2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 | Be Ye Separate
We are in 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 and we are continuing through verse by verse. We will be looking at verses 14 through 18 tonight. This is a passage of scripture that was once a very well-known passage of scripture, often referenced, often quoted and often preached passage of scripture. In these recent days, these has become a very forsaken passage of scripture which is not often read or quoted or preached. This passage is the quintessential biblical passage or biblical scripture on what we would call the doctrine of separation.
Look at 2nd Corinthians 6:14 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And 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. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”. If you’re a member of Verity Baptist Church, you’ve heard this passed read and preaching a lot. It’s not preached in the average church in America today.
By way of introduction, let us go to 1st Peter 1 also. Although 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18 is the quintessential passage on separation, it is not the only passage on separation. When we talk about separation or the doctrine of separation, separation is tied and related and correlated with the idea of sanctification and with the idea of holiness. Sanctification and holiness mean the same thing. They are also connected to this idea of separation. The reason for that is because the word holy or sanctify or sanctification is defined as something that is actually set apart. So when we talk about separation, we’re talking about setting something apart for the purpose of holiness.
1st Peter 1:15 “15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;”. Here the Bible is telling us that we should be holy because God is holy. The word conversation is just an older word that means conduct or lifestyle. The Bible says that because God is holy, he has also called us to be holy in our conversation or lifestyle or the way we live. This relates to the things we do, the things we watch, the things we listen to, how we dress, our entertainment and many other areas. 1st Peter 1:16 “16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”.
What’s the big deal about holiness, sanctification or separation? You need to understand that these things are connected. Remember, to be holy means to be set apart or to be sanctified. A big deal about holiness is that God is holy and in order for us to draw nigh to him, we also have to be holy. We cannot come to him in wickedness and sinfulness. So because God is holy, he commands for us to be holy that we might draw close to him. It’s not a negative thing. It’s a positive thing. God wants us to be holy so we can draw close to him.
Let me just make something clear. When we’re talking about separation, separation is not about removing yourself physically from the world. Separation is about moving yourself in your conduct, in your lifestyle from the world. In fact, the Bible speaks against the idea of us separating ourselves from the world. I realize this can upset all of these preppers and conversative Christians who want to live in the middle of nowhere away from everyone. Let us see what the Bible says though.
John 17:14 “14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”. Jesus says that the world hates my followers for 2 reasons. We believe the word of God and they hate us because we are not of the world. Notice verse 15 “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”. We are listening in on Jesus having a conversation with the Father and he says that he is not praying for them to live in some land away from everyone like the Amish do. He is praying that they are kept from the evil. Evil is separation. Jesus says that he wants them to be spiritually separated.
Why would God not want us separated from people? Maybe something called the Great Commission. We are supposed to reach people with the gospel. Verse 16 “16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”. Separation is not about being taken out of the world. Separation is about living a separated, peculiar life while ministering in this world. It’s about living a life that allows us to be close to God, that allows us to draw nigh to God, that allows us to live holy and set apart and unworldly lives while living and ministering and working in the world.
The term “not of this world” has become a theme with the worldliest Christians. In today’s world, most mega Churches look like a rock concert. The Pastor wears skinny jeans. They have a rock band up here. They are wearing t-shirts that say “not of this world” while acting like the world. They think that they need to be like the world in order to reach the world. We’ve got Christians who claim that they’re not of this world yet they’re living the most worldly way they could possibly live. The idea of separation is that we should like spiritually separated from the world through our lifestyle.
Tonight I want to give you 3 thoughts in regards to biblical separation. 3 basics on separation taken here from this passage. I know I preach on this a lot but I think we can hear this preached too much. It’s good to be reminded and taught these things over and over. It’s good to teach them to your children and new converts. Let me just give you 3 statements on separation found from this passage. First, let’s look at the principles of separation. There are some guiding principles in regards to separation and why it is that God wants us to live separated lives. Why does God want us to be holy? Because he is holy. The apostle Paul in this passage gives us this list. I’m not going to preach through the list but you cannot unite holy with unholy.
2nd Corinthians 6:14 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”. Fellowship means a friendly relationship like a friend. “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness”. Here’s what Paul says. You can’t unite righteousness and unrighteousness. They’re the exact opposite. There’s no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness. Communion means association or relationship. You can’t unite light and darkness.
Verse 15 “15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? Concord means agreement or harmony. The word Belial is a name for the Devil. What harmony do Christ and the Devil have? The word “part” means portion or peace hath he that believeth with an infidel. Are you seeing these are contrasts. “Infidel” is an unbeliever. He is stating what does a person who does believe have to do with someone who does not believe? What do they have in common? What agreement do they have? Verse 16 “16 And 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.”. Paul is teaching that you can’t unite the temple of God with idols. Those are exact opposites. Christ and Belial are opposites. You can’t unite holiness with unholiness.
Haggai 2:11 “11 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,”. Here Haggai is asking a Priest a theological question about the Law of God and theology. Verse 12 “12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.”. This is a hypothetical of a Priest carrying something holy and then his clothing touches something unholy or unclean. This is not bread or pottage or wine or oil or meat that is set apart. This is just ordinary, non-separated food. The answer is “No”.
