Intro: Sometimes the take away message we read and receive from the Word of God is simple and straightforward. For example, when Jesus comes to live on the inside of us, we become a living container for His holy spiritual presence. Whether or not someone understands “how” such a thing is possible, the concept or plan of God to live within us is pretty simple and forthright. God with us!
Jesus tells the unbeliever Nicodemus he must be born again; born of the Spirit. (John 3:3-5). When we are born again, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live on the inside of believers [those who accept Christ’s sacrificial death for our sins]; it is the work of the Spirit who seeks to help us live like Jesus. The Spirit is like an internal GPS [God’s Positioning System]. So when believers choose to live like the world, our consciences and convictions fight an inner battle as the Spirit rises up to be our Protector and Rescuer from evil. If we demand our own way, we grieve the Spirit with our sin which sears our consciences. When believers choose disobedience and practice sin we are resisting the blessings of the rebirth.
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul gives the early church in Corinth what can be viewed as a warning, as well as encouragement. He warns them to be diligent with their relationships, because many of them have been slipping away from their devotion to God. They certainly love God and desire to serve Him; however, because of their binding relationships with unbelievers, their vision of God begins to change. It can be terribly hard to stand solid on our convictions of Truth from the Spirit when many people we love have a very different view.
Paul encourages these early Christians by giving them examples of just how different the life of a Christ follower must be then an unbeliever. A believer works in the power of the Spirit by the grace of God. Paul wants these Corinthians to understand they are allowing themselves to be vulnerable and influenced by the world in their thinking instead of allowing the Spirit to renew their minds. Paul never tells the Corinthian believers to leave their unbelieving spouses or families. He does not teach them to refrain from reaching out to unbelievers with the liberating gospel of Christ. He simply encourages them to understand the battle going on between light and darkness, so they must press in deeper for the grace of God to remain faithful to the Truth.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 NLT The Temple of the Living God
6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
17
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
18
And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
7:1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
Prayer: Lord, sometimes we feel such a pull from the world. The enemy works to make us feel guilty if we disagree with others even though we love them. Truth is not agreement with the world; truth is agreement with you, Lord. So, help us to share and speak the Truth of Christ in your agape whenever we can do so. We know Light and darkness will never coexist; there will always be a separation in Christ. Yet, Holy Spirit, help us to be people of influence and integrity in all of our relationships, so we represent you well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.