Unequally Yoked
Lessons From 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We continue today looking at our series on “Lessons From 2 Corinthians.”
We examined 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13 last week discussing how we let “The Love Of Christ Controls Us.”
Today, we find ourselves in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 wherein Paul discusses the responsibility Christians have to not be “Unequally Yoked” with anything not in the faith.
Many if not most people, when they hear the word yoke think of “yoked oxen” or “donkeys.”
3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.
Of the 68 times the work yokeis translated in the ESV most of the time it is used metaphorically.
Genesis 27:40 (ESV)
40 By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.
Psalm 106:28 (ESV)
28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead
Matthew 11:29–30 (ESV)
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
As Christians, who have given our word to God to put him first in our lives, we are pleaded with to not become then “Unequally Yoked” with anyone or anything that would hinder our eternity.
Let’s read 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1…
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
As we just read Paul begins by pointing out what our association with sin ought to be and as we read, we should have…
No Association With Sin
No Association With Sin
We Are Not To Be Yoked To Unbelievers.
We Are Not To Be Yoked To Unbelievers.
Paul begins by writing…
2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…
An unbeliever is one that has not obeyed the gospel of Christ and therefore never been added to the church.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
Being unequally yoked here means to work side by side in an unbalanced way.
We see this demonstrated in Deuteronomy 22:10…
10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
Can you imagine a donkey and ox trying to work together or donkey and a camel?
This would be very imbalanced.
What Paul is getting at is that Christians are not to spiritually work with the unbeliever.
In Weatherford and Hydro, Oklahoma there was a sign as you came into each town that said “Ministerial Alliance” at the top and underneath there is a list of those who have agreed to be a part of and thus uphold the purpose of this alliance.
On their Facebook page it reads, “The purpose of this group is to come together for the united purpose of serving God, regardless of denominational differences.”
When I was preaching in Hydro, the Weatherford church of Christ was on the list of those that agree to be a part of this alliance and uphold the its purpose.
They had agreed to “yoke themselves” to unbelievers” and work with them to promote that false doctrine of unity in doctrinal diversity.
Now, are there times when we as Christians will end up spending time and being around unbelievers, most certainly.
Most Christians work with unbelievers on a daily bases.
Most Christians will end up in extracurricular activities such as sporting events, showing animals, and the like with unbelievers.
There is a huge difference between being around unbelievers and being yoked with unbelievers.
A good rule of thumb to go by is how the unbeliever sees the relationship you have with them.
Do they know you are a faithful child of God who wants them to be also or do they have no idea you consider them an unbeliever?
Paul them points out…
We Are Not To Be Partnered With Lawlessness.
We Are Not To Be Partnered With Lawlessness.
Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 6:14…
2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness…
Some translations have fellowship here and it is “akin to it” but that would not be a proper translation of this particular word.
This word is only found once in the New Testament and once in the Greek Old Testament the LXX.
Psalm 122:3 (ESV)
3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together
Psalm 122:3 (NKJV)
3 Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together
Psalm 122:3 (HCSB)
3 Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly joined together
In other words, Christians are not to “have anything in common” or be “bound firmly together in partnership” with lawlessness.
Lawlessness is just another word for sin.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
As Christians, when it comes to sin, we are expected to…
Flee from it.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Extinguish it.
Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
Destroy it.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (ESV)
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ
Put it to death.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
The point is we are not to be bound tightly in partnership with lawlessness.
We also find Paul pointing out that…
We Are Not To Be In Fellowship With Darkness.
We Are Not To Be In Fellowship With Darkness.
Paul continues to 2 Corinthians 6:14…
2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
This word here is the most commonly translated word for fellowship and means to be in complete unity.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel
Darkness is the opposite of God and where sin thrives.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.
The point is Christians are not to be unified or in fellowship with darkness but in complete agreement in the Lord (Philippians 4:2).
We are not to feel like, seem like, or give the impression we are “one” with anyone or anything living in darkness.
Lastly, Paul points out that…
We Are Not To Be Portioned With Unbelievers.
We Are Not To Be Portioned With Unbelievers.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:15…
2 Corinthians 6:15 (ESV)
15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
The word “portion” here means, “a part set aside for a specific purpose; especially a share which a person has a vested interest in.”
In other words, Christians are not to invest a part of themselves in the lives of the unbelievers.
Why, because the unbeliever is a servant of Satan whether they realize it or not.
14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Because of this we must be aware that giving a portion of ourselves to unbelievers could easily lead us to loosing our soul.
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
Summary
Summary
We must not be yoke with or partnered with or have fellowship with or give a portion to sin and those that live for it.
Rather we are to…
Cling To Righteousness
Cling To Righteousness
We Are The Temple Of God.
We Are The Temple Of God.
As Paul writes God has made his dwelling place, his temple those who are found justified by him.
2 Corinthians 6:16 (ESV)
16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
This is quote is a combination of Exodus 29:45 and Leviticus 26:12.
This idea is presented throughout the New Testament.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Summary
Summary
We cling to righteousness because we have the promises of God that “he will dwell or live with us” if we keep our body and spirit holy and free from defilement.
1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
There is no circumstance wherein Christians should be yoked with and given a portion to unbelievers.
There is no circumstance wherein Christians should have a partnership with lawlessness or be in fellowship with darkness.
As Christians we are the “house of God” the “holy temple” not made with hands.
Let us create a home in our lives wherein God is able then to fellowship with us.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.