BE SEPARATE – SET APART FOR CHRIST – What Does It Mean To Be Separate & Set Apart for Christ? As “SO4J” (Sold Out For Jesus)-Believers-in-Jesus-Christ we need to be reminded of these scriptures below on a daily basis in Gods Word– as to not get caught up in the CARES and DISTRACTIONS of this TEMPORAL WORLD..I.e. We are to be IN the World.. But not OF this World… To Trust in JESUS and His Unfailing Word..! Also check out: 50 SIGNS OF A NO COMPROMISE CHRISTIAN
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)“Therefore, COME OUT from THEIR MIDST and BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “And DO NOT TOUCH what is UNCLEAN; and I will welcome you.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NASB)“Do NOT be BOUND TOGETHERwith UNBELIEVERS; for what PARTNERSHIP have RIGHTEOUSNESS and LAWLESSNESS, or what FELLOWSHIP has LIGHT with DARKNESS? 15) Or what HARMONY has CHRIST with BELIAL (the DEVIL), or what has a BELIEVER in common with an UNBELIEVER? 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. 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. 18) “And I will be a FATHERto you, and you shall be SONSand DAUGHTERS to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.”
- John 15:19 (NASB) JESUS says: If you were OF THE WORLD, the world would LOVE IT’S OWN; but because you are NOT of the WORLD, but I CHOSE YOU OUT of the WORLD, because of this the WORLD HATES YOU.”
- 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB) “Do NOTlove the WORLD nor the things in the WORLD. If anyone LOVES the WORLD, the love of the Father is not in him. For ALL that is in the WORLD the LUST of the FLESHand the LUST of the EYES and the BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE, is NOT from the FATHER, but is from the WORLD. The WORLD is PASSING AWAY, and also its LUSTS; but the ONE who does the WILL OF GOD lives FOREVER.”
- James 4:4 (NASB) “You ADULTERESSES , do you not know that FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD is HOSTILITY toward GOD? Therefore whoever WISHES to be a FRIEND of the WORLD makes himself an ENEMY of GOD.”
Be Ye Separate
This message is not popular. It is a message that many born-again Christians rebel against. God set down guidelines for “His” people, for “His” saints; and God wants every believer to obey “His” commands ref-Heb 5:9. Most Christians seem to have the misguided impression that they can partake of God’s table and the table of Satan as well. They think they can live for God some of the time and live as they wish the rest of the time. The Scriptures are full of people that thought this way, and they perished to hell. It is written:
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (KJV) “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?…what part has he that believes with an infidel? (an unbeliever)…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye (that is you) separate, saith the Lord.”
If you have repented, then you have made a commitment to follow and obey God’s Word. Let’s look at God’s Word again. It is written, “Be Ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.
You, as a Christian, are not to be tied together with an unbeliever. When you come to the cross, you surrender to Jesus, to do “His” will. You are to follow what “He” wants you to do. The verse continues, “For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?” In other words, what fellowship is there between the works of God and the works of Satan? What fellowship is there between a person who has surrendered to Jesus, and a person that is following Satan? The answer is obvious; there is none.
As 2 Corinthians 6:15 tells us once again, “What part has he that believes with an infidel? (That is an unbeliever).”
God classifies an unbeliever as an infidel. An unbeliever, up to this point, has chosen not to receive the forgiveness and the love that is offered by God through Jesus Christ. An unbeliever has willingly chosen to take sides with those who crucified the only begotten Son of God.
In God’s eyes, there are only two types of people. There are those who follow Jesus and those who do not. The Bible tells us, if you are not for God, you are against God. Now, if you have chosen to follow Jesus, then you are not to have fellowship with those who are against Jesus. Do not say they are not against Jesus, when the Bible has shown us that if a person is not for God (if he is not saved), then he is against God. The only way that a person can be for God is through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of his life. If a person rejects Jesus, they are against God.
A Born-Again Believer has nothing in common with an unbeliever. This is very clear and comes as a command in 2 Cor 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”
This is God talking directly to you and me. If you reject God’s Word, you reject God. God’s Word is telling us not to have fellowship with unbelievers. We are not to be yoked with unbelievers; but we are to separate from all unbelievers. Come out from among them. If a person is dating an unsaved person, they are to stop immediately. If a person hangs out with unsaved people, they are to stop immediately.
The Scripture states in 1 Corinthians 5:13 “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
In addition, we are told, regarding born-again people that do not obey the Gospel, not to even eat with such people.
Paul talking about the wicked person says, in:
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NASB) “But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother (NOTE: it didn’t say he was born-again, but rather professes to be or is called born-again) 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.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NASB)“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.”