Notice verse 13 “13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Once again, the idea being expressed is that if something unclean touches something then it also becomes unclean. The clean becomes unclean. The unclean does not become clean when they come in contact. The idea is this “holy plus unholy” equals unholy. If you take a person who’s sick and put them in the same room as someone who’s healthy, the sick person doesn’t catch the healthy person’s health. The healthy person catches the sick person’s sickness. If you take dirty and or muddy clothes and throw them in with a freshly laundered basket of clothes, the dirty clothes do not become clean because they came in contact with clean clothes. The clean clothes become dirty because they came in contact with dirty clothes.
See, holy plus unholy equals unholy. If you have holy flesh but you touch something that is not holy like bread or pottage or wine or oil or me, he says it shall be unholy. If I’m unclean and I touch something that is common, will it be unclean? The answer is yes. Here’s why. Because holy plus unholy equals unholy. The principle of separation is that God is holy and God wants to have a relationship with you and draw close to you and be near you and draw near you. Since he is holy, he needs you and I to be holy. When you and I are in the presence of that which is unholy, we become unholy because holy plus unholy equals unholy. This is why we have separation. Separation enables sanctification. The principle of separation is that as we draw away from that which is unholy, we can draw close to that which is holy.
Notice the application in Haggai 2:14. “14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.”. Haggai is using this example to explain that this nation is the same way. God’s people are unholy because they are in contact with that which is unholy. Job said it this way “who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.”. So I want you to notice the principle of separation. You cannot unite holy with unholy because holy plus unholy equals unholy. You never have holy plus unholy equal holy.
Firstly we saw the principles of separation. Secondly I want you to notice the purpose of separation. Whenever I teach on the subject of separation, I always want to make this point and I try to do my best to make sure I explain this. As Independent, Fundamental, King James Only, Soul Winning, Old-fashioned Baptists, we often focus on separation from the world. We are separated from the world and from sin.
2nd Corinthians 6:14 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”. That term “yoke” is this agricultural idea where you would take 2 beasts of burden like 2 oxen and yoke them together. A yoke is simply just a piece of wood that you put across their necks and tie together. When you have these beasts pushing together or pulling together, they can accomplish more together then they can alone. That’s a principle called synergy. We can accomplish more together. By the way, all of us can accomplish more working together to spread the gospel than we can but worked by ourselves. God wants us to be yoked up not only with Jesus but with other believers.
Here we are told not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Why? If you are yoked up with someone, you better be going in the same direction. The problem with a believer and unbeliever is the course they are on. Not all unbelievers are Satan worshippers but they are still going down the course of this world which is laid by the Devil. Do you realize that unbelievers are just doing whatever the world tells them? Put on a mask. Take this vaccine. Jump here. They do whatever the media and music and sports tell them to do. That’s what unbelievers are doing. Unfortunately many believers are doing the same. What believers are doing, at least hopefully is following Jesus. They’re doing what God has called them to do. If that is the case then you are not going in the same directions as unbelievers. You have people going in opposite directions so how can they yoke up together?
Now we usually apply this verse to marriage and I think it should be applied in that way. The Bible teaches young people that they should not marry an unbeliever. If you are already married and your spouse is unsaved then you should stay married and pray for them to get saved and give them the gospel. However, if you are a young person that is unmarried, the Bible teaches you not to marry an unbeliever. Let me just take it a step further. When you are ready to get married, don’t just marry a believer but marry someone who is your equal in the Lord. If you are a young lady that is going soulwinning and coming to Church and read the Bible then don’t marry some guy who is saved but not living godly. I would encourage you to be careful about being unequally yoked together with some lame Christian.
We usually apply this verse to marriage and it’s a great application but this is not just talking about marriage. This is just in general life. We need to be careful with who we yoke ourselves up with. Because what concord hath Christ with Belial and what fellowship hath light with darkness. There are some things that just cannot mix. He says be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. What he’s saying is that there are some people that you shouldn’t be friends with. Now I didn’t say that you shouldn’t be friendly. You should be friendly at work and with your co-workers and try to invest in them and give them the gospel. However, there are some people that you should not find yoking yourself up with. There are some relationships that you need to just walk away. I’m not talking about in marriage. You never walk away from marriage until death do us part.
He gave us all of those illustrations in verses 14-16 but notice verse 17. “17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”. Why don’t you want me to touch the unclean thing? We learned in Haggai that when you touch the unclean thing it becomes unclean. Why does God want us to live a separated life? He wants us to be separated from the world. You can’t just separate physically like the Amish do. Separation has 2 parts. Separated from the world and separated unto God. The problem with religions like the Amish is they separate from the world but not unto God.
2nd Corinthians 6:16 “16 And 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. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”. See, it’s not good enough to be separated from the world. You need to be separated unto God. You need to be separated, sanctified, set apart unto God that he may dwell in us and walk in us and be our people. Here’s what you need to understand. Our relationship with God pivots on our separation from the world. You cannot get close to God while you are close to the world. The Bible teaches this concept in James 4:4.
