2 Corinthians 6:11-18 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 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." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
How open is your heart? Open towards the truth, error, rebuke and correction?
Paul warns the Christians Corinth that their hearts are restricted (not open) only by their own affections (tender to or tenderness). They had become tender to the world and hardened to the word.
Affect: to have an influence on or effect a change
Effect: something brought about by a cause or an agent; a result
What "affection" is having an "effect" on your life at the moment?
Salvation has an "affect" on those who believe in Christ Jesus, so as to bring about influencing "effects."
Anything other than Christ affecting us … is a digression of the relationship we are in with Him.
1. The Affected Connection Effect
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
Paul’s exhortation to not be unequally yoke stems from the field of agriculture and the law forbidding the yoking ox and donkey to plow together (Deut 22:10). Their nature is not the same. In like fashion Paul is showing that the nature between a believer and the unbeliever are different and incompatible (2 Cor 5:17).
4 absurd unequal relationships …
- right & wrong … righteous in Christ … grace, holiness, freedom -vs- sin, profane, captivity
- light & dark … opposite spectrums (darkness is the absence of light)
- Christ & Satan … opposite interests and designs
- believers & unbelievers … contrary in allegiance in life and death
Exhortation to not be connected (yoked) with the unbelieving lifestyles so as to be affected by them.
It is not a prohibition of all association with unbelievers … but when we are around them our aim should be to bring them to Christ and salvation.
Caution: make wise godly choices when entering a relationship … for there is a present danger that the bad will damage the good than hope the good will benefit the bad.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
Believers are to be yoked/connected with no one or thing other than Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Fragmented and restless living stems from forsaking the yoke of Christ.
- Solid and restful living stems from staying in the yoke with Christ.
- The affect always brings about the effects.
2. The Affected Occupation Effect
2 Corinthians 6:16 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."
What has us connected usually has us occupied.
Occupation: an activity that serves as one’s source of livelihood.
1st Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
God makes no room for idols (anything that takes the place of God) in His temple dwelling.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
We exclusively belong to God … "Operation Occupation"
- God dwells in us … to reside and remain.
- God walks among us … (perambulate) to walk about; to be occupied with.
God desires relationship …covenant in Christ.
Affected effects … God will be our God and we will be His people.
3. The Affected Separation Effect
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."
Connected and Occupied with God calls for Separation.
"The Great Come Out" (no smoke out … volitional choice)
- Called out at salvation
- Come out in sanctification (holy separation)
"Come out" … action on our part of forsaking the company and conversation of the world.
Get away from it, abstain from it and keep out of it … those and that which is infectious, harmful and detrimental to our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
James 1:27 NLT Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.
Coming out … implies a definite act on our part.
The acceptable act to God is to come out … in it we find His reception of us to be in relationship with Him … Father, Sons and daughters.
In the book by Jack Hayford, "Glory on Your House" the fourth chapter is titled, "Cleansing a Leprous House". It gives reference to Leviticus 14:33-57 where the Lord gave careful instruction to clean a house contaminated with leprosy.
At first glance we might write it off as of no effect to us in the age of grace. However I like what Hayford states, "Circumstances change, after all, but the wisdom of the Word is timeless." You and do not face the cleansing of our houses from literal leprosy as the Israelites did … but what about spiritual leprosy? Does your house stand in need of cleansing … a coming out from among them? Hayford states … "Spiritually unclean things, when give place to, do rot." He goes on to suggest several points of cleansing . . .
1. Have you compromised anywhere in your choice of friends or activities?
2. Do you maintain obedience … to parents?
3. Do you participate in any lying, dishonesty or untruthfulness?
4. Do you exercise impure joking or speech?
5. Do you sample or practice any known disobedience?
6. Have you given astrology or occult practices any place at all?
7. What about the pornographic or obscene?
All of these questions and how we answer and act upon them underscore the importance of the "Great Come Out" God has and is calling us to.
"Separation is not just a negative act of departure; it is also a positive act of dedication to God." - Wiersbe
The "Great Come Out" is a call out to dedicate and devote ourselves to God.
Conclusion:
Here we stand embarked upon the close out of another year and the opening of a new year and with each we have the distinct opportunity to begin a fresh and a new with our God. His Word is not difficult, though by our own admission we may view it as demanding … but nevertheless the blessing of full and unhindered relationship with our God awaits all who are willing to connect, occupy and separate.
What affections are effecting you?
2 Corinthians 6:11-12 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
How open is your heart?
Amen!