This is God speaking directly to all that are born-again. A person is to withdraw from fellowship with all unbelievers and also from all believers that do not obey the Gospel.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 (NASB) “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
Video: Separating from Unbelievers – John MacArthur – GTY.org
Correct this person, admonish him, and do it in meekness and in the fear of the Lord, the Bible tells us. Remember, God’s Word is always perfect and is profitable for correction. God’s Word tells you how to live, if you are a believer. Every time you disobey God’s Word, you give Satan an opening. The Bible warns you, neither give place to the devil. The Scriptures show us that Satan goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
God’s Word shows us that a believer is an abomination to an unbeliever and vice versa. Listen to God’s Word.
- Proverbs 29:27 “An unjust man isan abomination to the just”
If you follow Jesus, a person that lives in sin is an abomination to you. The verse continues, - Proverbs 29:27 “… and he that isupright in the way is abomination to the wicked.”
Even though your unbelieving friends may not admit it directly, the fact that you are living for Jesus offends them, especially if your light shines brightly. You, as a true follower of Jesus, are an abomination to them. You may say, “No, that cannot be true, not to my close friends.” But rest assured, it is true. Two may be the best of friends. It may be two brothers. When one turns to Jesus and the other does not, the one that does not is offended. He does not understand the light that shines in the other person. The darkness cannot comprehend the light. The light exposes the wicked deeds of the unrepentant heart; and thus the person who will not come to the light, to Jesus, finds that the true believer is an abomination to him.
The best of friends become separated, and close brothers are no longer close. The saved person seeks for his friend to turn to Jesus; while the unsaved person detests the person that follows Jesus. The unsaved person may try to draw the saved person back into sinful ways. It often happens in such a subtle way that the saved person becomes deceived and falls back into sin, into his old ways. Remember the words of Jesus as His mother came to see Him? It is written in:
- Luke 8:20-21 “And it was told him (Jesus) by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
The importance that Jesus placed on this is so great it is repeated in Matthew’s Gospel as well as Mark’s Gospel.
As born-again believers, our whole attitude changes. Our whole outlook changes. We no longer live for this world. We love God. We love to serve Him. We love to help people. We love to go to church and to fellowship with other believers. Drugs, drinking, parties, dirty movies, even defiling our body with cigarettes, all become repulsive to us. Illicit sex, lying of any kind, cursing, and so much more, we grow to hate; but to the unsaved person, there is nothing wrong with these things.
As God’s Word has told us, what communion is there between the believer and unbeliever? They both have different goals, outlooks, and destinies. One lives for this world; the other looks forward to the next world. One will be with Jesus forever; the other will dwell in the lake of fire forever.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the Flesh: For the Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal (Worldly), but mighty through God to the Pulling down of Strongholds; Casting down Imaginations, and every High Thing that exalts itself against the Knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ.”
You are not to fellowship with people that are unsaved; with those that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. Satan works through people, time and time again, to try to confuse or draw the believer away from his faith in Jesus Christ. Satan works through people to try to draw the believer away from serving Jesus. Satan will use people to embarrass and offend you. They may even use Scripture incorrectly to draw you away from God’s perfect will. Satan tried to do the same thing to Jesus. He tempted Jesus with Scripture, but when Jesus used the Word back, Satan had to flee. You need to not only study your Bible daily; you also need to obey it. You are to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only – ref James 1:22. For it is not those who hear the Word that will be justified, but those who obey the Word.
Video: A CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP – PHIL JOHNSON [LUKE 9:59-62] – SO4J-TV
FROM SO4J-TV: “ANSWERING CHRIST’S CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP” – PHIL JOHNSON EXPLAINS: Luke 9:59-62 Phil Johnson preached an important message (this is an excerpt) from Luke 9:59-62, in our “GraceLife” Fellowship Group in the Family Center at Grace Community Church, CA .. our Senior Pastor at GCC is: John MacArthur. Phil Johnson is a Pastor (along with: Mike Riccardi) of the “GraceLife” Fellowship Group at Grace Community Church, CA (GCC), CA.Phil Johnson is the Executive Director of “Grace To You” Ministries [GTY.org], and has been closely associated with John MacArthur since 1981, and edits most of John MacArthur’s major books. He is also an Elder at Grace Community Church, CA.
Video: JOHN MACARTHUR: HATED BY THE WORLD & IDENTIFYING EVIL AS EVIL – SO4J-TV
“BE YE SEPARATE”
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Then Jesus (Jesus Christ) sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His (Jesus Christ’s) Disciples came to Him (Jesus Christ), SAYING, “Explain to Us (Jesus’ Disciples), The Parable of The Tares (Unbelievers) of The Field.” He (Jesus Christ) answered and said to Them (Jesus’ Disciples): “He (Jesus Christ) who SOWS The Good Seed (Believers) is The Son of Man (Jesus Christ). The Field is The World, The Good Seeds (Believers) are The Sons (The Children of GOD Almighty) of The Kingdom, but The Tares (Unbelievers) are The Sons (The Children of the devil) of The Wicked One (the devil). The Enemy (the devil) who SOWED Them (Unbelievers) is the devil, The Harvest is The End of The Age, and The REAPERS are The Angels (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels). Therefore as The Tares (Unbelievers) are GATHERED and BURNED in The Fire, so it WILL BE at The End of THIS AGE. The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) will SEND OUT His (Jesus Christ’s) Angels (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels), and They (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels) will GATHER OUT of His (Jesus Christ’s) Kingdom (The Kingdom of GOD Almighty) ALL THINGS that OFFEND, and Those (Unbelievers) who Practice Lawlessness, and will CAST Them (Unbelievers) into The FURNACE of FIRE (Hell). There will be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth. Then The Righteous (Believers) will SHINE FORTH as The Sun in The Kingdom of Their (Believers) Father (GOD Almighty). He (Believers) who has Ears to hear, let Him (Believers) HEAR!
