Living In An Ungodly
World
Book of 2
Corinthians Chapter 6
It is for certain
that the Bible teaches separation as we learn very well in this same
chapter:
2Co 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
If we understand
this as isolation then we have not understood what God has said.
We are not to
loiterers in this world, because we are to be laborers in this world.
The Bible says we
are to be as husbandmen, builders, soldiers, fishermen, ambassadors!
The ministry of the
"Gospel" of Jesus Christ is not always easy work!
God started with
One, His Son Christ Jesus but now we as believers are all in this
thing together with Him!
We are never to live
separate to the people of this world, but are certainly to live
separate from the sin of this world!
*****2Co 6:1
We then, "as workers together with him", beseech you also
that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
The message of the
"Gospel" can be unbelievable to those who are blinded by
Satan's lies but this message sent from Heaven is a glorious message
and the only message that can save a lost sinner or an unbeliever!
Our Pastor, along
with every "Born Again" child of God are not only to be
"Ambassadors" for Christ but we are to be "workers
together with him"!
What are we to
understand by the "Grace of God"?
1) The "Gospel"
is free in every sense of the word free, but it was not free to God
for, God paid a high price to offer this freedom to us all.
Remember Grace is
"God's Riches At Christ's Expense"!
2) The "Gospel
Truth", is an offer of freedom, "free, full, and
everlasting salvation", to whosoever believes in the saving work
of Christ Jesus.
The "Gospel"
is received in vain if you accept it only as "doctrine".
The "Gospel"
is received in vain if you accept it only as a "system of duty".
The "Gospel"
is received in vain if you accept it in " theory only".
The "Gospel"
is received in vain if you make it "inconsistent" with
"God's intent for a personal relationship.
When the "Gospel"
has been accepted in vain then the Lord Jesus Christ died in vain and
salvation is meaningless and non-existing!
Col 2:8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ.
Col 2:9 For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
When the "Gospel"
is not honored, then Christ Jesus is made to have died in vain!
Gal 2:21 I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain.
If righteousness
could come from anything in this world then Jesus Christ died in vain
and the "Gospel" is of no importance and "God's Grace"
does not exist!
Remember "Grace"
is the "undeserved favor of God"!
The truth is, the
reality of this world is, than the life of anyone of us could be
snatched away at any moment, so the "Gospel" is more
important today and at this very moment, for the past is gone!
*****2Co 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day
of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
At the day of our
death and we have not accepted the "Gospel" message, then
the Lord Jesus Christ died in vain for that person!
The truth is,
everyone one of us have until this day of our natural death, in our
future or in the very next moment, for we cannot know when death will
come.
We must enter into
the New Covenant with the Lord before our time expires!
Eze 16:8 Now
when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the
time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy
nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with
thee, saith the Lord GOD, "and thou becamest mine".
If we cannot or if
we refuse to do so, then we certainly cannot blame the "Gospel"
of God, for everlasting "death" that is the reality of not
responding to the "Gospel"!
ALL, ministers of
the "Gospel" must remain consistent with the "Gospel"
and the intent of the "Grace" of God!
*****2Co 6:3
Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4 But in
all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In
stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
fastings;
It can never be our
duty to compromise on the "Gospel" message so that it does
not offend some because the "Gospel" will always be
offensive to an unbeliever!
By it's nature, the
"Gospel" message will certainly offend some of those who
hear it and the truth is, it is rare for God's message to be accepted
the very first time it is heard.
It is a fact that in
today's world there is a great attempt to silence the true Pastor
because of this message from God!
BUT, no Pastor is to
allow his lifestyle or inconsistency in his message to be the source
of that offense!
The Pastor must
avoid any and all appearance of evil!
I personally do not
know how a Pastor selects the substance of his sermons but I hope
they all always follow the lead of the Holy Spirit who wrote all the
Scriptures and I believe that most do.
It would pay every
Pastor to choose wisely the words he uses and show good judgment in
his presentation!
The same goes for
any teacher and also for every child of God!
In fact, the
subjects of the message of each Pastor should be suited to the
"spiritual welfare" of the flock he has at that time!
For instance, a
Pastor needs to be on fire and preach the Hell is hot, but we must
all consider that those that are lost already know how to get to
Hell, "they need to know how to get to Heaven"!
Each Pastor must
never offer reasons or place stumbling blocks in front of those who
are seeking this truth!
The Apostle Paul
said he was a failure "if he caused a poor reflection on his
ministry".
A Pastor is never to
show respect of persons, as this is also a reflection on the ministry
of God!
We already know that
a Pastor must insist that any Church discipline adhere "exactly"
to the Word of God, "no ifs, no ands and no buts"!
A Pastor must always
realize that he is a minister of God's message and God's ministry is
of His Son Christ Jesus!
