The Joy Of Living A Separated Life 6.14-7.1
THE JOY OF LIVING A SEPARATED LIFE
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
INTRODUCTION
Little girl sat at breakfast table with parents 1 morn. Dad read paper. Mom make waffles. Little girl sat, wide-eyed, staring at orange juice. Thot for minute-then ask, “Daddy?” “Yes, sweetie.” “Jesus is God, right?” “Yes.” “Then God lives in my heart, right?” “Yes, sweetie, God lives in your heart.” “Ok,” she said, & then sat quietly for while, & took sip of juice. Another quest, “Daddy?” “Yes, sweetie.” “How big is God?” “Well, God is big. Remember song we like to sing, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands?” “Yeah.” He-“God is big enough to hold the world in his hands. That’s big, isn’t it?” “Yeah, that’s really big.” Seem content answer, & again sat quietly & another sip juice. “Daddy, if God is that big, & he lives in my heart, wouldn’t He stick out?” Only one way God stick out-if live differently than world around us. 2 Cor Paul warn Corinths about false teachers-try distract worship true God. Therefore-no get involve those who have no relation-Christ.
PROPOSITION: Christians must live a separated life.
ORGANIZATIONAL SENTENCE: Paul gives us two reasons why Xians must live a separated life. Also a joy-benefit
I. OUR IDENTITY IS CLEAR 6:14-16a.
A. Believers are distinct.
Mt19:6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. Here-twist-what God has separated, let man not join together. Yoked together-one word=unequally yoked=another of a different sort-with unbelievers=pull the yoke in a different direction than one’s fellow. Lev, Deut texts-warn against yoke 2 differ kinds animals together-plough. De 22:10 Do not plow with an ox & a donkey yoked together. No work:
•different species. Ox much bigger, stronger than donkey. Differ in temperament & speed. Apparently oxen can’t even stand breath of donkeys & will pull away from them instead of going in direction supposed to.
•different spiritually. according to OT law, ox consider clean while donkey-unclean. Jews very careful about not mixing-clean with that which wasn’t. Just as yoking together animals of 2 unequal species will result in incongruous mismatch, so close attachments, intimate associat tween believers, unbelievers will produce ill-matched union & total discord. If as context suggest partnership in pagan practices, how more NB-intimate setting-dating, marr relationships. Pastors, parents used to warn, instruct young people on dating habits & then as things get more serious, warn about marr relation-bring believer, unbeliever. 1 Cor Paul wrote-probls Xian, non-Xian marr. Not say-Xians have no contacts whatever with unbelievers. But unbelievers might lead believers astray from “sincere & pure devotion to Christ” & fact concern Paul greatly. Personal-seen time, again Xians pulled into lifestyle of unbeliever & soon fall away from faith, or pick up lifestyle world. Certainly need-contact with unbelievers in order-witness. But as Wiersbe: The attitude of too many Xians today is that the church should court & please the world in order to try to win it. Nothing could be further from truth! There must be separaton from sin. This does not mean isolation, retreating from the world; it does mean keeping ourselves from the defilement of the world. It is fine for the ship to be in the water, but when water gets into the ship, look out!
B. The reason for command is given in a series of questions. No statemnt of tolerance. Contrast:
1. What do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
Common=sharing in, partaking of. Righteous-right relation with God; wickedness=all oppose to God. Expect-“Nothing!” Thinking person-can’t bring 2 together in anything but hostile set. Deerfield HS’s “Strait-Gay Alliance Network”. Attempt to commun agreement, but homosex agenda=hostile to Xianity.
2. What fellowship can light have with darkness?
Child-darkness=no light; light chases darkness away. The 2 opposites no co-exist. Fellowship=koinwnia-have fellowship with, partnership, sharing. Light=fos-phosphorus=light-bearing. Col 1:12-14 believers rescued from dominion darkness-brot into kingdom of Christ.
