Romans 1:1 ESV Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.
Separation is both positive and negative. We are to be separated unto the Gospel of God. This is positive. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 ESV (17) Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (18) and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." We are to come out from anything that is contrary to the perfect will of God. This seems to be negative but is not. To be separated means to be sanctified, set apart, called holy for salvation and service. 1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin. (See John 17:17; Psalm 119:11). 2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the “coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:23). 3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness, “not having spot, or wrinkle”. (See Ephesians 5:24-27). 4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Without being separated, we can have RELATIONSHIP with God, but we cannot have FELLOWSHIP with Him. We may be united to Him in Calvary, but can also separated FROM Him in sin. (See Isaiah 59:1-2). Without separation from the world, we can have... Prestige without God's power, Activity without achievement; We may try, but not trust; Service without success; War, but not win. Without separation unto God, our whole Christian life will be “wood, hay, and stubble.” The abundant life is made possible by the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and made a reality by being separated unto Him.
0 Comments
Why do I send out this type of Bible study? The answer is found in one verse of Scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." SEPARATING OURSELVES FROM THE LOST AS NOT HAVING FRIENDSHIP: In part six we will address those who are lost, unsaved, children of wrath, children of the enemy or any other name which the Bible identifies them. I have had people try to convince me that we are to have lost friends because our Lord Jesus did. However, our Lord Jesus Christ did not have lost friends, He had lost associates whereby He only spent time around in order to preach the Gospel. He did not have lost friends. Let us be mindful of the fact that the people in the Gospels were under the same condition as those in the Old Testament. This means that people really were not saved like us until our Lord rose from the dead, glorified, and breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples in John 20:22. That was when the believers first had the indwelling of the Person of the Holy Spirit. Up until that time people believed God and it was counted unto them or imputed to them righteousness. The New Testament makes it clear that we have enemies and we are to love our enemies. What defines an enemy? We typically what to identify an enemy as someone who has harmed or wronged us in someway or is a national enemy to our way of freedom. But how does the Word of God define who our enemies are? Anyone who is an enemy to God, to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the cross is also to be our enemies. Well who are they? We know that Satan and the demons are our enemies. We know that the world and the world system is our enemy and hates us. We also know from Scriptures that lost people are our enemies and our Lord tells us that woe if they speak well of us. Loving our enemies and doing good to those who hate us does not classify being friends, it is obeying the Word. You cannot have someone who is classified as an enemy to God, an enemy to Jesus and an enemy to the cross as a friend. 1. We are to love our enemies: Luke 6:26-27 ESV "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. (27) "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:34-35 ESV And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. (35) But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Matthew 5:44 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 2. We are to recognize who our enemies are: Matthew 10:35-36 ESV For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (36) And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Acts 13:10 ESV and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? John 15:23 ESV Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 3. We need to know if we love the world and have friendship with the lost that it makes us an enemy to God: James 4:4 ESV You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 1 Peter 4:3-5 ESV For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. (4) With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; (5) but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 4. We need to know that the lost hate us: Live passionately for God and you will see it manifested. John 15:19 ESV If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 17:14 ESV I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 2 Timothy 3:12 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, Why do I send out this type of Bible study? The answer is found in one verse of Scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." In part one of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21) In part two of the "Come Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who walk in a lifestyle of sin. (See 1 Cor.5:9-12). In part five we will address those who walk in the lifestyle of sins listed in chapter 6 of 1 Timothy. It is unsure from the passage if Paul was warning young Timothy of Christians operating in these sins or if he was warning Timothy of both the saved and lost who walked in these sins. The major thrust of the teaching is those who claimed, disputed, and argued, that religion was suppose to make you rich, and your personal gain of riches was a sign of godliness. This is a major issue among a large part of the church today in what has become known as the "prosperity doctrine." I know this seems hard but remember the Scripture warning from Paul to the church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Two of the most "messed up" churches listed in the New Testament were the church at Corinth and the church at Laodicea. Well how do we think they got that way? The Scriptures tell us how this came about. The first is having bad outside influence of sin and corrupt doctrines coming into the church that corrupted the whole flock. The second was when Christians operated in sin and established their own doctrines of man. Having these freely taught within the church and not dealt with according to Biblical discipline and right Biblical doctrine caused a corruption of the people. The same is happening all across the world today in the church especially in America and Europe. Many believers within the church are living in the sin of man made doctrines that allow them to do what is right in their own eyes. Because they are not being Biblically disciplined this has corrupted the modern church. Add to this the cultural immorality and the love for riches which has been allowed to come in for the sake of numbers, false unity, and false evangelism and the church has begun to look like the world in word, deed, and thought. 4. SEPARATING FROM ANYONE WHO OPERATES IN THE TRAITS OF 1 TIM.6:3-5: 1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (4) he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (5) and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 1 Timothy 6:9-11 ESV But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (11) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:20-21 ESV O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," (21) for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you. The word avoid is 1 Tim.6:20 in the Greek is the word "ektrepo" and means to deflect, turn away from, or to turn aside out of the way. In part one of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21)
