FEBRUARY 27, 2022
AN EXHORTATION TO SEPARATION
INTRODUCTION:
1. Paul described himself as an ambassador as being a worker together with God. (Verse 1) He went forth in Christ’s stead, beseeching sinners to be reconciled to God. (Ch. 5:20) His commission and his message as an ambassador were of pure grace. He therefore earnestly besought those to whom he was sent that they “receive not the grace of God in vain,” i.e. that they hear it not without effect.
2. What amazing grace it is, first of all, that God will be reconciled to fallen men who became His enemies without a cause. Now, He will be reconciled to them without a cause. But, the Word of reconciliation (the Gospel message of grace) involves more than God’s willingness to be reconciled, it includes all necessary provisions for this reconciliation, which His grace has supplies through the atoning sacrifice of His Son.
(Ch. 5:21)
3. Paul here quotes Isaiah 49:8 where it was foretold that the Servant of Jehovah would “in a time accepted” come, and that God would by Him make all necessary provisions for man’s restoration. (Verse 2; comp.
Gal. 4:4) The phrase “a time accepted” could have been rendered “a time of grace.” The “day of salvation” is “a day of grace.” In this day of salvation, the Gospel of grace is preached. See that you receive not the grace of God in vain.
4. In further defense of his ministry, Paul in Verse 3 and following, declares the methods and conditions of his ministry. He remained faithful under the severest of circumstance. (Verses 3-10)
5. In our present passage we have an epilogue to the preceding vindication, in which he expresses a strong love for the Corinthians. (Verses 11-13) This is followed by an exhortation to keep themselves separate from contaminating alliances. (Verses 14-18)
I. PAUL PREFACES HIS EXHORTATION TO SEPARATION WITH A PROFESSION OF HIS STRONG AFFECTION FOR THEM. (VERSES 11-13)
A. THE DIRECT ADDRESS USED BY THE APOSTLE IS EXPRESSIVE OF STRONG FEELINGS.
(VERSE 11a; GAL. 3:1) “O ye Corinthians…”
B. NOTICE HOW HIS LOVE FOR THEM MANIFESTED ITSELF. (VERSE 11)
1. It was irrepressible. “Our mouth is open unto you.”
a) This expression means to begin to speak, or to speak. (Matt. 5:2; Acts 8:32, 35)
b) As the context here shows, Paul is saying, that his love for them is expressed freely and openly.
c) Paul spoke nothing to or about the Corinthians that did not flow from a heart of love.
2. It was powerful and abundant. “Our heart is enlarged.”
a) “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
b) Christian love expands the heart, and nothing else can have this effect. A man may expand his intellect with ideas, but the heart, out of which are “the issues of life,” only by love.
c) It was because his heart was so enlarged by love for them that he opened his mouth so freely to them in kind admonitions and exhortations.
3. Let us learn from this that a faithful minister ministers out of love for his people. His encouragement and words of praise, as well as his warnings and corrections, are delivered out of a heart of love.
C. PAUL WOULD HAVE HIS LOVE FOR THEM TO BE RECIPROCAL. (VERSES 12, 13)
1. Their love for Paul was not enlarged and expansive, like his was for them. It was, instead, narrow and restricted. “Ye are straitened.”
a) This lack of room or narrowness of sympathy was not due to any want of room in his heart for them. “Ye are not straitened in us.”
b) Their own hearts were to blame for their lack of love. “You are straitened in your own bowels,” i.e. in your own hearts and affections.
2. He begs them to give him a return in kind. “Now for a recompense in the same.” He would have them to reciprocate.
3. His love to them was as that of a father to his children. His heart was enlarged with fatherly love for them. Like any father, he longs to have the hearts of his children enlarged toward him. “I speak as unto children, be ye also enlarged.” (See also I Cor. 4:14; I Thess. 2:11)
4. This fatherly love is clearly seen in the following prohibition.
II. PAUL STRONGLY WARNS AGAINST ALL CORRUPTING ALLIANCES. (VERSES 14-18) It is likely that the alienation of some of the Corinthians from Paul had its roots in their associations with unbelievers. Particularly, this may have been the case among Gentile converts, some of whom were want to attend the sacrificial feasts of the heathen. (I Cor. 8-10) “Unequally yoked” is a metaphor derived for Lev. 19:19 and Deut. 22:10, and is the opposite of “true yoke-fellows.” (Phil 4:3)
A. THE PASSAGE FORBIDS “UNEQUAL YOKING” IN THREE BASIC AREAS.
1. In stated relations. It is wrong for God’s people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane. Those relations that are our choice must be chosen by rule of Scripture. Children of God must join with those who are likewise. There is more danger that the unsaved party will be a bad influence on the saved party, than the other way around.
2. In common relations. We should not yoke ourselves in friendships and acquaintances with ungodly men. Although we cannot wholly avoid these associations, we should not make unsaved people our bosom-friends.
3. In religious communion. We must not, under any circumstances join in any idolatrous service or false worship. We must not confound together the table of the Lord and the table of the devil, the house of God and the house of Rimmon. (I Cor. 10:21; II Kings 5:18)
B. THE APOSTLE GIVES SEVERAL GOOD REASONS WHY WE MUST AVOID THIS KIND OF CORRUPT MIXTURE. (VERSES 14-18)
1. It is a very great absurdity. (Verses 14, 15) It is an unequal yoking of things together that cannot agree together.
a) What an absurdity to think of joining righteousness with unrighteousness, i.e. lawlessness.
b) What could be more antithetical than light and darkness? Light is the common scriptural emblem of knowledge, holiness, and blessedness. Darkness, on the other hand, is the emblem of error, sin, and misery. Satan’s kingdom is called the kingdom of darkness. This antithesis is especially prominent in Eph. 5:9-11 and Col. 1:12, 13. (See also John 1:5; 3:19; I John 1:5; Luke 16:8;
I Thess. 5:5) Paul was sent to turn men from darkness to light. (Acts 26:18; Rom. 13:12;
Eph. 5:8, 9)
c) There can be no possibility of harmony between Christ and Belial. (See I Cor. 10:21) Christ is God manifested in the flesh. Belial (the wicked one, Satan) is the prince of Darkness. Where could be the concord?
d) What part (participation) has a believer with an infidel, i.e. one who is so destitute of faith as to deny the Gospel to be a revelation from God. The word is translated “unbeliever” in Verse 14. What can these two opposites possibly have in common?
2. It is a dishonor to the Christian profession. (Verse 16)
a) Christians are by profession, and should be in reality, “the temples of the living God.” Thus they are dedicated to, and employed for the service of God. God resides in them and walks in them.
(I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:21, 22; I Tim. 3:15)
b) Since idols are rivals to God, there can be no point of agreement between us and idols.
(I John 5:21)
3. There is great danger involved in any of these unequal yokings. (Verse 17)
a) The danger of becoming defiled. “Touch not the unclean thing.”
b) The danger of being rejected. We must take care not to become spotted by the world and sin. So is the will of God, of Whom we hope to be received into His favor.
4. It is God’s fatherly favor that we would not jeopardize by engaging in unholy alliances. (Verse 18) As His children we have the care and protection of the Almighty God, Who lovingly and graciously calls us His sons and daughters.
Speak Your Mind