God does not send
Pastors or preachers out with their own message, God sends them out
with His message!
If a Pastor cannot
get under the spout where the "Glory of God" runs out then
he is not one of God's called men!
The message of God
is serious but it must not ever be boring.
The message of God
must be holy and remain morally sound.
The message of God
must be instructive!
The work of the Lord
can be very laborious but it is never to be considered a job but it
will sometimes require a great amount of endurance.
If a Pastor cannot
endure with much patience, he will never be able to be consistent!
The world we live in
will always be consistent in corruption and sin, even increasing to
distract those in it from the message of God.
The Pastor will have
to over come all these things and remain faithful to the Word of God!
Paul mentions
afflictions, we can be sure they were physical and mental. No doubt
the work of a Pastor can be overwhelming at times.
That word
"necessities" really means the "necessities of life"
which includes so many things beyond food and shelter and clothes, to
personal needs and much more.
That word
"distresses" is plural and means extreme pain, anguish in
body and mind, but can even include loss of near and dear friends.
Paul endured
scourging at least 8 times but he also endured, beatings, lashings,
whippings and many other things, just because he preached Christ
Jesus.
Paul was imprisoned
more than once because he preached Christ Jesus.
Paul labored in
prison but Paul also labored with his own hands in attempting to meet
his personal needs but most of all Paul labored in pain while he
continued to suffer for Jesus' name sake.
Many others have
suffered in the ministry of Christ but no one any more than the
Apostle Paul!
"Watchings"
would include many sleepless nights.
"Fastings"
would be deliberate but sometimes Paul would miss a meal just to
preach if the opportunity presented itself.
What does the Bible
teach us?
Ecc 9:10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither
thou goest.
Not only did Paul
remain consistent through all these things but during that same
period of time Paul was consistent in ever learning the Word of God!
*****2Co 6:6
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 By the
word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on
the right hand and on the left,
Paul was consistent
in his own spiritual growth!
Paul lived his life
in purity, free from the filth and pollution of this evil world.
Paul continued in
his study and understanding of the Word of God.
Paul was most
patient with those he preached to, in bringing them to the truth even
when they so easily rebelled.
Paul was kind and
good and gentle, even when he was abused and unappreciated.
Paul clearly
understood that his strength came by the Holy Ghost and not of any
man.
The proof of every
Pastor, is the knowledge that God works in him but also through him!
Paul walked in the
power of the Spirit of God or Paul would have simply fallen by the
wayside!
Paul understood the
love of God who sent His own Son to pay the sin debt of all mankind
and Paul showed that same love as best he could to all that crossed
his path.
The proof of a
Pastor is his love for "all" God's people!
Paul clearly
understood that the "Word of God" was also the "Words
of Truth" that this world was in such great need of because this
world contains very little truth because of the desires of ruthless
men.
The proof of every
Pastor is that he will preach the truth of God and not the thinking,
the philosophies, nor the ideas of man!
So many today preach
an every changing message to adapt to this world and God said never
to allow this to happen.
Every Pastor must
endure and be consistent in the truth of God's Word.
Paul clearly
understand that only God has the power to save.
Only God has the
power to make "new creatures".
Only God has the
power to give eternal life.
Only God has the
power to heal.
The proof of every
Pastor is that he knows that God is the power in his life and this
was necessary for his ministry to bear genuine fruit.
Paul clearly
understood that his "armor of righteousness" was the Lord
Jesus Christ!
The proof of every
Pastor is that they know that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the
Church!
The Church belongs
to Jesus, bought and paid for with His own blood.
Act 20:28 Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Rev 1:5 And
from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And
hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Apostle Paul
remained consistent no matter how this world reacted to the message
of the Gospel!
*****2Co 6:8
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true;
Some people approved
and honored the preaching of the Apostle Paul but others did not,
mainly those with authority, much like today.
Some people would
say wicked and evil things about Paul but some did have good reports,
the believers.
Many places Paul was
treated as a deceiver, yet Paul was as true to the Word of God as he
could physically live.
Paul was not some
impostor.
Paul was not some
false teacher.
Paul was not some
quack trying to start a new religion.
In all these things
the message of the "Gospel" remained consistent with Paul.
*****2Co 6:9
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as
chastened, and not killed;
Most of the world of
that day just ignored Paul and dismissed his message but God had
promised that His Word would not come back void, so many others loved
the Gospel message and loved Paul for what he did and for what he had
done for them.
No matter Paul's
treatment Paul consistently preached the Gospel!
Paul was treated as
a dying man with a dead message by many. Paul was looked upon as
reckless and unwise man, who could only cause trouble.
They saw Paul as a
doomed man, walking the way of death and enticing many to follow him
into that death.
Paul was chastened,
Paul's life was threatened, but no one could take his life, until God
was ready for him to come home.