In part two of the "Come Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four we will address the "Christians" or who walk in a lifestyle of sin. I know that there is a drive to fill our church buildings on Sunday morning. We fill them with anything and anyone under the spiritual reasoning of outreach. However, the very name of "church" means something more than filling a building. The word "church" by its best definition is "the called out ones." It is a call to be separate and holy unto the Lord. Evangelism within the Word of God is always displayed as a "ya'll go" command and not a "ya'll come" command. We invite everyone and anyone in our services and then expect God to move in His glory. Don't get me wrong, God honors His Word and the Holy Spirit can still draw people to the heart of the Father in a church service, however God's plan of the holy corporate body coming together cannot be disregarded under the guise of evangelism. 3. SEPARATING FROM A PROFESSING CHRISTIAN BROTHER WHO IS IN SEXUAL SINS, COVETOUS SINS, IDOLATRY SINS, FIGHTERS OR QUARRELERS, DRUNKS, OR EXTORTION, (GREEDY, ESPECIALLY FOR MONEY, AND SOMETIMES WILLING TO USE UNSCRUPULOUS MEANS TO OBTAIN WHAT IS DESIRED. DESTRUCTIVE AND VICIOUS: ENGAGING IN VIOLENT PILLAGING AND LIKELY TO HARM OR DESTROY THINGS): I know this list is long and would eliminate many in our Sunday services, however any grievances of this needs to be addressed to the Father because it is written in His Word. I also know that many Pastors do not want to offend people. However, we by practice find ourselves offending God and grieving the Holy Spirit so that we can be in a false unity with sinful believers. The Word says to not even sit down and eat with this Christian brother. 1 Corinthians 5:9-12 ESV (9) I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— (10) not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. (11) But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (12) For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? In part 1 of the Coming Out From Among Them series I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity.
In part 2 I addressed how we are commanded to Come Out From Among Them or separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. 2 Thess.3:5-7 tells us to keep away from those believers who do these things. Matt.18:15-17 gives of the process we go through before we separate ourselves and declare them as tax collectors or Gentile meaning we are not to have any contact with them. Here in part 3 of Coming Out From Among Them, I address those Christian brothers who do not follow the Word of God given to them. 2. SEPARATING FROM A CHRISTIAN BROTHER WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW THE WORD: This could be applied to an individual or to a corporate group that has placed the traditions of man over the Word of truth or those who just walk in what they deem right in their own eyes and refuse counsel. Again I will stress this is not a love issue. Of course we are to love our Christian brothers. However the same command to love them also says to separate ourselves from them if they are unrepentant. The reason for separation is for our protection and for their reconciliation and not for judgment. 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV (14) If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. (15) Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. Romans 16:17-18 ESV I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (18) For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. When we speak about "coming out from among them" we are talking about those whom we are not to have fellowship with. We are "in" the world but we are not "of" the world.
When we are speaking about "fellowship" we are speaking communion or common union. The example was when Paul ordered the church at Corinth to expel the man guilty of sexual sins. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 ESV (1) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. (2) And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. (3) For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. (4) When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Kicking him out of the of the church was not unloving. I don't know why we think that any Biblical act of separation is an act representing that we no longer love. We love the man that was expelled and we love the congregation that we saved from his ungodly example. Paul commanded that the church present the man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. That may sound judgmental and unloving but look at the rest of it. Paul wanted his spirit to be saved in the day of the Lord. There is a lot of different doctrines I could get into on this one but I will stay focused on the topic at hand. Paul revealed his love for the man. The goal of separation and the judgment was for the ultimate goal of reconciliation. We find in 2 Corinthians that the man repented and was restored into the fellowship. So now having said that the main reason for separation from brothers is so that they be reconciled. And that separation does not mean that we stop loving them. I will get to the first group of people we are to separate ourselves from. 1. SEPARATING FROM CHRISTIAN BROTHERS WHO ARE UNRULY OR DISORDERLY: This could be separating from an individual or from a corporate body of believers. 2 Thessalonians 3:5-7 ESV (5) May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (6) Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. (7) For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, In 2 Thess.3:6 the word "idleness" means morally disorderly. The term "keep away from" in the Greek is to abstain from association. Again this is for protection of the group and the individual from falling into another man's sin. And it is so that the one in sin would have time alone to be convicted of the Holy Spirit and enter reconciliation. Again it is not a love issue. We never stop loving the person in sin. So what is the process or action of discipline that leads up to our of separating ourselves from a moral disorderly believer? Matthew 18:15-17 ESV "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. (16) But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (17) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. To be branded as a Gentile and a tax collector means that you are to have no contact especially religious contact, meaning not having them in a religious service with you. I know it goes without saying but for some I feel the need to point out that these are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. Separating from some people as believers is not breaking Biblical unity. We have a false teaching in the church about unity which teaches that we should walk in fellowship with anyone at all times. This is a false unity that can cause us to be tolerant and compromising of sin. The Word of God is clear in that it instructs us there are some whom we are to separate ourselves from. This study is to identify from God's Word who we are to separate ourselves from in order to be the people God has called us to be.