3. What harmony is there between Christ & Belial?
Essenes-members of ascetic Jewish sect of 1st cent BC, 1st cent AD. Most lived-western shore of Dead Sea. IDfied by many scholars with Qumran community-wrote Dead Sea Scrolls. Name Belial appears as the name of the evil spirit in the writings of Essenes. He is angel of malevolence, who lives in hearts of his followers, “sons of darkness”, & rules in the preacher of apostasy. Paul use name Belial when think contrast with Christ. Quest of authority in life. Harmony= Sumfwnhsis=a sounding together, harmony, symphony.
4. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
Assume=noth! Man-DLMoody, “Now that I am converted, must I give up world?” “No,” evangelist, “you need not give up world; if you give a ringing testimony for the Son of God the world will give you up pretty quick. Will not want you around.” Worldview=total differ. Believers, unbelievers differ-values, goals in life, ethics, integrity in business, how spend $ & if true, then believer not be connect with unbeliever. Crucial in marr relation but also business. 1 Cor 14:6-9 Now, brothers, if I come to U & speak in tongues, what good will I be to U, unless I bring U some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
5. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
Reaches climax argument-temple of living God. About worship-who worship? History-Israel=see-temple, idols don’t mix! Agreement=putting together or joint deposit (of votes), hence approval, assent, agreement. God was & is adamant in hatred toward anything that takes away from his glory. At begin-nation Israel’s existence God clear-be no other gods before him, no idols to distract Israelites from worship true God heaven. Ex20:3ff You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. John Stott: it is doubtful that Paul would agree with Xians today attending inter-faith services with Muslims or Hindus, for example, since that would mean being mismated with unbelievers. Temple motif central-forms ultimate basis for Paul’s appeal for holiness. Lead-Paul’s 2nd reasont-separated life.
II. OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD 6:16b-7:1.
A. God indwells us 6:16b.
For-refer back to v14. 4 promises:
1. I will live with them-to dwell in. Only-spirit sense-at least 3X-OT. What God said-OT no change-live with us; be our God.
2. Walk among them. By fact-God will walk among his people we see-he will actively promote & protect welfare of his people.
3. I will be their God. The God whom they worship; now Xian comm-both Jews, Gentiles=God’s peopl, God’s temple.
4. They will be my people. Paul applies to church.
B. God requires a separated life 6:17, 18.
1. There is a threefold call for separation.
Therefore-On basis of assurance-Xian church forms new temple & evidence-fact found in promises v16b, 3fold call for separ. Certain responsib-with being temple of God.
a. Come out from the midst of them. Can’t simultan involve-worship living God & practices assoc with worship lifeless idols!
b. Separate=to mark off by boundaries or limits. Negat= separate from sin; posit=separate to God. Purity must distinguish us from those around us.
c. Touch no unclean thing. Touch=hold on, seize or simply touch. Christ touch in heal ministry=healed. Rem-touch never contaminate Christ–not work for us, many warnings Script about not touch that which=defiled. Great risk by touch unclean things-uncleannes transfers to us. No isolat but discour comprom with unbelievers sinful values, behaviors. Refer-any associat with pagan, & idolat in particular, that might compromis adhere-righteous. Believer to separ from unbeliever, not believer from believer-happens when Xians can’t get along.
2. God will come close to us. V18=2 Sam7:14-now apply-chur, peop of God. God=pleased when separ from=defile.
C. We have a responsibility to keep ourselves pure 7:1.
1. We have been given promises.
What promises? God will be in our midst, he will accept us with favor-v16 & be father.
2. Purify ourselves.
House & Garden-Those inventive people, Italians-custom. As midnight on New Year’s Eve approaches,streets are clear. No traffic; no pedestrians; even policemen take cover. Then, at stroke of 12, windows of houses fly open. Sound of laughter, music & fireworks, each member of family pitches out old crockery, detested ornaments, hated furniture & whole catalogue of personal possessions which remind them of something in past year they are determined to wipe out of minds. kaqarivzw= cleanse. Concept of pure & its opposite impure are woven into history of all religions. Realizat-the deity, whomever people worship, was clean & that to approach-require cleansing. Initial -only external sense but in time aware of need for purity internal. Linked to morality, ethical character. Purity= part living separate life. Contaminate=besmear, soil as one does by applying mud or other filth. Contamin comes from embrac pagan life-style & requires purific. Likely refer to whole person-physical & spiritual, outward, inward. No enough have heart that is right-our flesh, body must show heart’s condit by way live. Twice-Mt 7:15-20 by their fruit U will recognize them.
