Lord’s Day, Vol. 1 No. 5

Be Ye Separate (2 Corinthians 6:17)

2 Corinthians 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.

Introduction

The call for Christians to live holy lives is a warning to awake Christians who are entangled with sin. These are words spoken with great urgency for the well-being of souls in the face of God’s judgment. Habitual sinning dulls spiritual senses, grieving the Holy Spirit in the believer’s heart.

“Be ye separate” is the command given to unrepentant Christians, indulging in sinful lifestyles, to quit sinning. Without having to go to the specifics, it suffices to sound the warning so that readers may take time for self-reflection.

God’s blessing will be withheld when there is sin in the camp. Such a church will not thrive and prosper. The early church was taught to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled and from blood (Acts 15:20). Any laxity in faithfulness, any departure from God’s laws can incur the wrath of God when it is left unchecked. James warns, “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15) The early church witnessed Ananias and Sapphira chastised by God when their lives were taken because they lied to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:3). The Bible recorded that “great fear came upon all them that heard these things” (Acts 5:5).

(1) Not an option but a divine command

We worship an omniscient God. None can escape His watchful eyes. Therefore, it is pertinent and most timely to sound the alarm. And the admonition to “stand apart”, to be separate from sin is not an option but a call to safety. Stop living precariously, foolishly, wantonly!

Born-again Christians have the power to overcome sin. This is an appeal for Christians to exercise the power vested in them to say “no” to sin “NOW”. At this very moment, be separate! There isn’t time to linger like Lot’s wife did before she was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26). God rained fire and brimstone to destroy the sin-laden cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot escaped by the breath of his hair. He had to be physically dragged by the angels, sent by God, to safety. Lot’s soul was vexed by the pollutions of sin in Sodom and yet he dwelled comfortably in Sodom. He was most culpable for the sorry state of his family, compromised with the sin of worldliness.

How do we make right with God when we have sinned against Him? It is to walk in purity of heart by confessing our sins before Him and asking for forgiveness. As the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:5-10, “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

To acknowledge our sins before God and seek His forgiveness is the first step. Having been cleansed and renewed by God, action must be taken to ensure that sin is nipped in the bud henceforth.

(2) Touch Not the Unclean Thing

The action of separating from sin involves not going back to sin. “Touch not” is a command for personal action to continually abstain from the pollution of the sin called “the unclean thing”. There is a constant reliance on the power of God through prayer to overcome and live victoriously. Yield not to temptation for yielding is sin.

How can the believer receive strength to overcome sin? The psalmist gave this advice to keep meditating, delighting and hiding God’s Word in our hearts:

Psalm 119:9-16 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

When sin is put away, godliness must be put on. Searching God’s Word for ways by which we can put on godliness is a delightful process. It brings great peace and joy to the restored heart. Searching God’s Word for wisdom against succumbing to temptation is also a delightful process. It is profitable to take the time to learn and to put to practice. This can come through our daily devotions and more specifically our personal bible study time where we draw strength from God to nourish our souls.

The practical aspect of re-ordering our lives that are pleasing to God may involve a re-orientation of our daily activities, our social circle and our time. It pays to make a spiritual stock-take by examining how we have been spending our time.

“Touching not” involves separating ourselves from the environment and people that lead us to sin against God. For working adults and those joining the workforce, be aware, for example, of the snare of clubbing (also known as club culture). It is the custom of visiting and gathering socially at nightclubs (discotheques, discos or pubs). That includes socializing, networking, listening to music, dancing, drinking alcohol and sometimes using recreational drugs.¹ This form of social life is prevalent amongst the working adults today. May God help our young adults from succumbing to peer pressure to conform to such a work-culture of our day!

CONCLUSION

It is pleasing to the Lord that His people would take time for self-examination and have the courage to put away any besetting sin and live holy lives to the glory of His Name. Amen.

Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee