BE SEPARATE

 

Do not Compromise for the Sake of Unity

 

1 Cor 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

God will judge unbelievers, we are not to judge them; but, if a person claims to be a Christian and yet lives a sinful lifestyle, we are not to associate with that person.

2 Chr 18:34-19:2 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died. And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.

We should not lend our support to anyone who hates the LORD, that is like supporting the enemy in a time of war.

Ps 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

True wisdom comes from knowing and believing in God. The word of God says the unbeliever is a fool, he has no true wisdom; therefore, we should not listen to the advise of unbelievers. We should not do as the unbelievers do, nor even be identified with them.

Ps 101:6-7 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

The Lord watches over those who believe in Him and live a life that is pleasing to Him. If you are a Christian who wants to serve the Lord, you must begin by living a lifestyle that is pleasing to Him. Rom 12:1-2 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. We must not be conformed to the world around us, we must be different, we must be transformed into the image of Christ, if we are to serve Him. Therefore, we cannot live a life that is pleasing to the Lord if we are living as unbelievers live.

Ps 106:34-35 They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.

Associating with unbelievers will corrupt our behavior; therefore, we should not associate with them any more than is necessary.

Prov 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

We are to lead unbelievers to Christ, but we must be careful that we are not led astray by the wicked person or by the wicked society we live in.

Prov 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

We will always be influenced by our companions; therefore, we must choose our companions wisely. We must not think of ourselves as too wise to be corrupted, remember even Solomon, with all his wisdom, was led astray by his unbelieving wives.

Prov 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

Foolishness will rub off on anyone who spends time with a fool.

Prov 22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

We can guard ourselves from the many mistakes and sins of the perverse by staying far away from them.

1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Anyone can be corrupted by the wrong kind of relationship. We must not think we are too wise or too good to be corrupted by unbelievers. We must be careful not to be involved with unbelievers any more than is necessary.

2 Cor 6:14-7:1 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. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

There is no harmony between Jesus Christ and Satan; therefore, there is no harmony between the believer and the unbeliever. We are going to spend all eternity separated from unbelievers, there is no reason to be bound together with them now. We are not to be like them, we are to be like Christ.

Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

We may not even realize we are being corrupted by the unbelievers among us. If we tolerate evil, it will rub off on us.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

No Christian is so mature or so good that he cannot be tempted. We must always be on our guard against evil.

Eph 5:6-7 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Unbelievers will try to deceive us; they will try to get us to take part in their evil ways. We must not tolerate them because they will influence us.

II Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Paul instructs us to separate ourselves from believers who live a sinful lifestyle because their sinful habits will rub off on us.

1 Tim 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

We must be careful that we do not approve of the wrong people for spiritual leadership, because in doing so, we become responsible for their wrongdoing in connection with that leadership position.

1 Tim 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

As we strive to be separate from sinners, we must be careful not to become legalistic in our approach to righteousness. We do not acquire righteousness by our behavior, but because we do have the righteousness of Christ we are to behave like Christ.

2 Tim 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We are to avoid people who claim to be Christians and yet live as the world around us lives.

2 Pet 2:18-19 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

There are false teachers who entice baby Christians by teaching that there is no such thing as sin, or that we are free to do anything we desire to do. They are enslaved by sin and they try to enslave Christians, hoping to be able to justify their own behavior. We must always be on our guard against those who would lead us away from our devotion to Christ.

II Jn 1:10-11 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

We must be careful not to tolerate false teachers. If we encourage anyone who teachers a lie or a different gospel, we are participating in their evil deeds. We are to reject the false teacher and make them know that we do not approve of them in any way.

Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

If we want the approval of Jesus Christ, we must expose false teachers.

The word of God instructs us to be separate from all false teachers, evil workers, and unbelievers. We must not ignore the instructions of God’s word; there is never any validexcuse to disobey God.

All Scripture taken from King James Bible

* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24