comes weekly, listens politely, but his life shows no substantial change. He avoids accountability, blames his circumstances, and makes vague statements of “trying harder” with no fruit.

Observations: Bart’s Heart Condition
Based on the first two graphics, Bart appears to be motivated by the flesh. His behavior suggests he may be the natural man described in 1 Corinthians 2:14—spiritually dead, unable to discern or act on truth. Despite hearing the gospel, he shows no signs of conviction, repentance, or spiritual appetite. There is no fruit consistent with regeneration (Matthew 7:17–20).

Biff observes that:

• Bart is unteachable: deflects counsel, doesn’t ask questions.
• Bart avoids Scripture: has no personal time in the Word.
• Bart blames others: shifts responsibility to his past or spouse.
• Bart resists fellowship: doesn’t engage with other believers.
• Bart does not repent: admits “struggles” but not specific sins.

These are not merely surface issues; they speak to a heart unmoved by the gospel. Bart may not be born again.

Biff’s Role: Biblical Counseling Response
Here’s how Biff should proceed, shaped by the truth in the graphics and the Life Over Coffee framework:

1. Discern His Spiritual Condition: Bart’s lack of transformation is not from poor effort—it’s likely from lack of regeneration. Biff should stop assuming Bart is a believer. He needs to lovingly, clearly confront this possibility.
2. Call for Examination: Using 2 Corinthians 13:5, Biff can urge Bart to examine himself: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
3. Center the Gospel: Biff should shift from behavior modification to gospel proclamation. He must present Christ as Savior and Lord, not just a helper or moral example. The goal isn’t to manage sin but to be rescued from it.
4. Call for Repentance: Biff should speak plainly: “Bart, your life shows no evidence of gospel motivation. That concerns me. The Scriptures say a new heart will repent, be teachable, love the truth. These aren’t present. What do you think is going on?”
5. Patient Endurance: Bart may harden or walk away. Biff’s job is not to change Bart—it is to be faithful (2 Timothy 2:24–26). Biff should continue praying, speaking truth, and entrusting the outcome to the Lord.

Gospel Clarity: The Root of Transformation
The three graphics remind us: behavioral change is not the goal—heart transformation is. That only comes from the Spirit of God, working through the Word of God, applied in the context of biblical relationships.

Biff’s role is not to “fix” Bart, but to diagnose biblically, communicate truth compassionately, and trust God sovereignly.

Find all our graphics here.

Peace,
Rick