Seperation

Intro:

TS: As Christians, we often find ourselves on a tightrope. We live by the Bible. We believe and act as the Lord directs. Yet that often leaves us in conflict with the worldview of the people we are around.

Some answered this by withdrawing into monastic communities and cutting themselves off from the world. Yet that approach makes us unable to fulfill our greatest mission of making disciples. Others compromise their standards to the point there is no difference between them and the world. They call it “loving other” yet and they too never make disciples for there is never a call to repentance.

Paul gives us the Bible approach in this text. We are to be ambassadors in foreign territory. Make disciples everywhere we go. Yet when it comes to close bonds: family, friends, business partners, etc. we are to maintain separation.

The Restriction

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers

In the agricultural world of the 1st century, a vivid picture comes to mind when the reader saw “unequally yoked”

In fact, the OT prohibits the joining of two different kind of livestock.

Deuteronomy 22:10 ESV

You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

The differences in strength make it an unequal sharing of the load and they would end up pulling against each other instead of with each other.

Paul says to us:

It isn’t right to join together in spiritual enterprises with those how don’t have the same nature: unbelievers

The venture can’t be done for God’s glory when trying to mingle worldviews this way.

In our relationships, there is a great gulf between the worldview of believers and unbelievers.

That will sabotage any such “yoke”

One will go to the word of God and pray to week wisdom in decisions.

The other will look to worldly wisdom.

This will lead to conflict pulling in opposite directions

This is especially important in matters of faith and church ministries.

The Corinthians were surrounded by pagan idolatry

False teachers were perverting the gospel and compromising the church.

AP: We must choose our companions and partners carefully.

Their faith matters.

We cannot and should NOT cut all association with the lost. They need the gospel and we can’t do that sitting here, we have to be out there.

BUT: When it comes to alliances and relationships, their faith and ours must mesh.

I’m talking about those we date and one day marry, those we enter into a church with, those we work together in gospel enterprises, etc. There must be agreement on the essentials.

1. Are they a believer

2. Do they live by and teach the Word of God

(look at the bulletin for some essentials)

Where the Bible is clear, we must be clear!

Where the Bible leaves room we must leave room.

The Reasons

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 ESV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 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.

Righteousness with Lawlessness

None: there is no agreement when one wants to live for God’s glory and one casts off all restraint and lives for self

Light and Darkness

Light and dark are incompatible:

Ever been in complete darkness? I’m talking bottom of a cave with all light sources out? It is disorienting. Yet one tiny spark of light changes it all.

Christ and Belial

The contrast is between Jesus and Satan

One is selfless the other is selfish

One seeks our best the other seeks to destroy us

One sacrificed Himself for us and the other demands our sacrifice

One is of infinite worth and the other is utterly worthless

The Temple of God and Temple of False Idols

One is true Christianity and other is false religion

This contrast still exists today

Sadly, all groups which call themselves churches aren’t true churches.

If they don’t teach the gospel, they are false

They lead nobody to Christ

They save none from Hell

The make no real followers of Jesus

They may look exciting and with it.

They may be the happening flashy place

But if their faith is compromised and gospel corrupt, they are a false religion.

IF we don’t share a common faith in the God of the Bible, they are not our brothers and sisters in spite of claims to the contrary.

If they read the Word and ignore it, explain it away, or justify their twisting of it, there can be no fellowship.

Paul uses Is 52:11

Isaiah 52:11 ESV

Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.

God declares we are to make a clean break from sinful habits and all forms of false religion.

The Rewards

2 Cor

Notice the promises

2 Corinthians 6:16–18 ESV

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. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

God Will Live in Them

We are His temple

His Spirit dwells in us

He is with us!

God Will Walk with Them

He is present with us

He guides us and teaches us how to walk in this world

Though we may be in enemy territory (worldview speaking) He is with us.

God will be a Father to Them

We are His children!

Romans 8:14–17 ESV

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

He adopts us into His family and we have all that comes with that!

Conclusion: