Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
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.
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. 2Cor 6:14-18
Separateness
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
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.
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. 2Cor 6:14-18
Separateness
In these passages Paul makes some clear distinctions and boundaries, that the Christian is to adhere to, in order to walk in this present wicked world, in fellowship with God, and under His protection. Let's take a look at these points.
1. All intimate associations are forbidden. The primary reference is to intermarriage and to association with heathens and pagan festivals. All close fellowship with unbelievers is included. Saints should choose Christian alliances and associations.
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
2. Belial, a heathen god like Beelzebub, is used as a synonym for Satan. See Mat_12:24. As Christ has nothing in common with Satan, how can a believer in him have a close intimacy with one who is still under the dominion of the prince of this world?
3. As God's temple has nothing in common with the idol temple, so the saints are to be separated from idolators.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Note: If your attending a church, look around, what kind of decor is inside of it-is it full of idols, statues, candles? What do these verses tell you?
4. The Christian is himself the sanctuary of the Lord, as is proved by the passage quoted from Lev_26:12. God dwells in his people as the Shekinah dwelt between the cherubim.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
5. "Wherefore come out from among them", and be ye separate-A Quote from Isa 52:11. A call to Israel to cleanse itself from pagan pollutions-the Christian must do the same.
6. "And I will be a Father unto you"- Quoted from Jer 31:1, Jer 31:9, and Isa 43:6. These teach that it is the Divine will that his worshipers should be separate from the world; that if they are thus separate he will receive them, and will accept them as his own children. Compare Rom_12:2, and Jas_1:27.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
The sad reality is- most churches today do not touch on these passages, and when they do, they water them down, making them useless, and without the power of the Holy Spirit to reach the heart of those who sit in the pews and need to hear these truths. The result-the people sit and listen to the half hour/to one hour sermon, get up, and leave the same way they came, because there was no convicting power of the scriptures to cause them to look within themselves, and face the fact they may be inter-acting with the wrong people and being wrongfully influenced by them. It may cause them to examine their own conduct, and if they are practicing idolatry, or involved in the sinful practices of lust, sexual perversions, adultery, or fornication, and out of fellowship with God. They are deceived, and deceiving other's, the blind, leading the blind.
The devil doesn't want these passages dwelt on, because it causes a wide range of emotions and reactions, that many pastors don't want to deal with. But, these are the kind of passages that God uses, to prick the hearts and minds of those who need it most, who sit in those pews. Preaching these verses, without compromise, brings discomfort, conviction, anger, and some will get up, and walk out, and perhaps not come back. Whatever they choose to do, it's better to preach/teach the truth, and let God deal with them, than preach only what they want to hear, and have them end up in hell. The servant of God, will also stand accountable to God on the day of Judgment, on how we used and preached His word. This should cause every minister-however lowly he may think of himself/herself-and consider that day, and pray that the Holy Spirit would give us the courage-to preach it like it is written, and be willing to face whatever opposition may come.
I know from personal experience, if somebody is offended, becomes angry, whether they lash out at me, or anyone else, it's because their conscience is pricked-God is dealing with them. There is a fight between the forces of evil, and God working on their hearts, and a war is going on inside of them. Pray for them, and leave them in God's hands-ask God to send the hounds of heaven after them, and keep dealing with them, until they make a final decision-and either repent and come to the Lord Jesus for salvation, or totally reject Jesus. That's the war that goes on inside people, when the word of God is preached, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Few today, want to rock the boat, and deal with these realities.
Lorna Couillard
1. All intimate associations are forbidden. The primary reference is to intermarriage and to association with heathens and pagan festivals. All close fellowship with unbelievers is included. Saints should choose Christian alliances and associations.
1Co 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
2. Belial, a heathen god like Beelzebub, is used as a synonym for Satan. See Mat_12:24. As Christ has nothing in common with Satan, how can a believer in him have a close intimacy with one who is still under the dominion of the prince of this world?