Paul was constantly
suffering for the Gospel but Paul remained consistent in preaching
the Word of God!
*****2Co 6:10
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
The world looked
upon Paul as sorrowful and depressed but Paul was always rejoicing.
Why is it that the
world thinks to be a Christian is to give up having fun?
We certainly are not
to join in with the worldly crowd and their sinful pleasures but
these things never produce true joy to begin with.
There is more joy in
knowing where we came from and where we are going than most people
realize.
There is tremendous
joy in doing the things that are pleasing to God.
Paul was looked upon
as a poor man, yet in truth he had made many rich and he still is
today as we share his message.
The truth is, Paul
was looked upon as having no possessions.
Paul was a traveling
missionary and he appeared homeless but in reality we as Christians
possess true wealth, the wealth of God's presence for eternity along
with all the wealth of Heaven itself!
This is the
everlasting wealth that can be shared with others!
Mat 6:19 Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But
lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
It is a fact that
all those that have the sure promises of God are far richer than
those that reject the Word of God!
1Pe 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an
inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
People just do not
realize what separation is all about!
Separation can only
begin when we open our hearts to God!
*****2Co 6:11
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
2Co 6:12 Ye
are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
2Co 6:13 Now
for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye
also enlarged.
Paul teaches us that
there is no hidden message in the Word of God and God does not have
some secret agenda, just the pure and honest truth, so then the first
call is for an open heart to receive God's message.
Paul was saying that
he was just the messenger, all his the words came from God!
The "Gospel"
in of itself has a simple message!
2Co_11:3 But I
fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted "from the simplicity
that is in Christ".
When we are
struggling with God's message, it is not the message to blame, it is
Satan we can blame, for he will corrupt our mind and our hearts and
this is why we need to separate ourselves socially from those in the
world.
Our love will
certainly grow for one another, when we get to know one another
better in Christ.
Paul had a deep love
for the church and it shows in passages such as this and remember
these words were from the Holy Spirit.
Remember Paul had
been mistreated by this church so this shows us that there is nothing
we can do to cause God to love us any less.
God has a pure love
that does not ever change by our actions!
Remember Jesus died
for our sins before any of us knew Him in a personal way!
We need to hold fast
to God's love!
When this world
wounds our heart, let's not become bitter, "let's just become
better"!
Love increases for
God and with each other, when we separate from this unclean world and
devote our lives to God!
Remember an
expansion of the heart is not the same as an expansion of the mind.
Mankind has been growing in intelligence since the beginning but the
truth is this growth in the mind has only led to a decline in
morality.
There has never been
one government consistent in morals and the promotion of the well
being of it's people and that includes our own!
It is only
Christianity that inspires these views and these feelings!
We need to always
examine the present state of our hearts to be sure we remain
consistent in our love for God through Jesus Christ.
What did Jesus say
was the biggest problem in the church during the last days?
Rev 2:4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, "because thou hast
left thy first love".
That first love is a
love for Jesus Christ, we are to enlarge our hearts and certainly not
shrink away from the love of God!
That word
"straightened" has the meaning of made narrow or
"restricting" or "narrowing" and the love of this
church toward the Word of God and the Apostle Paul had become narrow
or restrictive in it's love for God.
They needed to open
their hearts to the truth!
The truth is, the
Pastor of every church must be open and honest and have a loving
heart for God and God's Church.
BUT, just as
important The Church must be open and honest and have a loving heart
toward God and the man God has called to be that Pastor.
These things must
work together!
Joh 13:35 By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one
to another.
This separation must
not only be with the Church body but it must extend to every
individual, including our personal relationships and our business
relationships.
*****2Co 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And
what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 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.
Since believers are
so different from unbelievers, this is to great an obstacle to over
come in a relationship..
That word
"unequally" means to be disproportion or unsuitable. If God
says it is unsuitable then the chances of this relationship working
out well is not good!
As believers, we all
stand on equal ground at the cross but when we do not stand on equal
ground before God our relationship will suffer greatly!
One of the laws of
the Old Testament demonstrates this principle of God.
Deu 22:10 Thou
shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
The principle is
simple, God prohibits mixing things together that He has separated in
creation.
The believer that
has been "Born Again" is a "new creation" of God
and is not to be mixed with those of the world!
God simply says,
"What fellowship has the righteous with the unrighteous?"
How can one that
follows God's law agree with one who does not follow any law?
How can those that
reject God agree with those who accept the truth of God?
Jesus Christ is the
light of this world, when you turn a light on, darkness disappears
and hides in the shadows. "What communion has light with
darkness?
Communion means how
can there be a partnership between two who cannot communicate with
each other?
One has rejected
Christ Jesus the other has not.
One is seeking the
things of this world the other seeking the things of Heaven.
One does not do
things according to the Word of God, the other hungers and thirst
after righteousness.
