THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE
SEPARATE SAYS THE LORD.AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; AND I WILL WELCOME YOU.
II CORINTHIANS 6:17
"If you love Me,
you will keep My commandments"
John 14:15
Matthew 10:34-39
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Throughout the Bible, the Lord commands His people to separate from those who are not His people. In the Old Testament the Israelites are constantly reminded to separate themselves from the heathen nations who practiced idolatry and worshipped false gods. Whenever the Jews ignored this command they would become partakers in the sins and idolatries of these nations and become unfaithful to the Lord. The same principle is commanded to Christians as it relates to fellowship with unbelievers and those who practice sin, because God knows that
"Bad company corrupts good morals." (I Corinthians 15:33)In
Luke 18:8, Jesus wonders if He will find anyone faithful on the earth when He returns. In Revelation 3:4, there are only a "few" in the church that will walk with Jesus in white. In the last church of the last days, Revelation 3:16, there is no one! The Lord says He will spit (vomit, in Greek) them out of His mouth.In
Revelation 18:4, during the 7 year tribulation period, some of the believers do not stay separate, but are involved with the Harlot, Babylon, the false church of that time. The voice from heaven warns them to "come out of her" (the Harlot false church) "MY PEOPLE" (the true believers) to avoid the discipline of their disobedience.You may be in a "Christian" church that has a false gospel, no gospel, or unbiblical doctrines right now! Or you may know other believers who are in error. You must be faithful and gracious to provide the biblical information exposing their errors, and explain why you must obey God's commands and separate from them if they continue in error. If they are reasonable and teachable, you need to be willing to spend the time necessary to correct them, in obedience to the following verses:
ll Timothy 2.24, 25
“And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God will grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of truth, "II Thessalonians 3:15
"And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."Proverbs 27:5-6
Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.Proverbs 28:23
He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.John 14:21,23,24
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.James 1:22
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
SEPARATION FROM UNBELIEVERS
UNBELIEVERS
-- those who do not believe that Jesus is Creator God, equal to His Father, or they do not believe that forgiveness from hell is a one time, irrevocable free gift of grace to those who He has regenerated, by faith in His atonement alone!2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.God’s command here is very clear. His people have absolutely no fellowship with those who are not His people, because we are complete opposites, and cannot coexist in harmony together. We are commanded to dwell in the world rather than a monastic existence, in order that we may share the good news with the world, and live a lifestyle that is a living testimony of Jesus Christ, but must be careful not to become attached to the people and things of the world.
SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD
A major hindrance to coming to God and being truly regenerated is to separate ourselves from the world. Our flesh is drawn to such things, and is a powerful tool of Satan to prevent us from truly coming to God. He says we cannot truly love Him until we overcome our love of the world, because Satan is the god of this world and all of its appeals are of the flesh, and are in opposition to the Spirit of God.
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.This world is passing away, but God is eternal. We all have to make a decision as to whether we want to be of this world, or whether we want to be of God. God says we cannot have both, and if we try to come to Him without being willing to give up the lusts of the world, we will not find Him.
SEPARATION FROM SINNING CHRISTIANS
SINNING CHRISTIANS--
those who profess the true gospel of Jesus Christ, while willfully practicing sins which are expressly forbidden in scripture, and have refused to turn from them after being confronted by the brethren.2 Thessalonians 3:6-7
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,Paul is commanding the brethren to separate from anyone who does not follow the commandments of God, because he knows that these men will cause others to stumble also. As Christians we must carefully guard who we fellowship with, lest we adopt their bad habits also.
In this example the Corinthian Church is being rebuked by Paul because they have been tolerating a sinning Christian in their Church, and had not rebuked him or removed him from the fellowship.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.This was a man that claimed to be a brother in Christ, and probably professed the fundamentals of the gospel, yet was living an immoral lifestyle which indicates that he is not a regenerate man because he lives in open immorality without shame. Paul says that “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” which means that if you allow immoral people in the fellowship, soon the leaven (sin) will spread out of control. In order to maintain purity in the fellowship, sin must be dealt with immediately and separation is the only solution for those who refuse to adhere to God’s commandments.
JUDGING
God’s word gives us as Christians a set of standards and procedures for dealing with disputes and sin problems in the assembly. One important principle is to judge one another righteously rather than hypocritically. Judgment has to be done out of love to better one another, rather than out of self-righteousness or jealousy.
Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.John 7:24
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."Once you determine that there is a sin problem that needs to be dealt with, and you are judging righteously and with good motives, there is a procedure for handling the problem.
Luke 17:3
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.Here we see that God has a specific process for us to follow. First, any sincere Christian should be obedient to God’s commandments to begin with, and the private rebuke of a brother should be enough to convict us of any wrongdoing. If not, then two or more witnesses should be brought in to confront the sinner which should sufficiently confirm the allegations if the sinner still has doubt. If he still will not comply, the entire Church must confront him and separate from him if necessary.
Galatians 6:1
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.II Thessalonians 3:13-15
But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.Any disputes that arise among brethren should be resolved among the brethren. Paul says that we are more righteous judges being in Christ, than the unbelieving judges of the world, and therefore we are fully capable of handling all disputes that arise among ourselves.
I Corinthians 6:1-8
Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.
CHRISTIANS WITH FALSE DOCTRINE
God’s word tells us that we are not to tolerate teachers in the assembly who promote doctrines that are contrary to His word, and that we must expose them and separate from them if they will not cease.
Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
1 Timothy 4:1-7
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;God warned us that there would be many false teachers, and that we must not give them any credibility by associating ourselves with them. It is these false doctrines that cause division in the body of Christ, and unity can only exist in truth. Those who are adhering to truth should never compromise for the sake of feigned unity.
Colossians 2:16-23
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)--in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.There are many false teachers who invent doctrines forbidding what God permits, or requiring what God has not required. Some examples of this are prohibition of foods or alcoholic beverages, forbidding marriage, or requiring the keeping of Sabbath days, etc. These are man made requirements which means that they are following a man made religion that is not of God.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.Titus 3:9-11
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.There are those who invent false doctrine, or pervert God’s doctrine in order to draw people after themselves. There is always many people who are drawn to such teachers because they tickle their itching ears by telling them exactly what they want to hear, rather than what is true. God says we must separate from such teachers and reprove, rebuke, and exhort with great patience and instruction in order to expose them.
God says that His faithful called out believers must come out of the false Churches and separate from the false brethren. There is a severe judgment awaiting the Babylonian Harlot Churches, who have perverted God’s word, and accepted the doctrines of demons that were sold to them by preacher boy hucksters who were actually wolves in sheep’s clothing.
AND I HEARD ANOTHER VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING,
"COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE, THAT YOU MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN HER SINS AND THAT YOU MAY NOT
RECEIVE OF HER PLAGUES."
REVELATION 18:4
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