3. As God's temple has nothing in common with the idol temple, so the saints are to be separated from idolators.
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Note: If your attending a church, look around, what kind of decor is inside of it-is it full of idols, statues, candles? What do these verses tell you?
4. The Christian is himself the sanctuary of the Lord, as is proved by the passage quoted from Lev_26:12. God dwells in his people as the Shekinah dwelt between the cherubim.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
5. "Wherefore come out from among them", and be ye separate-A Quote from Isa 52:11. A call to Israel to cleanse itself from pagan pollutions-the Christian must do the same.
6. "And I will be a Father unto you"- Quoted from Jer 31:1, Jer 31:9, and Isa 43:6. These teach that it is the Divine will that his worshipers should be separate from the world; that if they are thus separate he will receive them, and will accept them as his own children. Compare Rom_12:2, and Jas_1:27.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
The sad reality is- most churches today do not touch on these passages, and when they do, they water them down, making them useless, and without the power of the Holy Spirit to reach the heart of those who sit in the pews and need to hear these truths. The result-the people sit and listen to the half hour/to one hour sermon, get up, and leave the same way they came, because there was no convicting power of the scriptures to cause them to look within themselves, and face the fact they may be inter-acting with the wrong people and being wrongfully influenced by them. It may cause them to examine their own conduct, and if they are practicing idolatry, or involved in the sinful practices of lust, sexual perversions, adultery, or fornication, and out of fellowship with God. They are deceived, and deceiving other's, the blind, leading the blind.
The devil doesn't want these passages dwelt on, because it causes a wide range of emotions and reactions, that many pastors don't want to deal with. But, these are the kind of passages that God uses, to prick the hearts and minds of those who need it most, who sit in those pews. Preaching these verses, without compromise, brings discomfort, conviction, anger, and some will get up, and walk out, and perhaps not come back. Whatever they choose to do, it's better to preach/teach the truth, and let God deal with them, than preach only what they want to hear, and have them end up in hell. The servant of God, will also stand accountable to God on the day of Judgment, on how we used and preached His word. This should cause every minister-however lowly he may think of himself/herself-and consider that day, and pray that the Holy Spirit would give us the courage-to preach it like it is written, and be willing to face whatever opposition may come.
I know from personal experience, if somebody is offended, becomes angry, whether they lash out at me, or anyone else, it's because their conscience is pricked-God is dealing with them. There is a fight between the forces of evil, and God working on their hearts, and a war is going on inside of them. Pray for them, and leave them in God's hands-ask God to send the hounds of heaven after them, and keep dealing with them, until they make a final decision-and either repent and come to the Lord Jesus for salvation, or totally reject Jesus. That's the war that goes on inside people, when the word of God is preached, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Few today, want to rock the boat, and deal with these realities.
Lorna Couillard
No Union With the World
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
What is this verse telling us?
And what concord - (συμφώνησις sumphōnēsis). Sympathy, unison. This word refers properly to the unison or harmony produced by musical instruments, where there is a chord. What accordance, what unison is there; what strings are there which being struck will produce a chord or harmony? The idea is, then, there is as much that is discordant between Christ and Belial as there is between instruments of music that produce only discordant and jarring sounds.
Hath Christ - What is there in common between Christ and Belial, implying that Christians are governed by the principles, and that they follow the example of Christ.
Belial - Βελίαλ Belial or Βελίαρ Beliar, as as it is found in some of the late editions. The form Beliar is Syriac. The Hebrew word בּליּצל beliya‛al means literally without profit; worthlessness; wickedness. It is here evidently applied to Satan. The Syriac translates it “Satan.” The idea is, that the persons to whom Paul referred, the pagan, wicked, unbelieving world, were governed by the principles of Satan, and were “taken captive by him at his will” (2Ti_2:26 compare Joh_8:44), and that Christians should be separate from the wicked world, as Christ was separate from all the feelings, purposes, and plans of Satan. He had no participation in them; he formed no union with them; and so it should be with the followers of the one in relation to the followers of the other.
