II Corinthians 6: 14-18
What does unequally yoked means? The best example we can tell is an armed forces life or a soldier’s life. There is a saying in military “Keep your own ranks; do not leave Christians and join with unbelievers (The Dake’s Bible). The verses indicate that some Corinthians were joining with the heathen in idolatrous feasts and other practices that would lead to apostasy (1 Cor 8: 3-13; 10:16-33).
The Bible helps us to understand the verse “Do not be yoked with unbelievers” well from these following questions:
I. What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness?
Righteousness can not mix with lawlessness. But who are these unrighteous & righteous peoples.
The Unrighteous people are described as per Bible are:- (Rom 1-4)
1. He who knows God, and neither glorified him, but their thinking became futile and their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
2. They claims to be wise, but they have became fools.
3. They exchanged the glory of the unmortal God for images made to look like mortal man & birds & animals & reptiles.
4. God gave them over in the sinful impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
5. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
6. And worshipped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised.
7. They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of god, he gave them over to a depraved mind, and to do what ought not to be done.
8. Now they become filled with …. All sort of lust.
9. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The Unrighteous people are described as per Bible are:- (Rom 1-4)
1. He who knows God, and neither glorified him, but their thinking became futile and their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
2. They claims to be wise, but they have became fools.
3. They exchanged the glory of the unmortal God for images made to look like mortal man & birds & animals & reptiles.
4. God gave them over in the sinful impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
5. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
6. And worshipped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised.
7. They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of god, he gave them over to a depraved mind, and to do what ought not to be done.
8. Now they become filled with …. All sort of lust.
9. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
But the Righteous people are as follows:-
1. Whatever has been appointed by God is to be acknowledged and obeyed by man (Matthew 3:15; 21:32).
2. Our religious duties are to be derived from His Word, not invented by us. They are to be performed in the right way; attitude of heart is just as important as external action (Matthew 6:1-18).
3. We are not righteous in ourselves. The only effective remedy is to apply to the righteousness of Another, even our God and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1). Christ’s righteousness is the righteous dealing of God with sin and with sinners on the ground of the death of Christ.
4. To Observe Christ teaching, his conduct, his aim in life, his faith, his patience, his love, his steadfastness, and to walk in the same manner until his return.
2. Our religious duties are to be derived from His Word, not invented by us. They are to be performed in the right way; attitude of heart is just as important as external action (Matthew 6:1-18).
3. We are not righteous in ourselves. The only effective remedy is to apply to the righteousness of Another, even our God and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1). Christ’s righteousness is the righteous dealing of God with sin and with sinners on the ground of the death of Christ.
4. To Observe Christ teaching, his conduct, his aim in life, his faith, his patience, his love, his steadfastness, and to walk in the same manner until his return.
But the Godly people are very few and they do not love the world or anything in the world. They consider God as the all- righteous One. They love God and Godliness and want live a righteous life. Hence, Righteousness can not mix with lawlessness.
II. What communion has Light with Darkness?
Light cannot have communion with Darkness. When light comes, darkness goes away. In the same manner when Christ comes into our lives we will find that, it’s hard to become friends with certain people and many friends may leave us due to the being a Christian. And many times we will find ourselves in a situation where we try to mingle with people and they hesitate to be friends with us and rather chose to be acquaintance e.g. work, college, schools and even church.
II. What communion has Light with Darkness?
Light cannot have communion with Darkness. When light comes, darkness goes away. In the same manner when Christ comes into our lives we will find that, it’s hard to become friends with certain people and many friends may leave us due to the being a Christian. And many times we will find ourselves in a situation where we try to mingle with people and they hesitate to be friends with us and rather chose to be acquaintance e.g. work, college, schools and even church.
How many times have you come back home complaining or murmuring saying no one is my friend, no one talks to me, nor has fellowship with me and ending up cursing and suspicious of being some serious problem within you? Yet, the fact remains that there is no problem with you but the problem is with others. Because the light that is in you cannot have anything common with the darkness. (Mathew 5:14).
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7). Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. (1 John 2:9-11)
III. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (Satan)? (2 Cor 6:15)
Christ and Belial cannot be of one accord. Believers’ father is called the Truth who is Christ Jesus and unbelievers father is called Satan who is the Father of Lies (John 8:44). Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother (1 John 3:7-10).
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.My dear brother& sister in Christ, be encouraged by the fact that you have chosen the right path in your life, may be you wont get rewards over here, but hold on to the Truth and run your race faithfully in Godly manner so that no one can take your reward up there and make sure that Godliness is found in you when Christ comes to receive his Bride.
III. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (Satan)? (2 Cor 6:15)
Christ and Belial cannot be of one accord. Believers’ father is called the Truth who is Christ Jesus and unbelievers father is called Satan who is the Father of Lies (John 8:44). Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother (1 John 3:7-10).
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.My dear brother& sister in Christ, be encouraged by the fact that you have chosen the right path in your life, may be you wont get rewards over here, but hold on to the Truth and run your race faithfully in Godly manner so that no one can take your reward up there and make sure that Godliness is found in you when Christ comes to receive his Bride.