SEPARATED FOR GOD
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Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
SEPARATED FOR GOD
SEPARATED FOR GOD
Illustration
The phrase is not Constitutional at all! It has been wrenched out of context from a private letter written in 1802, 11 years after the First Amendment was ratified. There was a widespread rumor going around at the time that one particular denomination was to become the official national religion. This concerned the other denominations a great deal since some had fled religious persecution by the official church of England. President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the concerned Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut assuring them that under the Constitution the federal government would not, and indeed could not, establish a national Christian denomination. In other words, the United States Congress could not legislate that all Americans had to be Lutherans, or Episcopalians, or Baptists, or Pentecostal or Catholic or whatever.
It is clear from Thomas Jefferson’s letter that the “wall of separation” he spoke of was to be one-directional. This wall was to keep government interference out of the church and out of believers’ lives. It was never meant to keep the church, or believers in Jesus Christ, out of the federal government, states, municipalities or schools. It certainly was never intended to mean that believers could not speak of their faith openly, or pray openly in Jesus’ Name at public events.
The historical record clearly shows the Founding Fathers of our country truly had freedom of religion in mind when they framed our Constitution.
Introduction
Regeneration is a form of segregation—Christians are in the world, but not a part of the world …
john 17:12-16
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
SEPARATED FOR GOD
SEPARATED FOR GOD
The words of our text are words of admonition to Christians and an invitation to non-Christians …
CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE A SEPARATED PEOPLE
CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE A SEPARATED PEOPLE
Brown, J. D. (2001). Fifty Sermon Outlines on the Way of Salvation (p. 46). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
1. Christians should not be bound to non-Christians …
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(a) In marriage …
(a) In marriage …
(b) In organizations …
(c) In business …
(d) Even in religious endeavor …
2. In these verses are listed five synonymous questions which, when answered, will show why Christians ought to be a separated people …
3. “Ye are the temple of the living God”
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
1 Cor. 16:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
SEPARATED FOR GOD
SEPARATED FOR GOD
THERE IS GREAT DANGER IN INTEGRATION (not separated).
THERE IS GREAT DANGER IN INTEGRATION (not separated).
Fifty Sermon Outlines on the Way of Salvation Separated for God (2 Cor. 6:14–18)
1. Evil usually contaminates good …
(a) Bad onion in a basket …
(b) A drop of poison in a glass of water …
(c) Oil mixed with water destroys the usefulness of both …
2. Illustrated by the union of Christian and Communist …
Fifty Sermon Outlines on the Way of Salvation Separated for God (2 Cor. 6:14–18)
1. Evil usually contaminates good …
(a) Bad onion in a basket …
(b) A drop of poison in a glass of water …
(c) Oil mixed with water destroys the usefulness of both …
2. Illustrated by the union of Christian and Communist …
1. Evil usually contaminates good …
(a) Bad onion in a basket …
(b) A drop of poison in a glass of water …
(c) Oil mixed with water destroys the usefulness of both …
2. Illustrated by the union of Christian and Communist …
COMMAND CONCERNING SEPARATION
COMMAND CONCERNING SEPARATION
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 cor.
2. Not drive them away from …
(a) Separate yourselves …
(b) Although thrown together live separated lives …
Even in marriage Christians should live separate lives … This vital issue should be carefully considered before marriage …
3. Not force others to meet your standards, but you are to meet God’s standards …
(a) You must account only for you …
SEPARATED FOR GOD
SEPARATED FOR GOD
INCENTIVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SEPARATION—verse 18 …
INCENTIVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR SEPARATION—verse 18 …
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1. A father loves his children …
2. He educates them …
(a) By teaching them …
(b) By providing for further education …
3. He guards them …
4. He provides for them …
Closing Illustration
SEPARATE: STAYING IN RANKS
The word "separate" is a military term, and it means to "stay in ranks." My son Jason just graduated from an intensive 9-week school for Drill Sergeants (we Brownworths never seem to finish going to school!). He will now be responsible for training as many as 240 "raw" recruits in each cycle what it means to form and stay in ranks. More importantly he will help them know that in battle keeping in ranks may just save lives. Rank and file is not just about marching in parades on holidays – order, discipline and tactical symmetry are the strength of ranks; it is how battles are won or lost.
Soldiers need to stay in their ranks; Christian believers are also in ranks (local churches) as parts of the Body of Christ. We must not only stay in ranks, there is also the need to keep those ranks strong and alert for signs of the enemy. Paul put it this way – what possible relationship can light (Christ) have with Belial (Lucifer, Satan)? What happens when you mix darkness and light? One of them has to die!
Conclusion
“Come out from among them”—and claim the promises of God.
(b) , …
Brown, J. D. (2001). Fifty Sermon Outlines on the Way of Salvation (p. 46). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.