Or what part - (μερὶς meris). Portion, share, participation, fellowship. This word refers usually to a division of an estate; Luk_10:42; Act_8:21 note; Col_1:12 note. There is no participation; nothing in common.
He that believeth - A Christian; a man the characteristic of whom it is that he believes on the Lord Jesus.
With an infidel - A man who does not believe - whether a pagan idolater, a profane man, a scoffer, a philosopher, a man of science, a moral man, or a son or daughter of gaiety. The idea is, that on the subject of religion there is no union; nothing in common; no participation. They are governed by different principles; have different feelings; are looking to different rewards; and are tending to a different destiny. The believer, therefore, should not select his partner in life and his chosen companions and friends from this class, but from those with whom he has sympathy, and with whom he has common feelings and hopes. (Albert Barnes)
What is this verse telling us?
And what concord - (συμφώνησις sumphōnēsis). Sympathy, unison. This word refers properly to the unison or harmony produced by musical instruments, where there is a chord. What accordance, what unison is there; what strings are there which being struck will produce a chord or harmony? The idea is, then, there is as much that is discordant between Christ and Belial as there is between instruments of music that produce only discordant and jarring sounds.
Hath Christ - What is there in common between Christ and Belial, implying that Christians are governed by the principles, and that they follow the example of Christ.
Belial - Βελίαλ Belial or Βελίαρ Beliar, as as it is found in some of the late editions. The form Beliar is Syriac. The Hebrew word בּליּצל beliya‛al means literally without profit; worthlessness; wickedness. It is here evidently applied to Satan. The Syriac translates it “Satan.” The idea is, that the persons to whom Paul referred, the pagan, wicked, unbelieving world, were governed by the principles of Satan, and were “taken captive by him at his will” (2Ti_2:26 compare Joh_8:44), and that Christians should be separate from the wicked world, as Christ was separate from all the feelings, purposes, and plans of Satan. He had no participation in them; he formed no union with them; and so it should be with the followers of the one in relation to the followers of the other.
Or what part - (μερὶς meris). Portion, share, participation, fellowship. This word refers usually to a division of an estate; Luk_10:42; Act_8:21 note; Col_1:12 note. There is no participation; nothing in common.
He that believeth - A Christian; a man the characteristic of whom it is that he believes on the Lord Jesus.
With an infidel - A man who does not believe - whether a pagan idolater, a profane man, a scoffer, a philosopher, a man of science, a moral man, or a son or daughter of gaiety. The idea is, that on the subject of religion there is no union; nothing in common; no participation. They are governed by different principles; have different feelings; are looking to different rewards; and are tending to a different destiny. The believer, therefore, should not select his partner in life and his chosen companions and friends from this class, but from those with whom he has sympathy, and with whom he has common feelings and hopes. (Albert Barnes)
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The Temple of God
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.
What is this verse teaching us?
What agreement hath the temple of God with idols - Nothing could appear more abominable to a Jew than an idol in the temple of God: here, then, could be no agreement; the worship of the two is wholly incompatible. An idolater never worships the true God; a Christian never worships an idol. If ye join in idolatrous rites, it is impossible that ye should be Christians.
Ye are the temple of the living God - God intends to make the heart of every believer his own house.
I will dwell in them, and walk in them - The words are very emphatic: ενοικησω εν αυτοις· I will inhabit in them. I will not be as a wayfaring man, who turns aside to tarry as for a night, but I will take up my constant residence with them; I will dwell in and among them.
I will be their God - They shall have no other God, they shall have none besides me; and if they take me for their God, I will be to them all that an infinite, eternal, and self-sufficient Being can be to his intelligent offspring.
They shall be my people - If they take me for their God, their supreme and eternal Good, I will take them for my people; and instruct, enlighten, defend, provide for, support, and bless them, as if I had none else to care for in the creation. (Adam Clarke)
What is this verse teaching us?
