在我们继续讨论清心的意义时，我们要问一个问题：我们怎能确保自己的心已被洁净呢？历来教会都因为这个问题而引起很大的争论。那些认为罪已经深入人类本性的人说，神对罪唯一能做的是赦免。其他人则视心灵为一个战场，在那里肉体和灵性展开长期的争战。还有一些人好像约翰卫斯理（John Wesley）那样宣称，内在的纯洁可以借着神圣的恩典突然倾注而下。

相信这观点的人可以分为三大类：（1）相信纯洁是神的功劳；（2）相信纯洁是赐予的；和（3）相信纯洁是培养出来的。那些相信纯洁是神的功劳的人认为，基督将他公义的袍围在罪人身上，当神看他们时，便只看到他儿子那没有瑕疵的袍子，而看不到他们的罪。那些相信纯洁是赐予的人宣称，有一种经验等待所有信徒来经历，通常都是在归信之后，神会透过危机，将纯洁的恩赐赐下。这信念在卫斯理的发扬下变得很受重视。而那些相信纯洁是培养出来的人，则认为神在我们心灵中不断的工作，以缓慢但稳定的步伐前进。

哪一个说法才是正确的呢？我相信每个观点都有可取之处，倘若只是一面倒地看重某一说法，问题就会出现。神既会缔造和赐下纯洁，也会帮助我们在日常生活和经验中去应用和发挥这些真理。

As we continue discussing what it means to be pure in heart, we ask: How do we ensure that our hearts are made pure? Great controversy has raged over this issue in every century of the Church. Those who see sin as having made deep inroads into human nature say that the only thing God can do with sin is to forgive it. Others see the soul as a battleground on which long-drawn-out hostilities take place between the flesh and the Spirit. And there are those who claim, as did John Wesley, that inner purity can be imparted by a sudden influx of divine grace.

Adherents of these views fall into three main groups: (1) those who believe that purity is imputed; (2) those who believe that purity is imparted; and (3) those who believe that purity is developed. Those who believe that purity is imputed say that Christ flings His robe of righteousness around a sinner and then God for ever sees him in the spotless garments of His Son. Those who believe purity is imparted claim that there is an experience awaiting all believers, usually subsequent to conversion, whereby, through a crisis experience, God imparts the gift of purity. This belief received great prominence under John Wesley. Those who believe purity is developed see the work of God in the soul proceeding along the lines of a slow but steady improvement.

Which of these is right? I believe that each view has something to contribute; it is when the emphasis is disproportionately placed that problems arise. God both imputes and imparts purity, and then helps us apply and develop these truths in our daily life and experience.