A CALL TO SEPARATION
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11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
A. The Need for Separation
Milk as it comes from the cow contains cream.
When it cools, it moves to the top and can be seen clearly in different shad of color from the milk.
Today, we rarely get to see the cream on the top of the milk due to homogenization.
Although homogenization of milk is a beneficial developement, our homogenization with the world is not.
Old-fashioned or not, God wants us to be separate from the world.
The enemies of separation are everywhere.
B. The Need for Discipline
Only by discipline can we remain separated from the world around us.
There are two sources of power and strength that we need to call upon to live a separated life from the world:
His Power &
Will Power
Interestingly, we cannot depend exclusively on either of these sources of strength.
If we try to depend on the strength of the Lord alone to live a separated life we will eventually fail due to the absence of discipline.
On the other hand, If we try to live Christian lives without the power of Jesus Christ, we are vulnerable to failure.
The only winning combination involves the combination of these two powers.
C. Benefited by Separation
Even if God did not command separation from the world, it would still be beneficial to live a separated life.
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
I. A PLEA FROM THE HEART
I. A PLEA FROM THE HEART
Though this is Paul writing, we might also hear the voice of the Lord in these words:
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
A. Plea for Closeness
12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
Perhaps an improper association with the world had caused the Corinthians to begin to separate themselves from Paul.
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
God doesn’t withhold affection from us...
We withhold affection from Him....
13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Paul yearned for a relationship with the Corinthians that was from the heart.
Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for the same lack of true affection.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
II. A PLEA FOR SEPARATION
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
A. Jesus Attracted Sinners Because He was Different
A. Jesus Attracted Sinners Because He was Different
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
It’s foolish for peopleto feel they have to lower their standard to attract people.
A sinful woman was attracted to Jesus because He was different.
37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
B. God’s People Have Always been a Separate People
B. God’s People Have Always been a Separate People
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
Three Hebrew Children
Three Hebrew Children
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The Fire Proved They were Different:
The Fire Proved They were Different:
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Separation Goes Beyond the Heart
Each illustration from the book of Daniel required a noticible stand.
Separation from the World results in separation in appearance.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Separation in the heart leads to outward expression of maculinity and femininty as defined by God.
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
5 “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.
5 A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.
Don’t wait until your little girls are teenagers to implement this principle!
Not just for church services - for every day.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
III. WHY SHOULD WE BE SEPARATE?
III. WHY SHOULD WE BE SEPARATE?
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
tHERE ARE SOME SUBSTANCES THAT CANNOT MIX
Although they cannot mix they will influcene the quality of the other.
It is interesting the unrighiousness does not become rightious by assosciation, but rightiousness can become unrightiousness by association.
12 “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ” Then the priests answered and said, “No.”
13 And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”
B. Ambassadors of Christ
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
It is not your position on end time events that will attract and minister to sinners.
It is not even your dedication to the plan of salvation that will attract sinners.
It will be your separated life.
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH - A PRESERVATIVE.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
CONCLUSION
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.