Matthew 13:47-50
“Again, The Kingdom of Heaven is like a DRAGNET (Jesus Christ), that was CAST into The Sea (The World) and GATHERED some of every kind, which, when it was FULL, They (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels) DREW to shore; and They (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels) sat down and GATHERED The Good (Believers) into Vessels, but THREW The Bad (Unbelievers) AWAY. So it WILL BE at The End of THE AGE. The Angels (GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels) will COME FORTH, SEPARATE The Wicked (Unbelievers) from among The Just (Believers), and CAST Them (Unbelievers) into The FURNACE of FIRE (Hell). There will be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth.”
Matthew 25:1-13
“Then The Kingdom of Heaven shall be LIKENED to Ten Virgins who TOOK Their (The Ten Virgins) Lamps and went out to MEET The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ). Now Five (Believers) of Them (The Ten Virgins) were WISE, and Five (Unbelievers) were FOOLISH. Those (Unbelievers) who were Foolish TOOK Their (Unbelievers) Lamps and TOOK NO oil with Them (Unbelievers), but The Wise (Believers) TOOK oil in Their (Believers) Vessels with Their (Believers) Lamps. But while The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) was delayed, They (The Ten Virgins) All slumbered and slept.
“And at Midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) is COMING; go out to MEET Him (Jesus Christ)!’ Then All Those Virgins (The Ten Virgins) arose and trimmed Their (The Ten Virgins) Lamps. And The Foolish (Unbelievers) said to The Wise (Believers), ‘Give Us (Unbelievers) some of Your (Believers) oil, for Our (Unbelievers) Lamps are going out.’ But The Wise (Believers) answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should NOT be enough for Us (Believers) and YOU (Unbelievers); but go rather to those who sell, and buy for Yourselves (Unbelievers).’ And while They (Unbelievers) went to buy, The Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) CAME, and Those (Believers) who were READY went in with Him (Jesus Christ) to The Wedding (The Kingdom of Heaven); and The Door (into The Kingdom of Heaven) was SHUT. “Afterward The Other Virgins (Unbelievers) came also, saying, ‘LORD, LORD, OPEN to Us (Unbelievers)!’ But He (Jesus Christ) answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I (Jesus Christ) say to YOU (Unbelievers), I (Jesus Christ) do NOT know YOU (Believers).’
“WATCH therefore, for YOU (Believers, Yet-To-Be-Believers, and Unbelievers) KNOW neither The Day nor The Hour, in which The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) IS COMING.
Matthew 31-46
“When The Son of Man (Jesus Christ) COMES in His (Jesus Christ’s) GLORY, and All The (GOD Almighty’s) Holy Angels with Him (Jesus Christ), then He (Jesus Christ) will SIT on The Throne of His (Jesus Christ’s) GLORY. All The Nations will be GATHERED before Him (Jesus Christ), and He (Jesus Christ) will SEPARATE Them One (Believers) from Another (Unbelievers), as a Shepherd (Jesus Christ) DIVIDES His (Jesus Christ’s) Sheep (Believers) from The Goats (Unbelievers). And He (Jesus Christ) will SET The Sheep (Believers) on His (Jesus Christ’s) Right Hand, but The Goats (Unbelievers) on The Left (Jesus Christ’s Left Hand).
Then The King (Jesus Christ) will SAY to Those (Believers) on His (Jesus Christ’s) Right Hand, ‘Come, YOU (Believers) BLESSED of My (Jesus Christ’s) Father (GOD Almighty), INHERIT The Kingdom (The Kingdom of Heaven) PREPARED for YOU (Believers), from The Foundation of The World: for I (Jesus Christ) was HUNGRY and YOU (Believers) gave Me food; I (Jesus Christ) was THIRSTY and YOU (Believers) GAVE Me (Jesus Christ) drink; I (Jesus Christ) was a STRANGER and YOU (Believers) took Me (Jesus Christ) in; I (Jesus Christ) was NAKED and YOU (Believers) clothed Me; I (Jesus Christ) was SICK and YOU (Believers) visited Me (Jesus Christ); I (Jesus Christ) was in PRISON and YOU (Believers) came to Me (Jesus Christ).’
