TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 6: 14-17
“14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and
wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have
in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of
God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I
will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will
be my people.” 17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
The
believers of old got the name “Christians” from the people of Antioch in the
book of Acts 11: 26. They got the name because the people of Antioch noticed
something conspicuously different about Christ followers. The believers’
lifestyle was so evident and unique that the name “Christian” was assigned to them
because they put into practice all they had learned from Jesus. They emulated
Jesus and lived lives worthy of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They represented
Christ and made him known to the whole world even after he had ascended!
We
are created in the image and the likeness of God, and as dedicated children of
God; washed and redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ, we are no more of this
world even though we live in this world. The salvation we got on the day we chose
to follow Christ, means that we are ready and determined to live a sanctified
life- that means separation from the world and unto God. This separation from
the world is an internal state of separation- it means separating yourself from
worldliness and every work of flesh, as well as separating yourself from unbelieving
friends and relatives. Separating from unbelievers does not mean you should run
away from them or abandon them; it only means that you should be careful how
you relate with them. you should stand your ground by maintain the standard
that Christ has given us- do not compromise on your faith, do not conform with
the standard of the unbelievers and the world at large. Rather, you should be a
good example of the believer that will act as change agent to intercede and
witness to unbelieves to turn from their sinful ways.
Sanctification
has to do with dedication, consecration, purity, and separation from sin. These
days, it is difficult to distinguish a worldly person from a Christian. There are
many works of flesh and worldliness that has crept into the body of Christ because
of what is tagged “Modern Christianity.” These are evident from the choice of clothing
(appearance in general), style of dance- (worldly dance steps are reigning in altars
of God!), to the choice of music, songs, worldly slangs, and lyrics that have
crept into Christian praise teams!
When
you examine the lifestyle of some believers, you will marvel to see how
difficult it is to see Christ reflected in them! Our text says as believers you
should not have anything to do with unbelievers, because there is no correlation
between light and darkness. The verse says, “we are the temple of God.” The Spirit
of God lives in you, do not grief the Spirit of God with the way you live. Do not
emulate unbelievers, you are an agent of change to draw sinners to Christ. Do not
let the world change you or draw you out of God’s side to their side. Come out
of them and be separate. Let people see Christ in you, do not conform with the
doctrines of this world. Come out of them and be separate!
IMAGE: Google.
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