If I were to preach a message about separation and the need to keep ourselves unspotted by the sin and decay all around us, there are certain verses I would use.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? /////For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” (2 powerpoints)
1 John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world.” (powerpoint)
Ephesians 5:11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (powerpoint)
I have, in the past, used a verse such as 1 Corinthians 3:16 to emphasize the fact that we belong to God and ought to honor Him as a result
1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (powerpoint)
The concept of separation here is true, but we need to be careful to keep Scripture within the context that was intended by the author. In this case, this verse is within the context of the works we do as followers of Jesus Christ. The apostle resumes here what he had previously stated in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15
***** 1 Corinthians 3:9-16
The illustration of a temple is used by Paul in verse 16 due to the fact that God, in the Old Testament, dwelt by way of a visible symbol - "the Shechinah" - in the temple. As He dwelt among the Jews; He had there a temple-a dwelling place, so He also dwells among Christians. They are His temple, the place of His abode. His residence is with them; and He is in their midst.
The figure given here is a beautiful one, and very impressive. A temple was an edifice erected to the service of God. The temple at Jerusalem was not only the most magnificent building, but was regarded as the most sacred.
Among the pagans, temples were also regarded as sacred. They were supposed to be inhabited by the divinity to whom they were dedicated. It was a crime of the highest degree to violate, or cause harm to a temple. So the apostle says of this Christian community. They were regarded as His temple-God dwelt among them-and they should regard themselves as holy, and as consecrated to His service. And so it is regarded as sacrilegious to violate the temple, and to devote it to other uses.
This is what leads to the warning the apostle Paul gives in verse 17.
1 Corinthians 3:17 – “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (powerpoint)
Some commentators say this refers to false teachers in the church. Yet, up until this point in the letter, Paul has not referred to false teachers. This verse seems to be a warning to those who would seek to harm God’s children. We are reminded of Jesus warning:
Matthew 18:6-7 – “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (powerpoint)
However, it may also be a warning to believers that God will not allow us to bring shame to His holy name or to His temple, without consequences.
Hebrews 12:6 – “For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (powerpoint)
We find an even stronger warning given to believers in the Communion chapter of 1 Corinthians 11:
1 Corinthians 11:29-30 – “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” (powerpoint)
Paul comes to the point in his letter where he stresses to the readers that, if they want to glorify God in this temple He has given to them, they need to have a proper perspective on things. The first thing we need to do as believers is to have a proper view of ourselves.
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 – “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (powerpoint)
Let’s not forget that Paul has mentioned several times in this letter his concern over the lack of unity that is evident in the church at Corinth. How much more unified, focused, and effective would our churches be if we were all a little more humble?
We have attributed much value in our culture to educational success. In most cases this is understandable. However, we have almost created two more classes of people. It used to be we would think of three classes of individuals: Upper class, middle class, and lower class. These are generally categorized by the amount of money a person or family makes. It seems recently that we have added two additional classes: The educated and the uneducated.
For many, there is a certain amount of pride in educational achievements. The more degrees and letters we have after our name the more important we have a tendency to think we are. Consequently, we consider ourselves wiser with the more of the world’s wisdom we gather. Notice Paul uses the word “seems” in verse eighteen. It comes from the Greek word,
dokeo (dok-eh'-o). It implies this idea-if anyone seems, or is supposed to be a man of wisdom; if this is his reputation; and if he seeks that this should be his reputation among people.
To these people, it is better that they become foolish in this belief so that they can become wise in things that are more important. That is, the spiritual side of life.
The Dutch judge and theologian Hugos Grotius states verse eighteen this way, “See that you do not attribute too much to your wisdom and learning, by resting on it, and thus deceive your own selves” (powerpoint)
Paul is stating in this passage that the world’s wisdom, without God, is to be considered foolishness when it comes to its eternal value. Paul is in no way devaluing wisdom in the areas of business, law, medicine, engineering, the sciences, or any other field.
Where human wisdom becomes foolish and useless is in matters concerning God, salvation, and spiritual truth. Paul discussed at length near the end of chapter one and reiterates here that human wisdom has no way of discovering and understanding divine things. This wisdom comes to us only from God.
Paul stated at the beginning of this study in Corinthians that one of the unifying forces in the church is unity under the authority of the word of God. This is where God’s wisdom is revealed to each of us. Unfortunately, there are times when the pastor or others in a local church determine that their own wisdom, interposed on the word of God, takes priority over the clear teachings of scripture.