“Then The Righteous (Believers) will answer Him (Jesus Christ), saying, ‘LORD (Jesus Christ), when did We (Believers) SEE YOU (Jesus Christ) hungry and feed YOU (Jesus Christ), or thirsty and give YOU (Jesus Christ) drink? When did We (Believers) SEE YOU (Jesus Christ) a stranger and take YOU (Jesus Christ) in, or naked and clothe YOU (Jesus Christ)? Or when did We (Believers) SEE YOU (Jesus Christ) sick, or in prison, and come to YOU (Jesus Christ)?’ And The King (Jesus Christ) will answer and say to Them (Believers), ‘Assuredly, I (Jesus Christ) say to YOU (Believers), inasmuch as YOU (Believers) did it to One of The Least of These, My (Jesus Christ’s) Brethren (Believers), YOU (Believers) did it to Me (Jesus Christ).’
“Then He (Jesus Christ) will also say to Those (Unbelievers) on The (Jesus Christ’s) Left Hand, ‘DEPART from Me (Jesus Christ), YOU (Unbelievers) CURSED, into The EVERLASTING Fire PREPARED for the devil and his angels: for I (Jesus Christ) was HUNGRY and YOU (Unbelievers) gave Me (Jesus Christ) NO food; I (Jesus Christ) was THIRSTY and YOU (Unbelievers) gave Me NO drink; I (Jesus Christ) was a STRANGER and YOU (Unbelievers) did NOT take Me (Jesus Christ) in, NAKED and YOU (Unbelievers) did NOT clothe Me (Jesus Christ), SICK and in PRISON and YOU (Unbelievers) did NOT visit Me (Jesus Christ).’ “Then They (Unbelievers) also will answer Him (Jesus Christ), saying, ‘LORD (Jesus Christ), when did We (Unbelievers) SEE YOU (Jesus Christ) hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did NOT Minister to YOU (Jesus Christ)?’ Then He (Jesus Christ) will answer Them (Unbelievers), saying, ‘Assuredly, I (Jesus Christ) say to YOU (Unbelievers), inasmuch as YOU (Unbelievers) did NOT do it, to One of The Least of These, YOU (Unbelievers) did NOT do it to Me (Unbelievers).’
And These (Unbelievers) will GO AWAY into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, but The Righteous (Believers) into ETERNAL LIFE.”
Fellow Believers, I pray YOU (Believers) came to the realization, that All Four of These Parables are talking about The SAME SITUATION, and that’s what will happen to Believers versus Unbelievers. A quick recap: Good Seed (Believers) versus Tares (Unbelievers), The Good Fish (Believers) versus The Bad Fish (Unbelievers), The Five Wise Virgins (Believers) versus The Five Foolish Virgins (Unbelievers), and The Sheep (Believers) versus The Goats (Unbelievers). Each time We (Believers) SEE, that Believers will be SEPARATED from Unbelievers. And These (Unbelievers) will GO AWAY into EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, but The Righteous (Believers) into ETERNAL LIFE.
ETERNAL LIFE will be spent, in GOD Almighty’s Immediate Presence, with Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels, and All The Rest of The Children (Believers) of GOD Almighty, for Eternity, Forever.
EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT will be spent AWAY from GOD Almighty’s Immediate Presence; IT IS Eternal SEPARATION from GOD Almighty, AWAY from GOD Almighty, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, GOD Almighty’s Holy Angels, and All The Children (Believers) of GOD Almighty, in The Lake of Fire and Brimstone, PREPARED for the devil and his (the devil’s) angels, with All The Rest of The Children (Unbelievers) of the devil, for Eternity, Forever.
YOU (Believers) have acknowledged GOD Almighty’s Amazing Saving Grace AND accepted GOD Almighty’s Free Gift of SALVATION. YOU (Believers) have accepted Jesus Christ, as Your (Believers) Personal LORD and Savior. YOU (Believers) have asked Jesus Christ to COME and ABIDE within YOU (Believers), through The Holy Spirit. YOU (Believers) have made GOD Almighty, Your (Believers) First Priority, in Your (Believers) Daily Life. Finally, YOU (Believers) go about The Father’s (GOD Almighty’s) Business, by Sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ with EVERYONE, who has Ears to hear and Eyes to see, The Truth! Amen.
Separation From the World
Separation from the world means a coming out from its ideas, theories, habits, practices, worldly associations and everything that is contrary to the word of God. John 17:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Revelation 18:4.
"There is a distinct line drawn by God Himself between the world and the church, between commandment keepers, and commandment breakers. They do not blend together."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 602.
"To protect the people of God from the corrupting influence of the world, as well as to promote physical and moral health, the dress reform was introduced among us. It was not intended to be a yoke of bondage, but a blessing; not to increase labor, but to save labor; not to add to the expense of dress, but to save expense. It would distinguish God's people from the world, and thus serve as a barrier against its fashions and follies."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 634.
