Are you willing to appear as a fool in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
Who is the main author of the book of your life?
So finally we get to question 3: Are you willing to be differentiated from the world in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
The problem with the Corinthians was that they were connecting themselves to men who operated with the world’s values, were probably not believers, and were actually agents of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ).
14 – 18
Interestingly, there is some thought that this section is actually quoting an early Christian or even Jewish sermon. Part of the quotation is from several Old Testament scriptures including Isaiah 52:11 , and Ezekiel 20:34 . The main point is that if you want to be reconciled to God, you need to be willing to let go of partnerships in the world that would pull you away from that relationship.
In verses 14 through 16 Paul gives us 5 opposites to show the differences and the dangers of partnering between the believer and a non-believer.
Partnership righteousness and lawlessness
The word: partnering means “a sharing in.” It is sometimes translated “fellowship” but it doesn’t mean that we should never have anything to do with non-Christians, it is a warning about becoming connected as partners.
Fellowship of light and darkness:
“Fellowship” here is the Greek koinonia. It suggests “intimacy” as much as “connection.” Jesus used the idea of light vs. darkness to denote the differences between someone who wants and seeks out a relationship with God and to have the evil in them purged:
John 3:19-21 "This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."
To connect with someone who has no desire to come to the light and see evil done away with is going to be like the opposite poles of a magnet, they will repel each other. It’s hard to connect to opposites. Good (through the goodness of Jesus) and evil (through the default human condition) will repel each other so why should they constantly be trying to connect together?
Agreement Christ & Belial
The word “agreement” means just that—to be in agreement. We get the English word “symphony” from this Greek word. Belial was a word used by the Jews in the 1st Century to mean “The Devil” and comes from a word that means “lawlessness”. Our human default position is ownership by Satan. Satan will do anything God allows to keep us from believing in Jesus. His doctrine is diametrically opposed to that of Jesus. The gospel says “you are evil and need a Savior and I am it.” Satan says “you are good and need to do nothing other than look out for number one.” In reality that is a lie. But you can see the fundamental difference. The two are mutually exclusive.
Believer and unbeliever have in common
The word “in common” basically means a dividing, a cleaving asunder. When we come to faith in Jesus we part ways with the flesh (though it still influences us). We are from a different country with a different King.
Agreement God’s sanctuary with idols
The word “agreement” here is the Greek word “deposition” but basically is a “statement of agreement”. The Corinthians had continuing problems with the idol temples, and sacrifices made in those temples. For us, we can no longer agree with the sort of fleshly stuff done by those who still belong to this age. As we’ll see in a second, you now represent God’s abiding presence here on earth.
So the thoughts here are that as a Christian we no longer agree with, share in, have intimacy with, speak positively about, or adhere to the values that belong to this age.
Does this mean that we cloister ourselves inside the walls of the church and not even talk to “unbelievers” – certainly not.
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 by no means referring to this world's immoral people, or to the greedy and swindlers, or to idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.
Other versions use the word “yoke” in verse 14. The word means “to yoke up differently.” Deuteronomy 22:10-11 says: “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey together.” There are two problems with doing that. 1) The ox and donkey have different physical makeup and different behaviors. The ox is used to pulling heavy loads and plowing—the donkey used to carrying loads but not very obediently! 2) The ox was a clean animal and the donkey was not (Deut 14:1-8 ).
So just like a donkey is going to drag an ox around and mess up the fields, so too a person who has not been regenerated by the blood of Christ is going to yank a Christian towards behaving like this age instead of with the character of Christ.
This really goes to all areas of life. It isn’t a good idea for a Christian to marry a non-Christian. It happens, but it is more difficult, especially if the non-Christian is antagonistic towards Christianity. It isn’t a good idea to go into a business partnership with unbelievers since the morals of the non-Christian may lead them to do things that a Christian simply would not want to do, yet you are tied together. Even close friendships can put you at risk of being unequally yoked.
If any partnership forces you to do things that do not reflect the character of God, then avoid those entanglements if you can.
But here’s what happens. In order to be accepted by others we make alliances with the flesh and the world. We don’t want to risk being ridiculed for our differences.
Now I’m not saying to be a jerk about your relationship with Jesus—putting yourself over others as morally superior. I’m saying that you should allow the fruits of the Holy Spirit to be evident (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, etc) and avoid situations where you no longer have a choice to act that way.
Even as Paul already wrote to the Corinthians: (1 Cor 15:33 ) “Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
So what happens if you are already in such a partnership? Paul advises to make the best of it by being a godly example in an ungodly partnership (1 Corinthians 7:12-16 ). But we are far smarter if don’t get into these entanglements in the first place.
You can see by verses 16b through 18 the different nature of a person who belongs to God. The Jews were supposed to be an example of what a relationship with God was like. Notice it all involves relationships. God dwelling among us is the end goal—which we won’t see fully realized until the new heavens in Revelation 21 . Now, it is the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us. “I will be a Father to you” He says. But it means parting from other relationships. We are to be “separate” and untouched by the world.
Jesus said “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16 ). We need to be aware of the influences of the world but “unmixed” (which is what innocent means) with them.
7:1
Paul is saying that since God has made a way to make us His people, dwell among us, and put His Spirit inside of us, we should put away the evil that we have done and are continually enticed to do by the world—and work towards that transformation of character (“sanctification”). He isn’t advocating perfectionism or legalism. The phrase “making our sanctification complete” has the idea of becoming mature—growing in your faith, knowledge and availability and openness to God changing you.
Conclusions
Question 3: Are you willing to be differentiated from the world in order to be used more effectively by the Lord?
Watch out for alliances with the world
In 2 Chronicles 18 there is a story that illustrates this well. It’s the story of Ahab, the evil king of Israel, Jehoshaphat—relatively good king of Judah, and Micaiah, a prophet. Ahab tried to manipulate Jehoshaphat into going into battle with him. Judah’s king should have known that he would be partnering with someone who would draw him away from obeying Yahweh. He agreed and nearly lost his life. Later another prophet called him on the carpet for his actions.
In the process of this manipulation, all the prophets of Ahab told the king to go up—that he’d be victorious. One prophet dared to be different, even though he was pressured by the other 400 prophets to go along. It ended up getting him thrown into prison but he was right.
Secondly, Jehoshaphat married his son Jehoram to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah. Because of that marriage partnership, Jehoram killed all of his brothers and nephews to make sure he had no rival and followed the ways of Ahab, against the Lord. Later, when her son King Ahaziah died, Athaliah tried to kill all of his sons, wiping out the blood line of David and the Messiah. The effects of partnership go beyond just us and even our generation.
The good news is that even when we blow it, God is good. Athaliah didn’t get to all of the descendants of David. Because of a godly partnership between the High Priest Jehoiada and his wife Jehoshabeath, little one year old Joash was saved and later went on to become king – and a mostly good king.
Romans 8:28-29 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
So—beware of partnerships with those who would drag you to do things Jesus wouldn’t do. In fact, picture whether Jesus would also sign up to be part of the arrangement—that might give you a good feeling for whether it is a good or bad idea!
