Introduction: God is intentional in everything that He commands us in His Word. God wants what is best for his children. Because of it, there are some boundaries that God has put in place for the believer. These things are for our protection because God loves us and wants us to be protected. Just because we stay away from certain things or people doesn’t make us mean or unloving. The God we serve is not tolerant of Sin and neither should we. We are to be Holy as God is Holy I Peter 1:15-16. When we don’t separate ourselves from sin, it affects our relationship and fellowship between us and God.
A Christian is to be Separate from:
- Unbelievers– II Corinthians 6:14-15, 17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate” This includes marriage, business, friendship, etc. Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
- Vs 14 Righteousness with Unrighteousness
- Vs 14 Light with Darkness (Ephesians 5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light”. (all works of darkness).
- Vs 15 Concord hath Christ with Belial (I Corinthians 10:21 “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils”.
- Vs 15 Believer and Unbeliever (Infadel)
- Vs 16 What agreement hath the Temple of God with with Idols (Thou shalt have none other gods before me Deut 5:7).
- Unbelievers walk in unrighteousness, darkness, with Belial, and with Idols. They are blinded by the god of this world, they will die in their sins, they are already condemned. Theres a reason why we are to be different.
- Anything that will harm your body- “Glorify God in your body”.
- False Teachers– Romans 16:17 / II Peter 2:1-2 they are among us. Galatians 1:6-10 another gospel. These people will change the Bible to say what they want it to say. They will pervert it and take it out of context.
- What they teach is false. Most of them are lascivious or sensual. They teach things to make money. This person is known as an heretics according to Titus 3:9-11
- They bring damnable heresies, they deny the Lord, they follow their pernicious ways, they make merchandise of you.
- There are many churches in this town that teach things that are contrary to the word of God and they are known as false teachers.
- Worldliness– Places, people, and things- I John 2:15-16 “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”.
- Luke 12:16-21 “So is he that layette up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”.
- James 4:4 “a friend of the world is the enemy of God”.
- Romans 12:2 “ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
- Profane and Vain Babblings– II Timothy 2:16-18 (Profane- irreverent, godless talk) (Vain- empty and meaningless) (Babbling- godless discussions / empty voices).
- This will increase unto more ungodliness. It must be stopped. Positions, opinions, differences, arguments.
- These people err from the truth as was Hymenaeus and Philetus.
- False Religions– II John 9-11 Catholic church, charismatic church, and cult gatherings such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witness. (Don’t let them in your home).
- If you have these false teachers come to visit your house with their false religions, don’t let them inside your house or bid them God speed. Don’t encourage them.
- Don’t let them around children, other believers to share ideas, not in our churches, meetings, etc. Don’t support them in any way whatsoever.
- Matthew 7:15-23 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”.
- We have to contend for the faith.
- Disobedient Believers– II Thessalonians 3:6-7 “Now we command you…that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walkers disorderly..”
- I Corinthians 5:6-13 “with such an one no not to eat”.
- A little leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump. The sin of this person will spread in the church if it is not dealt with.
- The jewish passover feast required getting rid of all leaven. (Ye are unleavened-no sin). They were new lumps, new creatures.
- This person walks disorderly and refuses to repent for his disobedience.
Separate from anything that will overthrow your faith in God such as People, clubs, or organizations. Anything that will destroy your testimony. I Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Will it weaken or strengthen my testimony. Separate from things that will cause you to sin. Separate from things that will cause a brother to stumble. I Corinthians 8:13. Moses did it in Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”. Separate from things that don’t bring glory to God. Col 3:17 “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Conclusion: the doctrine of separation is important and not many Christians today follow it. Instead they want to live the way they want and just sprinkle God here and there. Not so!
Anchor Baptist Church 