Do not be Yoked Together With Unbelievers

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Key Verse 6:14

This passage touches upon several key conditions that must be satisfied in order for true freedom from what is limited to become a reality for us. Note that it is for freedom that Christ set us free. This freedom can be found only in God who made us to be holy. 

1. Read verse 14. What does it mean to “not be yoked together with unbelievers”? Why should a believer not be yoked together with unbelievers? (15-16)

** It means to be tied up with unbelievers as the case of two cows or oxen being yoked together, making it difficult if not impossible to extricate oneself out of the yoke. An example would be getting into a marriage relationship with an unbeliever.

** No fellowship, no commonness, no harmony, and no agreement would be possible between the two groups of people.

 

2. Read verse 16 again. What does “we are the temple of the living God” mean? 

** In the Old Testament Scriptures the temple of the Lord comes with different names: The Tent of Meeting (Exodus 28:43); Tabernacle (Exodus 25:9), or a dwelling place (Lev 15:31). 

One way to better understand its inner workings would be to take a look at the way in which the Ark of the Covenant was structured.

It is in and through this place that the Lord God communicated with the Israelites (Exodus 25:22; 29:42; Lev 1:1; Num 7:89) It was in this place that the Israelites via representation by the priesthood proceeded to God’s throne of grace and truth, had their sins forgiven, and were blessed by Him.

This tent however is foreshadow of the reality to come, that is, Jesus Christ and the fellowship of believers with God in and through Jesus. This fellowship takes place in the innermost sanctum of man’s body. To make this possible, the Lord God puts the Holy Spirit in a believer. 1Co 6:19 [Read 1Co 6:15-16 as well.] On a grander scheme, the whole congregation of believers is called a temple of God (Eph 2:21-22). In 1 Pet 2:5 the Apostle Peter calls this “a spiritual house”. [Read also John 14:20; 17:21-23]. In Revelation 22:1-3 it is called the city of the Lamb or of God. 

 

Read verse 17. The word “them” in verse 17 refers to unbelievers. What does it mean to “come out” or “be separate” from them? What does “unclean thing” refer to? Why is it necessary to not only “come out” but also “be separate” from them? How are the expressions “come out”, “be separate” and “touch no unclean thing” related to one another?

** It means to “come out” and “be separate”. The point here is that one must mean business in not following the practices of unbelievers; it is to completely depart from the ways and lifestyles of unbelievers. 

Notice that Paul is dealing with young Christians, for they are yet to be fully rooted in Jesus. Only after you are fully established in the Lord, you can now go into the world of unbelievers, and preach the gospel to them, according to God’s wisdom, love, and power. 

The order here is important: first you come out and separate from unbelievers; you get into a believing environment where you need to take root in the Lord.  Then you can go out and associate with unbelievers, not to identify yourself with them, but to persuade them to come out of darkness and walk into the light of Christ. 

** Unclean thing – Isaiah adopted this term in Isa 52:11 where through the Prophet Isaiah the Lord God spoke against the idol worship of the Israelites living in the land of Canaan. 

Therefore it means all that God hates, such as the so called seven deadly sins. Categorically it means all that are true of a man who does not believe in the Lord, but live according to one’s sinful nature. In the Bible it has many different names like sins, wickedness,  darkness or idolatry. 

** Come out – it is a preparation for becoming separate; 

Be separate – it is to protect yourself from unbelievers’ influencing you, giving you an opportunity to grow up in the Lord. 

** They are progressive in that you first come out, then become separate, and then never again adopt the unbelievers’ idolatrous ways of life. The point is to exhort them not to put one foot in the world and another in the Lord; rather put both feet in the Lord. 

 

Read 2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1. What do “these promises” refer to? What is “holiness”? 

** The promise to be received by God, the promise to have the Lord Almighty as the Father, and the promise to have an intimate fellowship with Him. 

** It denotes God’s nature which is different from that of all creations, that is, free from and independent of all that are created. Its essential nature is freedom from what is limited. Idol worship is to go for what is limited. Morals and ethics, laws and regulations, all go to worshiping the Lord, so that man would not be limited or ruled in any way by what is limited but influenced only by God the Father, for it is only in this context that one can find true freedom, with unlimited possibility to grow up to the fullness of God. 

The end

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