James 4:4 “4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”. The word “enmity” is the same word as enemy or to be at odds with someone. You can’t be friends with the world and friends with God. You will be the enemy of God if you yoke up with the world. That’s why we need separation.
James 4:8 “8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”. See, it’s through cleansing and purification that we can draw nigh to God and be close to God. I’m not talking about salvation. If you believe on Jesus then you are saved, period. It doesn’t matter how holy or unholy you live. You will become holy at the rapture. I’m talking about your walk with God. It is dependent on how close you are to God which is dependent on how holy of a life that you live. The creator of the Universe wants to draw close to you. How do you do this? Cleansing your hands and purifying your hearts.
1st John 1:5 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”. See, you can’t walk with God and walk in darkness. Why? Because God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If you want to walk with God, you need to walk in light. The Bible says that men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. The point is that you can be saved and worldly but you can’t be close to God and draw nigh to God. You can’t have a real relationship with God while living a worldly life.
We saw the principles of separation. We saw the purpose of separation. Let me quickly talk to you about the practice of separation. What does separation look like? How does this work? Again, it’s not all negative. It’s positive. It’s from the world but unto God. We struggle with the most negative part of it which is from the world. When it comes to separation practically speaking, what is the practice? What does it look like? There’s two things I want you to remember. One is that we must deny the world. Again I’m not talking about going out and living in the middle of nowhere. Denying the world is denying the influences and philosophies and the ideas of the world.
1st John 2:15 “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.”. If you love the world, you don’t love God. If you are a friend of the world, you are the enemy of God. What is in the world? It doesn’t take much to figure that out. The world is full of the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. That’s it. That’s all the world has. If you go on social media and see what the average person posts, it’s all about the lusts of the flesh and eyes and pride of life. Same thing that the tv promotes and music and Hollywood and the radio. This is all the world has to offer. The Bible says “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.”.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”. By the way, it’s your reasonable service to serve God. I’m glad you are here on a Wednesday night but let me just be honest with you. God expects you to be here. It is your reasonable service. You are just a servant fulfilling your duty. Romans 12:2 “2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”. The word conform means to be patterned after. It’s not that complicated. See, a worldly Christian patterns themselves after the world. If you look at what the world does, what the world watches, what the world listens to, what the world wears and you do the same, you are conformed to the world. You are a worldly Christian.
Notice the contrast in Romans 12:2 “2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”. We are to be transformed. You can’t be transformed while you are conformed. It’s called separation. Denying the world means to deny the world’s influences, concepts, ideas, motivations and it may also mean friendships. Amos said “can two walk together except they be agreed”?. The practice of separation is that we deny the world.
Not only do we deny the world but we must deny our will. Our will wants the world. 2nd 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.”. I love that little phrase “perfecting holiness”. Don’t misunderstand it. The word perfect in our Bible doesn’t mean flawless or without error. It means complete or whole. It means being mature.
Titus 2:11 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”. Don’t you like that verse? We are saved by grace through faith. As Baptists, we go out soulwinning and we preach the gospel and we love spreading the message. It is a gift, not of works. Worldly Christians also like Titus 2:11. They like the fact that they are saved by grace and can do whatever they want and go to heaven. The Bible calls the attitude of just choosing to live sinful because we are saved by grace as “turning grace into lasciviousness”. That means that they teach grace to this hyper level. That is not biblical. Look at the context in Titus 2.
Titus 2:12 “12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”. The same grace that brings salvations and says we are saved not by works and it’s not earned teaches us that we should deny ungodliness. We should deny worldly lusts. We should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. The grace that saves you teaches you to be separated unto God. Why? Because if God send his Son to die on the cross for your sins, don’t you want to please him? Don’t you want to draw close to him? All of these terms in Titus 2:12 are linked to living a separated life. We can’t just physically separate from everyone because God has called us to reach people.
We’ve been talking about separation tonight. We talked about the principles of separation. What are they? You cannot unite holy with unholy. Why? Because holy plus unholy equals unholy. Clean plus dirty equals dirty. The dirty thing will only make the clean thing dirty. God wants us to live separated because he’s holy and he wants us to draw close to him. Then we talked about the purpose of separation. What is it? It’s from the world but it’s unto God. It has a purpose that we might draw nigh to God. Then we saw the practice of separation. To deny the world and to deny our will.
I want you to notice this passage in 2nd Corinthians 6 because I want you to see the last verse. 2nd Corinthians 6:14 “14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And 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. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”.
Now look at verse 18 “18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”. It’s true that when you get saved that God is your father. However, what God is saying is that just because someone gives birth to you doesn’t mean that they have a relationship with you. God wants to not only beget you but have a relationship with you. He wants you to draw nigh. You can’t do that while being unequally yoked together with unbelievers. You can’t do that until you come out from among them and be separate saith the Lord. He said I can’t receive you unless you are holy. “Be ye holy for I am holy.”.
Let’s pray.