2 Corinthians 6:14 -7:1 – Living a separated life for Christ

This instruction not to yoke together with unbelievers was quite a problem for the new converts in Corinth. They all came from backgrounds where no gods ever demanded exclusive worship. Each person had the right to choose whoever and whatever he or she wanted to worship. They usually had more than one whom they would give their allegiance to. Hence apart from being committed to Christ, many Corinthians would also give their devotion to other gods. As religion was a part of everyday life, it was easy for them to continue in their idolatrous past. So Paul had to address the issue.  

 

In verses 14-16 Paul asked a series of five rhetorical questions. Every question presupposed a no for an answer. Paul used five words: partnership, fellowship, harmony, common, and agreement to help the Corinthians see the need to separate themselves from their pagan past. Having been separated unto God and become righteous through Christ, they must choose between their idols and Christ.  

Then picking up from the idea that the Christian community formed the temple of God, Paul gave his thoughts on what they should do to be the dwelling place of God. In them we also see God’s promises to His people. While Paul did not use specific Scriptural references, the thought came from the Scriptures. Here God promised that He would live among them and walk with them. He would be their God and they His people. Verse 17 urged them to be separated from their past. This is because while the Corinthians may have left their pagan idols, there was a continual need to be cleansed from their defilement because of the ingrained past. God demanded that they should not touch the unclean things, idols precisely, so that He could welcome them. When they had done that, God would be a father to them and they would be His sons and daughters.

 

Bear in mind that paganism had deeply penetrated the society and culture of the Corinthians. Paul was writing to a people widely influenced by it and because of that, the ease of walking back into their past. So in the first verse of chapter 7, Paul climaxed by calling the people to be separated unto Christ. Since the Corinthians had received those promises of God, they should act upon the conditions stipulated in them. They should not be influenced by those things that could affect their walk with, and service to God.

Today God is still calling us to be His sanctified people: to perfect holiness by setting aside ourselves to God, to let His priorities be ours. Just as Paul instructed the Corinthians, we ought to do this out of fear or reverence for God, Who had called us to Himself. We are to be set apart continually unto God. We must commit ourselves to live like Christ for His priorities and purposes. So let’s obey His command, “Be ye separate.”