What agreement hath the temple of God with idols - Nothing could appear more abominable to a Jew than an idol in the temple of God: here, then, could be no agreement; the worship of the two is wholly incompatible. An idolater never worships the true God; a Christian never worships an idol. If ye join in idolatrous rites, it is impossible that ye should be Christians.
Ye are the temple of the living God - God intends to make the heart of every believer his own house.
I will dwell in them, and walk in them - The words are very emphatic: ενοικησω εν αυτοις· I will inhabit in them. I will not be as a wayfaring man, who turns aside to tarry as for a night, but I will take up my constant residence with them; I will dwell in and among them.
I will be their God - They shall have no other God, they shall have none besides me; and if they take me for their God, I will be to them all that an infinite, eternal, and self-sufficient Being can be to his intelligent offspring.
They shall be my people - If they take me for their God, their supreme and eternal Good, I will take them for my people; and instruct, enlighten, defend, provide for, support, and bless them, as if I had none else to care for in the creation. (Adam Clarke)
Come Out From Among Them-And Walk With God
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.
What do we learn from these verses?
"And ye shall be to me for sons and for daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" - The promise made to Solomon, 1Ch 28:6, is here applied to all believers; as the promise made particularly to Joshua is applied to them, Heb 13:5. Who can express the worth, who can conceive the dignity, of this divine adoption? Yet it belongs to all who believe the gospel, who have faith in Christ. They have access to the Almighty; such free and welcome access, as a beloved child to an indulgent father. To him they may fly for aid in every difficulty, and from him obtain a supply in all their wants. Isa 43:6."
(John Wesley)
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"And will be a Father unto you - A father is the protector, counselor, and guide of his children. He instructs them, provides for them, and counsels them in time of perplexity. No relation is more tender than this. In accordance with this, God says, that he will be to his people their protector, counsellor, guide, and friend. He will cherish toward them the feeling of a father; he will provide for them, he will acknowledge them as his children. No higher honor can be conferred on mortals than to be adopted into the family of God, and to be permitted to call the Most High our Father. No rank is so elevated as that of being the sons and the daughters of the Lord Almighty. Yet this is the common appellation by which God addresses his people; and the most humble in rank, the most poor and ignorant of his friends on earth, the most despised among people, may reflect that they are the children of the ever-living God, and have the Maker of the heavens and the earth as their Father and their eternal Friend. How poor are all the honors of the world compared with this!" (Albert Barnes)
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
What do we learn from these verses?
"And ye shall be to me for sons and for daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" - The promise made to Solomon, 1Ch 28:6, is here applied to all believers; as the promise made particularly to Joshua is applied to them, Heb 13:5. Who can express the worth, who can conceive the dignity, of this divine adoption? Yet it belongs to all who believe the gospel, who have faith in Christ. They have access to the Almighty; such free and welcome access, as a beloved child to an indulgent father. To him they may fly for aid in every difficulty, and from him obtain a supply in all their wants. Isa 43:6."
(John Wesley)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"And will be a Father unto you - A father is the protector, counselor, and guide of his children. He instructs them, provides for them, and counsels them in time of perplexity. No relation is more tender than this. In accordance with this, God says, that he will be to his people their protector, counsellor, guide, and friend. He will cherish toward them the feeling of a father; he will provide for them, he will acknowledge them as his children. No higher honor can be conferred on mortals than to be adopted into the family of God, and to be permitted to call the Most High our Father. No rank is so elevated as that of being the sons and the daughters of the Lord Almighty. Yet this is the common appellation by which God addresses his people; and the most humble in rank, the most poor and ignorant of his friends on earth, the most despised among people, may reflect that they are the children of the ever-living God, and have the Maker of the heavens and the earth as their Father and their eternal Friend. How poor are all the honors of the world compared with this!" (Albert Barnes)
