Unequally Yoked - part 1
We are citizens of a time that emphasize tolerance, political correctness, compromise and acceptance. We see it on our jobs, at our schools and we are entertained by it in our homes. Most of us from our very young to our elderly are versed in our rights; animal rights, civil rights, rights of the criminal, rights to bear arms, rights of free speech, rights to live where I want to and rights to die when I want to. Our senses are so flooded with this and our thinking is so saturated with these concepts that when we hear words like; “do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers”, our first reaction is to think these words are too harsh for our modern times and next task is usually to look for loop holes to get around this passage. And thus we find this modern way of thinking, which, in the past, seeped into our churches, is now gushing in with a greater force.
Today I would like to return to that passage of Scripture that we have been hearing so much about, 2 Cor. 6:14 to 7:1. And this time I would like for you to listen for the affirmation within the passage.
An affirmation, New Hope, is a statement that is declared to be true and is given with assurance, confidence and force.
Let me repeat it, an affirmation, is a statement (not a question) that is declared to be true and is given with assurance, confidence and force (it is meant to influence).
Let’s all stand if we can.
Read the passage slowly.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 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.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Did you hear the affirmation? “For you are the temple of the living God.” I like and will use the translation from the ‘English Standard Version’, “For we are the temple of the living God”
One minor point of clarification, the Temple is the place where God chooses to dwell even though God can not be confined to a house built by human hands, we, you and I, are the temple of the living God.
Allow me time to look at three points, when, what, and so what.
When deals with the background. Looking at this statement, this is not the first time that the saints, the church at Corinth had heard this.
Look at 1 Cor. 3:16 & 17
1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
What is interesting, in addition to this passage, is the context for the passage. During a time when there was, among the saints, strife, envy, and division. Paul remind the church of God, those who are sanctified and called to be saints with a question; do you not know that you are the temple of God? When they are acting like mere men then is the reminder of who they really are.
I want you to see this for yourselves, if you are still in 1 Cor. 3, start at verse 1 read or listen.
Read this, verse 1-4 from your Bible page 1004.
Look at 1 Cor. 6:19&20
1 Corinthians 6:19-20. 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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Here Paul speaks to the individual saint in reference to sexual immorality. Flee from sexual immorality (Read verse 17). Therefore individually or collectively, we are the temple of the living God.
When did you last refer to yourself in this way? When did you last come into this place and thought this is the coming together of the temple of God? As you looked at each other and greeted each other did the thought come to mind that the same God that dwells in me dwells in you? In other words when you hear “praise is what I do” do you think of a song or do you recall the behavior and the action that you are engaged in even now?
What, deals with a glance at what this is saying. It is a glance because there is too much for one sermon one what this means, so somewhat like Brother Brad, this is an introduction. I would, however, like for you to examine two scriptures with me.
Romans chapter 8 is full of meaning look at verse 9;
Romans 8:9. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
This miracle of salvation allows three things to happen simultaneously; you are in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you and we belong to Christ. Once again we hear that we are not our own but we belong to Christ, in the Spirit and the Spirit in us.
My brothers and sisters don’t you see that the only way this can happen is that we are actually a new creation, that old things have passed away and all things have become new. I am not talking about over in glory but today, this moment, it is all new!
Yes we are the temple of the living God and His Spirit is active in a unique way within His temple. Staying in Romans 8 these next two passages should have renewed meaning for us. Listen
Romans 8:16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
And
Romans 8:26. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
These are not the only things that the Spirit does within us but they are ones that you can shout about. Why can I say that I know that I know that I know? Because the Spirit within has witnessed with my spirit that it is so.
I can admit that I do not know how to pray and what to pray but thank God we are the temple of the living God and He Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (a language that I can’t speak)
One more passage on what this is saying and you can listen to this one from Ephesians 2: 19-22 page 1029
Ephesians 2:19-22. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
What does this mean for me as a believer or to put it in a short statement so what?
Let me illustrate; pick either and athlete or an armed forces soldier. If I take the athlete, since I have coached a little bit, it would be easier for me. The athlete, male or female, has special training, living and eating habits that they must subject themselves to. Doing training and preparation, they will not yoke themselves with a non athlete because doing so will cause them to compromise their training and in many cases discipline. The athlete will not expect the non athlete to function on their level because if they did they would not be a non athlete. So in order for the yoking to be true yoking the athlete must become like the non athlete. This is more so in the armed forces especially for those who undergo special or elite training. It is usually tough for them to readjust to civilian life and there are some who can not or will not make the adjustment back. We who know the Lord are also athletes and soldiers, let us run to win the race and fight holding the blood stain banner. The answer to so what is that when I realize that I am indeed the temple of the living God, I can understand the restriction because I realize the addition to my life, God has chosen to dwell within me. Amen!
I close with 1 Peter 2:1-10
1 Peter 2:1-10. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 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; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Let us pray!