Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Another challenging passage - v14
- To consider what this means 'do not be unequally yoked'
- We need to ask God to search our hearts
- Heb 12:1 - to lay aside every weight and snare
- Sin strangles the Christian, it can become woven around our hearts, it becomes a web of sin
- Examples
- Some very plain speech - do not be unequally yoked, all ungodly associations, anything that will bind and corrupt you
- Paul has become concerned for the Corinthians
- They have become quiet
- They are not opening up with him - almost cutting him off
- v11-13
- Paul wants them to be open with him
- Paul is being open with them
- Paul says there is a paradox about he and the disciples – v8-10
- Paul wants them to be separate from all worldly standards
- He uses Old Testament verses
- Do not be unequally yoked
- Not just marriage
- Pagan festivals
- 1 Cor 11 - too much wine (maybe at parties)
- Things that seemed neutral that weren't - but pagan
- Overview:
- What this does not mean
- What is does mean
- How it applies to us
What this does not mean
- That you cannot associate or have friends with non-Christians
- 1 Cor 5:9-11
- In the Church - to separate yourself from believers who are acting immorally or sinfully
- Pray for them, call them to repent
- There might be limits on friendship with non-Christians
- Not just speaking about marriage but idolatry and immorality
- v16
- How can you go to temples and participate in pagan worship?
- How can you pray with parents to idols?
- 7:1 - Paul commanded the Corinthians to cleanse themselves
What is does mean
- Paul borrows Old Testament imagery
- Deut 22:10 - A donkey should not be unequally yoked to an ox
- The ox may damage the donkey
- If you enter into binding situations, you can become damaged or corrupted
- Examples
- When you become a Christian - your lifestyle must change
- It does mean choice of marriage partner - since this is the deepest tie
- You become one with your spouse - joined by God
- Why would a believer want to join with an unbeliever - two fundamentally different world views
- People may think God will save their spouse - He may
- Often the unbeliever drags the believer away from God
- 1 Cor 7, 1 Pet 3 - you will always have Christians married to non-Christians
- Where one is saved and the other not
- Not to separate but to witness to them
- Fellowship, communion, accord, part, agreement - contrasted against ...
- Lawlessness, darkness, Belial, unbeliever
- Christians are not superior - by God's grace we are saved
- Eph 5:5-11 – the Bible is very clear
- What do you do if you see a Christian returning to this lifestyle?
- Warn them
- Pull them out of the fire
- We are not to be conformed to the world but live a life of separation - v17
- Are we separate, distinct, different?
- Perfect holiness in the fear of God - 7:1
How it applies to us
- As a church body
- We are autonomous and self-governing
- We have wider fellowship (with Gospel believing churches) - specifically within the AECW
- We cannot have fellowship with those who deny the word of God - examples
- We must be careful about those we accept into membership
- As individuals
- James 4:4
- We cannot follow two masters:
- God and this world
- God and money - consider how much we are spending on ourselves vs what we are giving to the Lord
- Are you different?
- Do you value the huge sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
- What difference does that mean in reality?
- 1 John 2:15-16
- True satisfaction, life and joy is found in Jesus
- The blessings of fellowship with God - v16,18
- Do not be unequally yoked