December 4, 2005

THE UNEQUAL YOKE

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

 

   "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers..." is the Lord's command through Paul. His appeal was to the saints at Corinth to enlarge their hearts toward him as a confirmation that they had not "receive[d] the grace of God in vain." Their links and ties to Paul were weak, yet it seemed some of them had strong connections to the unsaved quite inconsistent with our ministry.

   God's command for separation was followed by five rhetorical questions whose every answer must be in the negative, "for

      What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and

      What communion hath light with darkness? and

      What concord hath Christ with Belial? or

      What part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and

      What agreement hath the temple of God with (the temple of) idols?"

   Just as Paul showed how he endured both hardship and self sacrifice so the ministry would not be blamed, they also had a ministry and needed to realize that unequal yokes with unbelievers betrayed their calling and confused their message.

   God's message of reconciliation had just declared that we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. Shall we, who have received the gift of righteousness, yoke that righteousness together with unrighteousness? No way! Shall we, who in times past were "darkness and now made light in the Lord" (Eph. 5:8), link again with that darkness from which we have been delivered? No. Never!

   As we have come to see the work and worth of our beloved Savior, can there be any concord or harmony between Him and Belial, the worthless one, or the devil? Of course not! What part or sharing in common can there be between a believer with unbeliever? The only thing we have to share is the gospel! Can there be agreement between the Temple of God and the temple of idols? Gentiles sacrificed to demons and not to God.

   God calls us to separation and holiness to enjoy His presence, dwelling and walking among us, contingent upon our cleansing from filthiness of flesh and spirit, and "I will receive you."

 

Ivan L. Burgener