"God will test the fidelity of His people. Many of the mistakes that are made by the professed servants of God are in consequence of their self-love, their desire of approval, their thirst for popularity. Blinded in this manner, they do not realize that they are elements of darkness rather than of light. 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' These are the conditions upon which we may be acknowledged as sons of God—separation from the world and renunciation of those things which delude, and fascinate, and ensnare." —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 12-13.
"Christ's followers are required to come out from the world, and be separate, and touch not the unclean, and they have the promise of being the sons and daughters of the Most High, members of the royal family. But if the conditions are not complied with on their part, they will not, cannot, realize the fulfillment of the promise."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 441.
"As soon as any have a desire to imitate the fashions of the world, that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as His children. They are the children of the world and of darkness."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 137.
"Jesus is coming; and will He find a people conformed to the world? And will He acknowledge these as His people that He has purified unto Himself? Oh, no. None but the pure and holy will He acknowledge as His."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 133.
Dress Reform
One of the conditions on which God promises to accept us as His people is separation from the world. Matthew 6:24; James 4:4; 2 Peter 1:4. As the children of Israel were required to wear a ribbon of blue as a sign of distinction between themselves and the idolatrous nations around them, so God's church today is to observe the principles of dress reform. Numbers 15:37-41. Believers should dress modestly, healthfully, tastefully, and neatly, thus representing the principles of the heavenly kingdom.
"To protect the people of God from the corrupting influence of the world, as well as to promote physical and moral health, the dress reform was introduced among us. It was not intended to be a yoke of bondage, but a blessing; not to increase labor, but to save labor; not to add to the expense of dress, but to save expense. It would distinguish God's people from the world, and thus serve as a barrier against its fashions and follies. He who knows the end from the beginning, who understands our nature and our needs—our compassionate Redeemer—saw our dangers and difficulties, and condescended to give us timely warning and instruction concerning our habits of life, even in the proper selection of food and clothing."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 634.
"Our words, our actions, and our dress are daily, living preachers, gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. This is no trivial matter to be passed off with a jest. The subject of dress demands serious reflection and much prayer. Many unbelievers have felt that they were not doing right in permitting themselves to be slaves of fashion; but when they see some who make a high profession of godliness dressing as worldlings dress, enjoying frivolous society, they decide that there can be no wrong in such a course."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 641.
The Bible places emphasis on modesty and self-respect, forbidding the extravagant and immodest fashions and customs of the world in both men and women. Although in time past fashion was mostly a problem with women, unfortunately as we approach the end, Satan is even destroying the experience of some men on this point. Such designs as tight revealing clothing, slits, shorts, and see-through fabrics (exposing nakedness), unhealthful footwear, jewelry and following modern trends for the sake of fashion is detrimental to the Christian's experience and is prohibited in the word of God. Through these things we exert a negative influence upon others, and we would have to answer to God for leading souls to decide against the truth by thus living in contradiction with our profession of faith. Genesis 35:1-4; Isaiah 3:16-24; 1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:1-5.
Men and women are not to cause confusion of the sexes either by their conduct, by wearing their clothing or having their appearance (length of hair) resemble that of the opposite sex, for God pronounces it an abomination. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 11:14, 15.
"There is an increasing tendency to have women in their dress and appearance as near like the other sex as possible, and to fashion their dress very much like that of men, but God pronounces it abomination. 'In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.' 1 Timothy 2:9."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 421.
From the very beginning of the creation of mankind, God placed a difference between men and women and He wants this distinction to be maintained. Genesis 1:27. "God designed that there should be a plain distinction between the dress of men and women, and has considered the matter of sufficient importance to give explicit directions in regard to it; for the same dress worn by both sexes would cause confusion and great increase of crime. Were the apostle Paul alive, and should he behold women professing godliness with this style of dress, he would utter a rebuke. 'In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.' The mass of professed Christians utterly disregard the teachings of the apostles, and wear gold, pearls, and costly array."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 460.
Moreover, when they come into the presence of God for their worship services, there is yet to be a further distinction in their manner of dress. Exodus 3:5; 20:26; 28:42, 43. As a sign of reverence and respect, when we come to the house of worship we should wear appropriate attire. John 21:7; Genesis 3:7, 21; Isaiah 6:2; Psalm 89:7.
"I am often pained as I enter the house where God is worshiped, to see the untidy dress of both men and women. If the heart and character were indicated by the outward apparel, then certainly nothing could be heavenly about them. They have no true idea of the order, the neatness, and the refined deportment that God requires of all who come into His presence to worship Him. What impressions do these things give to unbelievers and to the youth, who are keen to discern and to draw their conclusions?
"In the minds of many there are no more sacred thoughts connected with the house of God than with the most common place. Some will enter the place of worship with their hats on, in soiled, dirty clothes. Such do not realize that they are to meet with God and holy angels. There should be a radical change in this matter all through our churches. Ministers themselves need to elevate their ideas, to have finer susceptibilities in regard to it. It is a feature of the work that has been sadly neglected. Because of the irreverence in attitude, dress, and deportment, and lack of a worshipful frame of mind, God has often turned His face away from those assembled for His worship."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, pp. 498-499.
