Sermon for 4/13/2008
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Unequally Yoked
Introduction:
Time magazine reported in January 1995 that an earthquake in Kobe, Japan, occurred when two plates on a fault line fifteen miles offshore suddenly shifted against each other, violently lurching six to ten feet in opposite directions. The result was the worst Japanese earthquake since 1923. Thousands died. More than 46,000 buildings lay in ruins. One-fifth of the city’s population was left instantly homeless. The destruction unleashed by those two tectonic plates depicts what happens when a Christian bonds unequally with a non-Christian. Two people committed to each other but going in different directions can only lead to trouble.
Thesis: This morning let’s talk about being unequally yoked.
For instances:
1. What is a yoke? Vs. 14
We don’t see yokes today. A yoke is a crossbar with two U- shaped pieces that encircle the necks of a pair of oxen, mules, or other work animals that force them to work together as a team. Commonly a yoke was put in front of a plow and two animals were forced to run the plow (furrow) through the ground.
2. What does it mean to be yoked together? Vs. 14
A. Symbolically this word yoked is used to mean to couple two beings together, much like two oxen are forced to work together within an actual yoke.
B. This yoked together means relationships, partnerships and unions. More specifically:
1. Refers to having close friendships.
2. Refers to business partnerships
C. This verse is most closely talking about the marriage relationship. A husband and wife are yoked together by:
1. The laws of man.
2. Creation- (Gen 2:24 NIV) For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
3. God- (Mat 19:6 NIV) So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."
D. A husband and wife are contracted to stay together for the rest of their lives. (Rom 7:2 NIV) by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.
E. In a way, the husband and wife should be working together like a unified team of oxen in a yoke. A picture of a couple going through this life.
3. Yoked together with unbelievers- Vs. 14
A. Notice what the Bible is not concerned about:
1. Political ideals
2. Rich vs. poor
3. Social standings or family status
4. Educational levels
5. Racial differences-
A. Hey, what about the OT. (Neh 13:25 NIV) I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said: "You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves.(Neh 13:26 NIV) Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women.(Neh 13:27 NIV) Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?"
B. Yes, the OT forbid marrying outside of the nation of Israel. But why? Look at Nehemiah 13:26.
C. No where in the NT are we forbidden from marrying outside our race. a good rule of interpretation- If the NT repeats it as binding then it is binding upon Christians. If not repeated as binding upon Christians in NT then it is not binding.
B. Notice what the Bible is concerned about. Is this person a believer in Jesus Christ!
C. I would rather have my boys marry women who are poor as dirt, be from a rough family, thankful that they graduated from high school, be from outside our race, than marry women who are not Christians. Issue with my sister when she dated an African American man.
4. Do Not Be Yoked Together with Unbelievers- vs. 14
A. It says Do Not. What does that mean? Do Not!
No missionary dating. Wonderful stories of Christians who married unbelievers and through God’s grace that unbelieving mate was saved. Lead their mate to Jesus!
B. (1 Cor 7:16 NIV) How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
C. For every great testimony there are several who say, “It was the worst mistake of my life!”
E. Why? What is so bad about marrying an unbeliever? He treats me so well and he/ she is so beautiful. He can give me the desires of my heart and then some! Just because we do not share this one thing in common?
F. Verse give us 5 why’s? Read 5 questions from vs. 14-16.
G. What is different between believers and unbelievers?
1. Motivations- Christian (2 Cor 5:9 NIV) So we make it our goal to please him (God) Unbeliever (Rom 15:1 NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2. Goals- Christian vs. unbeliever- (Phil 2:3 NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
3. Different destinations- Unbeliever (2 Cor 11:15 NIV) Their end will be what their actions deserve. Christians (1 Pet 1:9 NIV) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
H. Mixed marriages (in the Biblical sense) like this, cause problems. Marriages like this are oil and vinegar, they just do not mix. Our world views are different. Our morals are different. Our lifestyles are different. At the worst, the non-Christian will tear down the Christian.
I. (Deu 22:10 NIV) Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. Is this verse just for dumb farmers? Most farmers know that this is stupid. Eventually the ox and the donkey will injure each other in a yoke. No, this is written for us and it is talking about our relationships.
5. How do I know if this person is an unbeliever? Vs. 14- This is a difficult question.
3 tests this morning
1. Externals
A. Is this person baptized?
B. Does this person attend regularly?
C. Does this person give of themselves to church?
D. This test is okay but it is quite lacking. I had a roommate that I had to kick out. He passed this test but once the police showed up and filled me in on several things… Have to have another test!
2. Attitude
A. Is their Christianity a duty or a delight? (Psa 122:1 NIV) I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
B. When their faith is tested, what do they do? When their faith becomes inconvenient, what do they do? (1 Pet 4:1 NIV) Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
3. Fruit- (Mat 7:16 NIV) By their fruit you will recognize them.
6. What do I do if yoked together with an unbeliever?
A. (1 Cor 7:12 NIV) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.(1 Cor 7:13 NIV) And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
B. (1 Pet 3:1) Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives,(1 Pet 3:2) when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
C. In Virginia had 3 women, prayed for all three husbands… Had the joy of baptizing 2 of them into Christ
Conclusion and invitation:
A. (Exo 34:14 NIV) Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
B. (2 Cor 11:2 NIV) I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.
C. You might be greatly concerned about who your spouse is going to be. The Lord is not that concerned about this. Mainly he is concerned that you love Him and pledge your all to him and that you are saved from your sins.
D. I had given up on dating and marriage. I began to work upon my relationship with the Lord. Guess what, he provided me with a wonderful Christian woman but not until I realized that the most important thing was my faith.
E. (Mat 11:28 NIV) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.(Mat 11:29 NIV) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.(Mat 11:30 NIV) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