That word "Belial"
is just a synonym for "Satan". As Jesus Christ has nothing
in common with Satan what makes a believer think they can? It
absolutely cannot be!
An "infidel"
is someone who has denied the "faith", denying
Christianity, an unbeliever, how can a believer associate with such a
person in a close personal relationship? It cannot happen!
An idol is anything
which we give our allegiance to other than God!
When we give our
time, our money, and our energy primarily to things other than God,
we become idol worshipers!
A true believer
cannot be an idol worshiper because he or she is a living temple of
God!
Paul only had the
Old Testament so he quotes from it:
Eze 37:27 My
tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and
they shall be my people.
Paul wrote these
words in the New Testament by the Holy Spirit.
1Co_3:16 Know
ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?
God says:
1Jn_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.
The lost world walks
in ignorance of Jesus Christ.
The lost world walks
in ignorance of God as revealed by Jesus Christ.
The lost world walks
in ignorance of the true destiny of life as shown by Jesus Christ.
Joh 12:35 Then
Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk
while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that
walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Those that walk in
darkness will always hate the light of the "Gospel"!
Those that walk in
darkness are condemned unless they repent of their evil ways!
Joh 3:19 And
this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Joh 3:21 But
he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The Christian must
separate themselves socially from those of the world!
*****2Co 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.
How many of us weed
our gardens because we know the plants we desire will not flourish
when weeds are allowed to grow with them.
That plant cannot do
this itself because a plant has no conscience to know right from
wrong.
The human on the
other hand can make a choice to improve himself or herself.
The "Gospel"
allows us to think in a moral way, the unbeliever is like the plant
and his conscience does not know the difference in right or wrong.
1Ti_4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron;
Believe me if your
conscience is seared with a hot iron then it no longer exist!
When God led Israel
out of captivity, He told them to leave everything behind. Nothing in
that defiled land had any meaning because they were to begin a
totally new life and all they needed was the Word of God to direct
them!
God's wants a
peculiar people:
Tit_2:14 Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
"Peculiar"
in this Scripture means a people that were not like the usual people!
Now God does not ask
us to leave our cities, our communities, or our work places, even
though sometimes our work places also need to change.
These are the first
places that we will be called to witness.
We are never to
isolate ourselves from unbelievers. We are to share our thoughts and
experiences and in fact always be friendly.
Pro_18:24 A
man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a
friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
So what does God
mean?
First separation
means that we have a new Master.
We must be obedient
to the ways of our Lord!
We are to have a
personal relationship with the Lord so then we cannot be intimately
involved with those of the world!
We are never to
participate in ungodly functions and events with unbelievers.
We are not to be
closely bound in any sort of partnership with an unbeliever
"including marriage".
We must never make a
covenant with an unbeliever because their Master is Satan and Satan
is a liar.
Joh 8:44 Ye
are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh
of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
We are especially to
avoid relations with those who have rejected the truth of Jesus
Christ!
And above all we are
never to worship with the unbeliever in his place of worship, period!
Exo_34:14 For
thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous,
is a jealous God:
We are never to
attend a worship service in a place that does not honor Jesus Christ!
God says we are
never to touch the unclean thing!
The Jews were never
to touch a dead animal nor a dead person and if they did they had to
follow a strict cleansing.
We know that "the
wages of sin is death" and every "unbeliever is condemned
to this death" so we are certainly no longer to live as sinners
nor participate in the sins of unbelievers!
Gal 5:19 Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Each believer is to
walk in the Holy Spirit:
Gal 5:22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And
they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we
live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
There is just to
much difference in the unbeliever and the believer!
And the truth is God
will not receive us until we have done this thing!
Why would we not
want to be approved of God?
We are to walk in
this world but we are not to be a part of this world!
Being reconciled to
God is the greatest reward we can obtain above all others!
In fact if we will
separate ourselves from the world we will have a new Father.
God will then adopt
us into His own family!
When we weigh these
simple things against the sacrifices we have to make to obtain them,
then they will not seem like sacrifices at all!
We will understand
that God does not treat anyone lost or saved with unkindness or
injustice, for Jesus Christ died for all.
But God will not
ever treat the lost as His children and that is a great big
difference!
Note the story of
the prodigal son.
If God is willing to
be as our Father from Heaven then why would we not want to act like
His children?
The truth is, it is
only in Christianity where it is said that God will be our Father and
we can be His children.
A Father's love is
far greater than any other love!
1Jn_3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not,
because it knew him not.
It is this love that
is the reason God allows His Spirit to live within us!
Gal_4:6 And
because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
It is then and only
then that the riches of Heaven become available to each believer!
Rom_8:17 And
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together.
How can such a thing
be rejected by this world?
These are the only
means of living for God in an ungodly world.
Ungodly means
anything that is not of God!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