3. Perfecting holiness.
Perfectg=to finish, bring to an end. Means dedicatng selves to Christ & living righteously. Process of sanctif=no acquisition of perfect holiness. Rem Paul=not yet reached perfection & still pressing forward-likely here. He6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ & go on to maturity. Mother Teresa-Our progress in holiness depends on God & ourselves--on God's grace & our will to be holy. We must have a real living determinaton to reach holiness. Holiness= denotes manifestation of the quality of “holiness” in personal conduct. Out of reverence for God-could be-Paul has idea of means by which perfecting holiness can be achieved. Having reverent fear for God-certainly promote pursuit of holiness. Paul realize-one of major weakness humans=lack of motivation & so continually reminds-judgment, wrath of God, his love for us which sent Christ to die for us. Harris: For Paul the entire Xian life is in essence as advance in holiness, a bringing to maturation of our consecration to God. We never arrive & are always a work in progres. Mediocre Xians make a mediocre church! Can’t have a vibrant, exciting church if we don’t have vibrant, exciting Xians! Australian coat of arms pictures two creatures--the emu, a flightless bird, & the kangaroo. The animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu & kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, & the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail. Those who truly choose to follow Jesus become like the emu & kangaroo, moving only forward, never back. 7:1 let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
How is my life; how is your life? Has the water of the world begun to seep into the boat of life? Are you and I sending a clear signal or is it uncertain? Our music, movies, activities?
School dismissed for day. Couple of teenage sisters-slip into father’s office at governor’s mansion. During time when bobbed hair become very fashionable for young ladies. Southern governor not want girls to have bobbed hair. On this particular day, both plead with him for permission. One them came out with often-used remark, “But father, everybody’s doing it.” Governor-“Whose daughters are you?” After hear them acknowledge him, “Sure. You are the daughters of the Governor. You do not follow the styles. You set the styles.”
the paragraph affords several examples of the indicative-imperative dialectic that is so characteristic of Pauline ethics: “You are; therefore be!” His exhortations are securely grounded on statements of theological truth (the seven promises).
Harris: the Corinthians were to avoid any public or private relationship with unbelievers that was incompatible with or would compromise Xian standards, Xian adherence to monotheism, Xian witness.
At heart of Pauline ethics (& NT ethics in general) stands this relation between theological proclamation & moral exhortation, between affirmation & appeal, between the indicative & the imperative. God’s temple must be kept pure.
Interview-JStott (CT9/03): Tolerance is 1 of today's most coveted virtues. But are at least 3 different kinds tolerance.
1st, legal toler: fight for equal rights-ethnic, relig minorities.
2nd, social toler, go out of way make friends with adherents of other faiths, since they God's creation who bear his image.
3rd, intellectual toler. To cultivate a mind so broad & open as to accommodate all views & reject none. This is to forget G. K. Chesterton's bon mot that "the purpose of opening the mind, as of opening mouth, is to shut it again on something solid." To open mind so wide as to keep noth in it or out of it is not virtue; is vice of feebleminded.
God was physically present with ancient Israel in the tabernacle; therefore, physical purity laws were important for the proper maintenance of the Lord’s physical presence in their midst.
In the NT world we are more accustomed to thinking in terms of moral & spiritual purity, because the corresponding presence of God is on the spiritual plane. This causes the purity terminology of the OT to be applied exclusively on the spiritual & moral level.
Calvin: God can only dwell in the midst by dwelling in each one.
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In each place character is in view, perfect in the case of the Lord Jesus, growing toward perfection in the case of the Christian. Here the exercise of love is declared to be the means God uses to develop likeness to Christ in His children. The sentence may be paraphrased thus:— The Lord enable you more and more to spend your lives in the interests of others, in order that He may so establish you in Christian character now, that you may be vindicated from every charge that might possibly be brought against you at the Judgment-seat of Christ.
