Rachel Workman: 14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[d]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.[e]
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.[f]
18 And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.[g]”
These are actually hard words for me. We should separate from nonbelievers. There are nonbelievers that I love. I value their friendship. They know I love Jesus and I know they don't. I would never allow anyone to deter me from doing what I need to do in Christ. However this scripture speaks pretty clearly.
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John Burnett: Warning Against Idolatry
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[a]? 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: We all have our idols that
take up more time to than we give our God but the idol that is most dangerous
is the god we create in our mind that keeps telling us that we are good
people. If you think that you are good, you can’t see how bad you really
are and there really isn’t a need for Jesus, or at least not all of
Jesus.
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[b]
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[b]
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate, I can’t wait to be separated.
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[c]
and be separate, I can’t wait to be separated.
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[c]
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”[d]
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”[d]
We are adopted sons and daughters
and co-heirs with Christ. What awesome promises we have in Christ and God
always keeps his promises.
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Allen Michaels: 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? Paul is making it clear to
not form binding relationships with nonbelievers. I think this applies to
hypocrites as well. We never want to take a chance on weakening our Christian
commitment, integrity, or standards. We must still witness to nonbelievers but
without forming personal or business relationships. 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.”
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.” Separation from the world involves more than keeping our distance from sinners, which I think is OK, but it also means staying close to God. We must resist the sin around us and avoid those who drag us down, without either giving up or giving in.
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.” Separation from the world involves more than keeping our distance from sinners, which I think is OK, but it also means staying close to God. We must resist the sin around us and avoid those who drag us down, without either giving up or giving in.
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
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Tomorrow's reading for 2 Corinthians 7:1-7
7 Because we have these promises, dear
friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or
spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
2 Please open your hearts to us. We have
not done wrong to anyone, nor led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone.
3 I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you
are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you. 4 I
have the highest confidence in you, and I take great pride in you. You have
greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite all our troubles.
5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there
was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the
outside and fear on the inside. 6 But God, who encourages those
who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. 7 His
presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he
received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry
you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!
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