Last week I left the believers with the realization that they are in danger of departing from the faith if they are unwilling to cleanse themselves from all that displeases God and separate themselves completely from the world. This week, I would to talk about this separation from the world for the believers.
The concept of separation from all evil is fundamental to God’s relationship with His people. According to the bible, separation involves:
a)Separating yourself morally and spiritually from sin and from everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ, righteousness, and the word of God.
b)Drawing near to God in a close and intimate fellowship through dedication, worship, and service unto Him. Separation in this twofold sense results in a relationship where God is our heavenly Father who abides with us and is our God, and we in turn are His sons and daughters.
( II Corinthians 6:16-18 ) “…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.”
In the Old Testament, separation was a continual requirement of God for His people. They were expected to be different, holy, and separated from all other peoples in order to belong to God as His very own.
( Deuteronomy 14:2 ) " For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. "
In the New Testament, God commanded separation of the believer from:
a)the corrupt world system and unholy compromise.
( James 1:27 ) " Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. "
b)From those in the church who sin and refuse to repent.
( I Corinthians 5:9-11 ) " 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 them must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such as one no not to eat. "
c)From false teachers, churches, or cults who teach theological error and deny Biblical truths.
( II John 10-11 ) " If there come any umto 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. "
Our attitude in separation must be one of:
a)hatred toward sin, unrighteousness, and the corrupt world system.
( I John 2:15 ) " Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. "
b)opposition toward false doctrine.
( Galatians 1:9 ) " As we said before, so say I now again, if any man teach any other gospel unto you than that ye have recieved, let him be accursed."
c)genuine love toward those from whom we must separate.
( Galatians 6:1 ) " Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such as one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. "
d) and a fear of God as they perfect holiness.
( II Corinthians 7:1 ) " 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. "
The purpose of separation is that we as God’s people might persevere in:
a) salvation,
( I Timothy 4:16 ) " Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. "
b) faith,
( I Timothy 6:20-21 ) " O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings , and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. "
c) holiness,
( II Corinthians 7:1 )( recited above )
d)live wholly for God as our Lord and Father,
( Matthew 22:37 ) "…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. "
e)and convince the unbelieving world of the truth and blessing of the gospel.
( Philippians 2:15 ) "…be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. "
If we separate ourselves properly, God Himself rewards us by drawing near with His protection, blessing, and fatherly care. He promises to be everything that a good Father should be. He will be our counselor and guide. He will love and cherish us as His own children.
( II Corinthians 6:16-18 ) ( recited above )
The refusal of believers to separate themselves from evil, the false, and the unclean, will inevitably result in the loss of their fellowship with God, of their acceptance by the Father, and of their privileges of being children of God.
( I John 1:6-7 ) " If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. "
MARANATHA