The followers of Christ, knowing that God has taken garments as a type of righteousness (Revelation 19:8), cannot be disorderly and untidy in their dress.
Even things which are lawful in themselves, if practiced in a wrong way, with the wrong crowd, in the wrong place, and at the wrong time, may work as a snare of Satan. But, in the first place, we should shun the most evident evils, such as worldly associations, worldly music, worldly games, worldly amusements, worldly fashions, involvement in politics, and the corrupting influence of satanic "garbage" coming through the mass media, which generally appeals to weak minds.
"It should be understood whether those who profess to be converted are simply taking the name of Seventh‑day Adventists, or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord's side to come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. When they give evidence that they fully understand their position, they are to be accepted. But when they show that they are following the customs and fashions and sentiments of the world, they are to be faithfully dealt with. If they feel no burden to change their course of action, they should not be retained as members of the church. The Lord wants those who compose His church to be true, faithful stewards of the grace of Christ."—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 128.
"Fashion is deteriorating the intellect and eating out the spirituality of our people. Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing more than any other power to separate our people from God. . . . Our church rules are very deficient. All exhibitions of pride in dress, which is forbidden in the word of God, should be sufficient reason for church discipline. If there is a continuance, in face of warnings and appeals and entreaties, to still follow the perverse will, it may be regarded as proof that the heart is in no way assimilated to Christ. Self, and only self, is the object of adoration, and one such professed Christian will lead many away from God."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 647.
"The words, the dress, the actions, should tell for God. Then a holy influence will be shed upon all around them, and even unbelievers will take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 634.
"There should be no carelessness in dress. For Christ's sake, whose witness we are, we should seek to make the best of our appearance."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 96.
Associations
God has made His people a light in this world. As such, they are to enter into social relations with the people around them with the purpose of bringing the gospel message to them. Matthew 5:13-16; John 17:15. But God has also made a definite distinction between His people and the world. If we want to be identified with Christ, we will shun the society of worldlings, which would be detrimental to our Christian experience. We cannot place ourselves where Christ cannot go with us. Ezekiel 44:23; Amos 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17.
Professed Christians who do not understand this principle, and who love that which they should abominate, will be classified with the evil servant. Matthew 24:48-51. Separation from the world also involves separation from secret societies, political parties, participation in labor unions, business partnerships with unbelievers and any other confederacy with the world. Isaiah 8:12; John 8:23; 18:36.
"Those only who deny self, and live a life of sobriety, humility, and holiness, are true followers of Jesus; and such cannot enjoy the society of the lovers of the world."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 633.
"There are persons with a diseased imagination to whom religion is a tyrant, ruling them as with a rod of iron. Such are constantly mourning over their depravity and groaning over supposed evil. Love does not exist in their hearts; a frown is ever upon their countenances. They are chilled by the innocent laugh from the youth or from anyone. They consider all recreation or amusement a sin and think that the mind must be constantly wrought up to just such a stern, severe pitch. This is one extreme. Others think that the mind must be ever on the stretch to invent new amusements and diversions in order to gain health. They learn to depend on excitement, and are uneasy without it. Such are not true Christians. They go to another extreme. The true principles of Christianity open before all a source of happiness, the height and depth, the length and breadth of which are immeasurable."—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 565.
"I do not condemn the simple exercise of playing ball; but even this, even in its simplicity, may be overdone."—The Adventist Home, p. 499
"Let several families living in a city or village unite and leave the occupations which have taxed them physically and mentally, and make an excursion into the country to the side of a fine lake or to a nice grove where the scenery of nature is beautiful. They should provide themselves with plain, hygienic food, the very best fruits and grains, and spread their table under the shade of some tree or under the canopy of heaven. The ride, the exercise, and the scenery will quicken the appetite, and they can enjoy a repast which kings might envy.
"On such occasions parents and children should feel free from care, labor, and perplexity. Parents should become children with their children, making everything as pleasant for them as possible. Let the whole day be given to recreation. Exercise in the open air for those whose employment has been withindoors and sedentary will be beneficial to health. All who can, should feel it a duty to pursue this course. Nothing will be lost, but much gained." —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 514-515.
The Hebrew word translated sign means "mark" or "evidence." The Sabbath day is the mark God gave His people to identify them as His own. By it, the folk of Israel would know the Source of their sanctification.
To sanctify is "to set apart for holy service,"or more basically, "to make holy." God's purpose for Israel from the start was to set it apart from other peoples by giving it His laws and His statutes. God has a special relationship with Israel. Speaking through the prophet Amos to "the whole family [i.e., all the tribes] which I brought up from the land of Egypt" (Amos 3:1), God reminds the people that, "you only have I known of all the families of the earth" (verse 2). God revealed His law only to Israel. When He did so, He made it clear that Israel would "be a special treasure to Me above all people, . . . a holy [sanctified, set apart] nation" (Exodus 19:5-6), if the people "obey My voice and keep My covenant" (verse 5). The theme is repeated in Deuteronomy 7:6: "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, . . . [who] has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth." (See also Deuteronomy 14:2.)