The fruitful Christian who is walking a sanctified (set apart), holy, undefiled daily walk with our Lord has a responsibility to walk a certain way and with certain people. It doesn't take much reading from the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 to see how the doctrines of men and demons brought about the rebuke of our Lord. I know that it sounds spiritual to say that we are waiting for a “Word from the Lord” in departing from a place or an individual, but we already have the Word of God written in the Scriptures. So while we say we are waiting for a Word or a release, in reality the Father is waiting for our obedience to what He has already said. Psalms 1:1-2 ESV Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; (2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Proverbs 1:10-16 ESV My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. (11) If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; (12) like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (13) we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; (14) throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse"— (15) my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, (16) for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Proverbs 13:19-21 ESV A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. (20) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (21) Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.
Naboth had a vineyard and he was offered a great price for it by King Ahab. However Naboth refused King Ahab's offer.
1 Kings 21:2 ESV And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." The reason Naboth refused was that it was more than just a vineyard, it was his family's heritage or testimony. 1 Kings 21:3 ESV But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." Ahab was seriously upset that Naboth would not give up his family inheritance. We will find that people want us to do what they do and be in partnership with their activities and sin causing us to sell out our testimony. When we don't they become angry. 1 Kings 21:4 ESV And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. Naboth was eventually stoned to death because he would not part with his ancestral heritage. (1 Kings 21:13) ESAU: SELLING OUT In contrast to Naboth, Esau sold not only his ancestral heritage but his birthright for a bowl of red stew. Genesis 25:31-34 ESV Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright now." (32) Esau said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" (33) Jacob said, "Swear to me now." So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. (34) Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Our heritage and birthright as believers are much more than pieces of property or a bowl of soup. Our Christian heritage includes divine revelation through the anointing of the Person of the Holy Spirit. Our heritage is the truth of God's Word, His manifested power, eternal life, and His unconditional love. All that we have in our Christian heritage was purchased by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. To preserve and deepen this heritage, we will certainly have to sacrifice things and pleasures of the flesh and not sell out. We may even have to give our lives. It may come to the choice of Naboth of die or be killed. Unfortunely many have sold out the Lord's awesome presence and power, and enslaved themselves in the world's "culture of death." Many have sold their birthright and heritage for next to nothing. And for many it has been nothing more than a religious activity, or offering intellect, talents, resources, or callings on the temporal altar of lust, fame, and fortune. It could be the altar of man's acceptance, personal satisfaction, entertainment, competition, or pride. Jesus has paid the price of our heritage with His blood, therefore we do not belong to the world or even to ourselves. We have been purchased by our Lord. The ultimate price has been paid. We don't have a legal right to sell out ourselves to the pleasures of the world. Joshua 24:16 ESV Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, There are Ahabs watching and waiting to bring an offer to us for our vineyards. Are we NOT FOR SALE? THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A LIFE YIELDED TO CHRIST:
Romans 6:10-13 ESV For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (11) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. How to live the abundant life is no secret; it is revealed in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in Rom. 6:10-13. The same faith that "saves" us also identifies us with Christ in His death. This is eternal life. The faith that "yields" to death to self also identifies us with Christ in His resurrection. This is abundant life. Colossians 3:1-4 ESV If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (3) For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ***It is one thing to have eternal life by faith. It is quite another to have abundant life by faith. ***It is one thing for us to be “made the righteousness of God in Him. It is another thing for us to realize His righteous life is in us. 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. ***It is one thing for us to live in Christ. It is another thing for Christ to live His life in and through us. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. We, as believers have a choice. We can yield unto God by faith and enjoy abundant life, or we can yield unto sin and endure a defeated life. God would have us to “know and experience the power of a yielded life.” By the way, I have met many "committed" Christians. However, they were committed to church, to a building, to a denomination, or to a certain doctrinal creed. Not only must we not yield to sin, but we must not yield to the traditions and religions of man if we really want to walk in the abundant life of Christ. The power of a yielded life will lift us above circumstances that tries to cut off abundant living. The abundant life begins when we yield to Him as Master, allowing Him to live His life through us by faith. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
Categories
All
|