Day 155
We will spend the next few days on the process of separation. We have already looked at the reason, duty and blessing of separation, but we need to know how to do it. This is the nuts and bolts aspect of this teaching. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The word "cleanse" is a verb in the subjunctive mood. This means that the writer's intent was to speak in the realm of potentiality or possibility. So what Paul is suggesting for us to do is possible. We can cleanse our self from filthiness.
What is the filthiness of flesh we are to be cleansed from? The flesh can be seen so Paul is writing about cleansing ourselves from things that the natural eye can see. He gives us a list in Galatians 5: 19-21: "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." These things are just for starters; they should be removed from the Christian's life. There is no place in the kingdom for the unclean murderous drunks. Based on Paul's other writings we know that homosexuality is included in "uncleanness." We are not just to cease from these activities ourselves, we are to separate from those that do them also.
As we shall see, separation does not mean that we do not live and work among them; it is just that when we are around them we serve as light and not darkness. Today, look at your life to make sure that the items on this list have been removed from your life. HINT: Don't go to fast through the list especially idolatry. Idolatry can be anything you place before God. What do you spend the most time reading? Books about God and the faith or secular books? Where do you spend your money? Do you contribute to the work of God or is your money spent on yourself or loved ones? Go slowly through the list and it will serve you well.
What is the filthiness of flesh we are to be cleansed from? The flesh can be seen so Paul is writing about cleansing ourselves from things that the natural eye can see. He gives us a list in Galatians 5: 19-21: "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." These things are just for starters; they should be removed from the Christian's life. There is no place in the kingdom for the unclean murderous drunks. Based on Paul's other writings we know that homosexuality is included in "uncleanness." We are not just to cease from these activities ourselves, we are to separate from those that do them also.
As we shall see, separation does not mean that we do not live and work among them; it is just that when we are around them we serve as light and not darkness. Today, look at your life to make sure that the items on this list have been removed from your life. HINT: Don't go to fast through the list especially idolatry. Idolatry can be anything you place before God. What do you spend the most time reading? Books about God and the faith or secular books? Where do you spend your money? Do you contribute to the work of God or is your money spent on yourself or loved ones? Go slowly through the list and it will serve you well.