God prefaces the "Holiness Code" of Leviticus 18 and 19 by commanding Israel to be separate from other nations. This meant acting in a way different from that of the Gentiles, not walking "in their ordinances." Leviticus 18:3-4:
According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances. . . .
In Leviticus 19:2, He makes His purpose clear: "You shall be holy [set apart], for I the LORD your God am holy." God's purpose, the intent behind all His laws, is to create a people like Himself (Genesis 1:26), a people sharing and reflecting His most salient attribute: holiness.
Sanctification is also the purpose behind God's often-denigrated physicallaws. Consider, for example, the reason why God imposed the dietary law, as stated in Leviticus 11. God does not cite the maintenance of health as a reason to obey the dietary laws; the Scriptures do not specify that obedience of these laws will cause good health or prevent disease (though this is a secondary, albeit unmentioned, benefit). Rather, God concludes His dietary laws with a statement of His holiness and a command for His people to be like Him. Leviticus 11:44-45:
For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am the LORDwho brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Obedience to God's law plays a crucial role in bringing about this sanctification. It is not that a people become sanctified (somehow, by God's grace) and, as a result, start obeying God's law. God's Word does not support the Protestant concept that sanctification imputed by God's grace mysteriously empowers one to obey His commandments. They have it backwards.
Rather, obedience to the law causes sanctification. Law-keeping and sanctification become intrinsically connected: To obey God's law is to be sanctified. By its nature, law-keeping brings about sanctification.
In a national context, God states that obeying His laws creates a people unlike others on the earth, a people set apart from others, a holy nation. National sanctification produces what Balaam saw in Israel: "A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations" (Numbers 23:9).
If commandment-keeping separates people from the nations while connecting them to God, disobedience of God's law has exactly the opposite effect. Commandment-breakingseparates a people from God, and connects them to the ways of the nations. Individuals who disobey God's law become like the "world," the kosmos of the New Testament (I John 2:15).
Has ceased from sin” indicates a completed act in the past with continuing effects for the present and the future. Those continuing effects include suffering in the flesh, for “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). This does not infer that we can become sinless as Christ was, but rather that we resolve to be done with sin and we express that resolve in enduring suffering. To have “ceased from sin,” as D. Edmond Hiebert writes, “depicts the spiritual state of the victorious sufferer…It need not mean that he no longer commits any act of sin, but that his old life, dominated by the power of sin, has been terminated” (cited in https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-peter-4/). Sinlessness will only be ours in our future glorified state. As we know from our own experience and from the Scriptures, we struggle with the battle against sin throughout our lifetime (Gal. 5:24; Rom. 7:7-25). Obviously, Peter’s perspective here is eschatological, as it is throughout much of his epistles. He is exhorting us to take a position against sin not only ideologically but also practically throughout our lifetime and in view of the end (cf. 1 Jn. 3:3).
Previously in this epistle, Peter has exhorted us to follow Christ’s example in responding to unjust suffering as a Christian (2:20-21; 3:8-17), but now he goes a step further - we are to follow Christ’s example not only in the way we respond to unjust suffering but also in how we “cease” from sinful behavior altogether. Christ ceased dealing with the sin issue after he suffered for our sins as our substitute on the cross, and we too must having nothing more to do with sin in our lives, being willing to endure suffering rather than entering into sin.
When a Christian decides to not compromise their testimony and to bear the consequent suffering when it comes, that person has practically ceased from, or finished with, sin. They consciously decide to turn away from their past sinful habits and to not be lured into the ways of the world around them. Their willingness to suffer as a consequence of this decision is evidence of the change that has taken place in their lives. In other words, suffering as a Christian is the price you pay for having “ceased from sin.” As Wayne Grudem puts it, “Whoever has suffered for doing right, and has still gone on obeying God in spite of the suffering it involved, has made a clear break with sin” (Tyndale N.T. Commentaries, 1 Peter, 167).
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Let me put it in more tangible terms. If you refuse to go to a drinking establishment or strip club with your work colleagues based on your testimony as a Christian, you know that your decision may result in ridicule and opposition, but you have consciously decided to suffer by staying apart from sin, ceasing from sin. Thus, your attitude follows the example of Christ, whose purpose in coming into the world was to suffer “once for sins” (3:18) - not for his own sins for he had none, but for our sins. Having suffered for sins once, Christ will never deal with sin again. He offered himself once and is done with it forever. As Hebrews 10:12 states, “When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” And again in Hebrews 9:28, “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Christ’s dealings with the sin question are over, never to be repeated.