Mrs. Helen Van Dyke, an 82-year-old American woman, was routed from her home in Cairo at the height of Nasser’s charge that the U.S. was winning Israel’s war for it. She was told to pack her things and report to the Nile Hotel in 15 minutes. She begged her captors: “I have lived all my life in Cairo. How can I pack up a lifetime in 15 minutes?” She was soon led forth hobbling with her cane into the hotel.
“How can I pack up a lifetime in 15 minutes?” What a question! Someday, any day, maybe this night, will come the command, “Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.” How sudden may sound the summons?
Then I may be given, not 15 minutes, possibly but a few moments, to “pack up a lifetime.” Can I check-through to the Eternal City? My little “Cairo” has never been my continuing city. This is not my homeland.
How long would it take the reader to “pack up?”
—Prairie Overcomer
On the way to work this morning, I pulled up to a stop light and noticed an interesting SUV in front of me. The owner of the SUV is clearly a person of deep loyalty. The spare tire mounted on the back had the words "Texas Longhorns" and an orange, steer-head icon on it. The trailer hitch displayed another steer-head icon and the word "Texas." The license plate frame was bordered with the words "Longhorns" on top and "University of Texas" at the bottom.
But something didn't add up. That license plate frame was screwed into a blue-and-white, Illinois, "Land of Lincoln" license plate with a picture of old Abe himself on it. I live in Illinois, and the SUV's license plate shows that this driver now does, too. I assume the owner of this SUV had moved, but had not yet identified with his new home and had no plans of changing loyalties.
That's normal human behavior. When we move, we often go through a slow transition of loyalties to our new home. And so it is as a Christian. When we come to Christ, the kingdom of God becomes our home, but the kingdom of this world does not leave our hearts easily. The great challenge of the Christian is to overcome divided loyalties and fully identify with God's kingdom. Craig Brian Larson, Arlington Heights, I
A survey published by the Barna Group in 2006 demonstrated that most Americans don't consider themselves to be holy.
Three out of every four Americans (73 percent) believed that it is possible for someone to become holy regardless of their past. Only half of the adult population (50 percent), however, said that they knew someone they considered to be holy. And that's more than twice as many who considered themselves to be holy (21 percent).
The views of born-again Christians were not much different from the national averages. Among believers, three-quarters (76 percent) said it is possible for a person to become holy regardless of their past. Slightly more than half of the group (55 percent) said they knew someone they would describe as holy. And roughly three out of ten Christians (29 percent) said they themselves were holy, which is marginally more than the national norm.
"The Concept of Holiness Baffles Most Americans," www.barna.org (2-20-06)
The Princess Diaries tells the story of Amelia Thermopolis, a shy, awkward teen whose only goal in life is to be invisible. She tries to get through each day with as little embarrassment as possible. Her world is turned upside down when estranged grandmother (Julie Andrews) comes to America to give Amelia the biggest news of her life.
Amelia visits her grandmother at her opulent mansion in San Francisco. A butler leads Amelia to the grand living room, where she stands amazed as several servants bustle about. Suddenly, all the servants stand at attention as Amelia's grandmother enters the room. The contrast between Amelia and her refined grandmother is painfully apparent. After some small talk, Amelia, feeling uncomfortable, finally asks her grandmother, "What is it you want to tell me?"
Her grandmother answers, "Something, I believe, that will have a very big impact on your life." They walk outside to talk, and her grandmother begins to explain. "Amelia, have you ever heard of Eduard Cristof Philip Gerard Renaldi?"
"No," Amelia responds. Her grandmother tells Amelia he was the crown prince of Genovia.
Amelia is as baffled as she is indifferent and shrugs her shoulders. "What about him?" she asks.
Her grandmother says, "Eduard Cristof Philip Gerard Renaldi was also your father."
