Key verse: II Corinthians 6:14 " Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?."

Biblical truth: We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, but are still in a body of flesh in a sinful world. God has separated us for Himself in salvation and desires that we separate ourselves from sin and sinful actions to God and holiness. It is a personal, spiritual discipline.

Our God is holy and desires that we be holy also. He wants us to resist the temptations of sin and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. (James 1:27) By that He means that though we live with sin all around us, we are to not participate in it. It will leave spots and scars on us and make it hard for us to serve the Lord and be a proper testimony of His power in our lives. Separation is not just the turning away from an old lifestyle but turning to a new one. One that walks with the Lord daily and lets Him guide and control our lives.

Separated to God, separated from sin

(II Corinthians 6:14-7:1) Being a Christian and trying to continue in our old lifestyle is like two different sized animals trying to plough together in a yoke. One is bigger and stronger than the other, so the partnership does not function well. These verses give comparisons of things that cannot work together. Jesus can make no partnership with the devil, light cannot share the same room with darkness neither can a temple to the one true God have any room for false gods or idols. Just as these things cannot go together, we cannot be a Christian and live like we did before we knew Christ. So we separate ourselves from that old lifestyle that Christ saved us from, to a new and wonderful life that He saved us for. Separated to God from sin

1. Separation to God is the most important part of the process. Separation from the old life is only possible because of the new life we have in Christ. He gives us new desires, new ambitions and a new lifestyle. (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1)

   a. I have been forgiven for much and so I love much (Luke 7:47)

   b. Our desire to know God intimately is far greater now than our desire to do things that do not please Him (Philippians 3:4-8)

   c. To love the world would be to commit spiritual adultery against a Holy God (James 4:4)

   d. I do not want to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit has been given to me by God to help me life a holy life. I have the power to live a holy life (Ephesians 4:30, 1Thessalonians 5:19)

   e. Living a sacrificial life is reasonable for me (Romans 12:1)

   f. I do not want to take advantage or abuse His great love for me or use the grace that He has given me as permission or license to sin (Romans 5:20-6:2)

   g. I want to be a vessel fit for the Master's use (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

   h. I want God to be glorified in and through my life (Matthew 5:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12)

2. Separation from sin (Titus 2:11-12) this is a personal spiritual discipline that must be developed and made a lifelong habit.

   a. Separation starts with acknowledging your responsibility to confess and forsake sin in your life, not try to cover it up (Proverbs 28:13)

   b. Protect your mind by not allowing sinful thoughts to control it (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

   i. Be discerning about what you watch, listen to, and participate in (Psalm 101:3)

   ii. Don't make provision for the flesh, that is to say, don't indulge your flesh in the things it likes because it can never be satisfied but will constantly require more (Romans 13:14)

   c. Always look for your way of escape from temptation because there will always be one (1 Corinthians 10:13)

   d. Be quick to judge your sins yourself (1 Corinthians 11:31-32)

   i. Consider why it happened

   ii. Make adjustments in your life to not fall again

   iii. Renew your mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:2)

   iv. Don't justify yourself or make excuses

   e. Walk in the power of the Spirit of God

   i. Learn to recognize the work of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:16-25)

   ii. Yield your life and allow the Holy Spirit of God to direct your life (Romans 6:13, 16, 12:1)

   f. Fill your heart with the Word of God (Psalm 119:11)

   g. Acknowledge your sin and His forgiveness and go on!

   h. Practical application of separation (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

   i. You will not need a lot of instruction about what not to do if you listen to the Holy Spirit as He works in your life

   ii. You want to develop a hatred for sin that caused you to be separated from God and condemned to Hell

   iii. You want to develop a love for God that makes you hate whatever would pull you from Him or be an offense to Him

   iv. Your friendships should not pull you away from the things of God (2 Corinthians 6:14, Amos 3:3)

   v. Stay away from whatever is clearly a work of darkness (2 Corinthians 6:16)

   vi. Separate yourself from false teachers (1 Timothy 6:3-5, 1:3-4, 4:7, Galatians 3:1, 2 John 9-11)

   vii. Separate yourself from a love for this world (1 John 2:15-16, James 4:4)

Can you list any worldly things that would be more important than a close relationship with God?

Personal study time and application:

Reading: Separation is spiritual growth. Salvation happens in an instant, but separation and sanctification (setting yourself apart) happens over time. There will be an initial separating from many things that are not pleasing to God but there will be a lifetime of spiritual maturing that will continue the process. It will not be fully complete until we are in the presence of Jesus. (I John 3:1-3)

Read these passages about God and His holiness. How is holiness being like God?

1Peter 1:15 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;" 1Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Which of God's attributes can we imitate?

In what ways can a separated life benefit a person outside of the purely spiritual aspects?