2 Corinthians Lesson 6 “Do not be bound together with unbelievers;” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1

2 Corinthians

Lesson 6“Do not be bound together with

unbelievers;”2 Cor. 6:14-7:1

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Introduction

• Paul warns the Corinthians not to be bound together with unbelievers

• In other translations, the warning is not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers

• Does Paul mean we should isolate ourselves from those in the world and only have relationships with Christians?

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Paul's Warning

New American Standard Bible

2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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Paul's Warning

New King James Version

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

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Paul Does Not Mean That We Should Isolate Ourselves From The World

1Co 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

1Co 5:10 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.

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Paul Does Not Mean That We Should Isolate Ourselves From The World

1Co 5:11 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.

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What Is Paul Forbidding?

• Many have wrongly taught that Paul is forbidding Christians from marrying non-Christians

• But, this is not the case because Paul instructs Christians how they should live if they are married to unbelievers

• It may not be wise to marry an unbeliever but it is not sinful

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Paul Does Not Forbid Marrying An Unbeliever

1Co 7:12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.

1Co 7:13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.

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1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

1Co 7:15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

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1Co 7:16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

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• From verses before and after the warning, we see Paul is forbidding Christians from having relationships with unbelievers where our faith in the Lord is compromised

• In other words, we are forbidden from having relationships with unbelievers where we either approve of or participate in their sins

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• Just like yoking two different kinds of animals together would be problematic, yoking a Christian and unbeliever together united in sin is unacceptable

• In the immediate context, Paul condemns approving and financially supporting those who teach error

• In the remote context, we become unequally yoked in any relationship that compromises our faith in Christ

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Relationships With Unbelievers Where Our Faith Is Compromised Are Forbidden

2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2Co 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

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Picture of Unequal Yoking From Old Testament

Forbidding yoking together clean and unclean animals

Deu 22:10 "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

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Relationships Supporting and Approving False Teachers Forbidden

2Co 6:11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.

2Co 6:12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.

2Co 6:13 Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide to us also.

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2Co 11:4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

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2Co 11:12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.

2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

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2Jn 1:9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

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2Jn 1:11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

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Relationships With Unbelievers Where Our Faith Is Compromised Are Forbidden

Eph 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

Eph 5:12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

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Divine Promises Given To Christians

2Co 6:16 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.

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Divine Promises Given To Christians

2Co 6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.

2Co 6:18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

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Jesus’ Church Is The Temple of The Living God Today

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1Co 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

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What Must Christians Do To Please God And Still Associate With Unbelievers?

• To avoid being unequally yoked or bound together with unbelievers, Christians must live holy (separate) lives, seeking to be cleansed of sins and dedicated to God’s service

• We must remain loyal to Christ in all our relationships

• We fear God above all knowing we will be judged by Him

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What Must Christians Do To Please God And Still Associate With Unbelievers?

2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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Christians Must Be Cleansed From All Sins

Mat 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Act 22:16 'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Christians Must Perfect Holiness In The Fear of God

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Eph 5:27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

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Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

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2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2Co 5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

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“Do not be bound together with unbelievers;”

1. What is Paul forbidding?

2. What Divine promises are given to Christians?

3. What must Christians do to please God and still associate with unbelievers?

Documents

2 Corinthians Lesson 6 “Do not be bound together with unbelievers;” 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1