This is not always intentional, but it does arise when the Bible is being neglected in the pulpit or in the pews.
1 Corinthians 3:19 states that, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” Paul has stated this thought already in this letter so I don’t want to belabor the point. It is, however, interesting to see that Paul is not the only one to note how a false delusion of our own wisdom hinders us from truly becoming wise in any area of life.
The Roman rhetorician Quintilian stated the following about some of his students, “They would doubtlessly have become excellent scholars if they had not been so fully persuaded of their own scholarship.” (powerpoint)
There is an old Persian proverb which we might be able to apply as it relates to our wisdom in regard to the word of God. “He who knows not and knows not he knows not: he is a fool - shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not: he is simple - teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows: he is asleep - wake him. He who knows and knows he knows: he is wise - follow him.” (powerpoint)
When we trust in our own wisdom in this life eventually we are trapped by the consequences of trusting in it. I’m sure I am not the only one in this church who has trusted in my own wisdom and reaped results which were not the best for me, and sometimes for my family.
God knows all our thoughts. He knows when our wisdom is from Him or if we are depending upon ourselves. God give us the wisdom to know the difference.
So it is important that we have a proper view of ourselves. Secondly, we need to have a proper view of others.
1 Corinthians 3:21, 22a – “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas” (powerpoint)
This is the third time that Paul mentions these three individuals: Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. You find them mentioned in 1:12 and 3:5, but now the emphasis has changed. In the first two passages Paul was emphasizing that there were those who were following these men and placed such an emphasis on them that it was causing divisions in the church.
Here, Paul is stressing that these gifted leaders, called and equipped by God, were for the entire church to benefit from. Because they were sent from the Lord, they were to be listened to and respected as long as they stayed true to the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” (powerpoint)
The writer of Hebrews states that this is important because of the tremendous pressure and responsibility that God has placed upon those He has called to shepherd a local church.
Hebrews 13:7 – “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” (powerpoint)
Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account” (powerpoint)
Paul tells the believers in Corinth that, [For all things are yours] This is one of the reasons why they should not arrange themselves in parties or factions under different leaders. Paul specifies what he means by "all things" in the following verses.
The sense is, that since those in the church were common partakers of the benefits of the talents and labors of the apostles; and as they belonged to Christ, and all to God, it was improper to be split up into factions, as if they derived any special benefit; from one set of persons, or one set of objects. In Paul, in Apollos, or in Cephas they had a common interest, and no one should boast that he had any special right to any of these individuals.
The leadership of Paul, Alpollos, and Cephas should have strengthened and united the church, not divided it.
We need a proper view of ourselves, a proper view of others, and, thirdly, we need to have a proper view of our possessions.
1 Corinthians 3:21-22 – “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come -- all are yours.” (powerpoint)
Everything we have, or will ever have is a result of God’s grace in our lives. You may have worked hard to achieve things, and that is a noble and Biblical quality to have, but God has chosen to reward you for this. We still have nothing unless God chooses it to be so. Material possessions, health, salvation, the promise of heaven. Whatever you can think of is a result of God’s goodness to you.
2 Corinthians 4:15 – “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” (powerpoint)
A proper view of self, of others, and of our possessions. Yet we will close with the final point that we, as individuals, need to realize: We need to have a proper view of our possessor.
1 Corinthians 3:23 – “And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” (powerpoint)
When we come to Christ by faith we are to give control of our lives over to Him. That is what God intends - dare I say demands - when we become a Christian. Jesus is both our Savior and our Lord. This means we are expected to give Him control in our lives. At this point, to live for Christ is to die to self.
Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (powerpoint)
Our choices need to be aligned with scripture. If it is contrary to what the Bible says then we must, by faith, choose God’s wisdom over our own. He does, after all, know what’s best for us. If we don’t know, then we must look to the word of God for our answers.
2 Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (powerpoint)
The writer of one commentary puts it this way, “You belong to Christ; and he to God. You are bound therefore, not to devote yourselves to a man, whoever he may be, but to Christ, and to the service of that one true God, in whose service even Christ was employed. And as Christ sought to promote the glory of his Father, so should you in all things.”
We ought not to glory in our own wisdom but instead to God’s. He is the one who gave us life, and He is the one who offers us eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord.” (powerpoint)
PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