Thinking her grandmother is only joking, she laughs, rolls her eyes in disbelief, and says, "If he was a prince, that would make me a—"
"Exactly," says her grandmother, "a princess. You see, you are not just Amelia Thermopolis. You are Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, the princess of Genovia."
Amelia can hardly speak as this new revelation sinks in. "Me…a…a…a princess? Why on earth would you pick me to be your princess?
"Since your father died, you are the natural heir to the throne of Genovia. That's our law. I'm royal by marriage; you are royal by blood. You can rule."
Mia blurts out: "Rule?! Oh no, oh no, no, no, no. Now you have really got the wrong girl. I never lead anybody, not at Brownies, not at Campfire Girls. Queen Clarisse, my expectation in life is to be invisible, and I am good at it. I don't want to be a princess!!
The Bible says we are heirs of the God of the universe. The implications of that are far more surprising.
After I graduated from Dallas Seminary, waiting on my first ministry, I went home to live with my mother. My mom gave me chores. She said, "One of your jobs is to take out the trash, Son." So every week I put out the garbage.
One week I forgot to put out the garbage. Garbage has a way of making itself known. It began to smell. Every day we kept piling more garbage onto it. It even began to spill over, and it was right where you came into the back of the house. Every time we went into the house we would get a whiff of it.
The aroma began to seep into the house and infected the atmosphere. Then it started to infect my mom's relationship with me. Every time she looked at me, it was as if she were saying, "Why don't you take out the garbage?"
The next week, I took out the garbage. The atmosphere cleaned up. Our relationship was better. Everything was okay.
My brothers and sisters, if you don't take out the garbage on a daily basis, it piles up. It begins to stink. It can pollute your relationships and cause you to move further away from people. So if we want to be cleansed by God, we must confess to God and put out the garbage on a daily basis.
Rod Cooper, "Beholding the King," Preaching Today, Tape No. 150.
On Friday, May 25, Andrew Speaker, became the first person in 44 years to be placed under quarantine in the United States.
Andrew was on his honeymoon in Italy when he was notified by the CDC that the particular strain of TB that he had been diagnosed with was especially drug-resistant and extremely contagious.
He was told to turn himself in to the proper authorities immediately for treatment and containment.
He was especially told, “Not to fly”.
But instead of going to the hospital, Andrew and his bride took a series of flights until they ended up in Canada.
They drove into the United States where the border guard, who is now on leave pending an investigation, assumed that the computer warning that popped up on Andrew was a “discretionary” warning.
Andrew refused to be separate from healthy people and in doing so he put many people in a serious health risk.
The strange thing is, Andrew is a personal injury attorney.
Just wait, he’s gonna be sued by dozens and dozens of people – even if they don’t get sick, because of the emotional trauma that they have been put through as they have undergone testing and isolation.
Even more interestingly, Andrew’s new father-in-law works for the CDC investigating TB cases.
How would you feel if you had been seated next to Andrew on the plane that delivered him across the Atlantic into Montréal?
And yet you are daily exposed to do something that is far more dangerous than TB.
Every day you are exposed to something that has the ability – even the will – to destroy not only your life, but everyone around you.
You’ve been exposed to something so dangerous - it has the desire to destroy your church.
In fact, what you are exposed to on a daily basis not only wants your life and the life of your children, the life of your church, it wants your soul.
Primarily light is a luminous emanation, probably of force, from certain bodies, which enables the eye to discern form & color. Light requires an organ adapted for its reception (Matt. 6:22). Where the eye is absent, or where it has become impaired from any cause, light is useless. Man, naturally, is incapable of receiving spiritual light inasmuch as he lacks the capacity for spiritual things, 1 Cor. 2:14. Hence believers are called ‘sons of light,’ Luke 16:8, not merely because they have received a revelation from God, but because in the New Birth they have received the spiritual capacity for it.
Sign-counter-Post Office: Please do not please your child on the counter. For most part sign ignored. Then new sign: For the safety of your child, please do not place him/her on the counter. Children no longer placed on counter! What made difference? With 1st sign, implication=benefit ->PO. 2nd sign- positive benefit-parent