Just so, we must resolve to be done with sin in our lives, not only in how we respond to unjust suffering as a Christian but also to cease from sin altogether, for to continue in sin after becoming a Christian would be a contradiction between your profession and your actions. If you identify completely with Christ in his sacrificial death on the cross for sin, then you have thereby decided to “cease from (be finished with) sin.” This is the practical outworking of “being conformed to his death” (Phil. 3:10).
It’s not enough to merely say, “I will not sin! I will stand for Christ.” At the same time we must actually cease from sin, the one goes with the other. What we say and what we do must correspond. What Peter is doing here is drawing together two strands of this whole subject of suffering: (1) The practical response to suffering as a Christian; and (2) The practical resolve to live without sin in the flesh. This is similar to what the apostle John deals with: “6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:6-10). John is pointing out that what we say and how we act must coincide. Indeed, how we act is the true litmus test of who we really are.
So, the way this statement holds together is that the Christian who decides to suffer rather than compromise with the world is the one who has decided to finish with sinful behavior. Understand that sin, in Peter’s writings, is concrete acts of sin – he is not referring to the sin nature (the sin principle), as Paul does (cf. Rom. 5:12; 6:6; 7:18). We all have a sinful nature by birth and by practice, but the power of that sinful nature has been broken through our new birth in Christ by which we have a new nature that delights to please God (1 Jn. 3:9; 1 Pet. 1:4). Nonetheless, due to indwelling sin and the weakness of our will, we still sin from time to time. That’s the struggle of the Christian life.
But what Peter is talking about is purposefully and consciously breaking from sin. Living in the flesh in a sinful world that may treat us unfairly and unjustly demands that we deal with sin in the flesh. You cannot deal with one (suffering unjustly as a Christian) without dealing with the other (our own sinful behavior). Once you grasp this perspective on and attitude toward sin in the flesh from the example of Christ, then and only then will you truly “cease from sin” and live a life of victory in Christ. The inference here is that we must make a conscious decision to suffer for our testimony if such suffering is the will of God. We must make a conscious decision to not sin, knowing that the full realization of this will only take place when we receive our glorified bodies in heaven.
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The intent of this resolve is to “live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (4:2). Those Christians who have “armed themselves” with Christ’s attitude to suffering have made a complete and radical break from their former way of life with its passions and lusts. They have already spent too much of their past life in worldly ways of living. Their purpose in life is to no longer satisfy their “human passions” (sinful desires) but to do “the will of God.” As John Piper puts it, “When you suffer for what's right, it's a sign that you have renounced sinful human desires and embraced the will of God as a higher value. So for the sake of righteousness and freedom from sin, arm yourselves with this purpose”(https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/arming-yourself-with-the-purpose-to-suffer).
That’s the choice you have to make - either to fulfill the self-centred, sinful desires of your flesh or to do the perfect, holy will of God. For the Christian, this is an “either / or” proposition - you cannot have both. If you choose to live according to the will of God, whenever sin rears its ugly head you say, “No longer. That’s not who I am!” So, which will it be in your life? Your choice is to endure suffering or to compromise with sin. If you choose to not live a sinful life, you will surely suffer for it as Christ did. But if you choose not to suffer as a Christian, then you have not “ceased from sin.” That’s the choice. So, which will it be in your life?
So, to identify with Christ in his sufferings requires that you make a conscious change in your attitude. And…
II. To Identify With Christ In His Sufferings Requires That You Make A Conscious Change In Your Activity (4:3-6)
When you change your attitude, the first thing that happens is…
1. You abandon the sinful activities of your past (4:3). “For you have spent enough of your past lifetime doing the will of the Gentiles (4:3a). When you become a Christian everything changes. When you decide to follow Christ you abandon the sinful activities of your past and a radical change occurs in your life. A transformation takes place in your behavior, habits, associations, desires, goals etc. So, don’t waste any more time with your previous lifestyle, because, as Peter says, “You already spent (more than) enough of your past lifetime in the sinful behavior of unbelievers.” Now, you follow Christ and you leave the past behind: it is no longer part of your way of life. When you choose to follow Christ, you make a clean break from your old sinful lifestyle. Now as a Christian, you no longer participate in the sinful activities of your old, worldly, friends and habits. You have changed from practicing evil to doing good.
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“For” introduces the reason why we should “live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (4:2). The reason is because formerly - before you decided to follow Christ - you spent your life “doing the will of the Gentiles” (4:3a)but now your focus needs to be on doing “the will of God” (4:2). These two objectives are polar opposites. You cannot be committed to doing “the will of God” (what believers choose to do) and at the same time do “the will of the Gentiles” (what unbelievers choose to do). Those two pursuits can never mix. “Enough is enough,” Peter says. “You have already spent more than enough of your past lifetime, pursuing ‘the will of the Gentiles.’ Now, you need to change your lifestyle to be consistent with your faith.”
“Gentiles” is the term Peter uses to describe unbelievers whose sinful behavior his readers once followed, such as “sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry” (4:3b). The unbelieving world lives without any moral or religious constraints. The lives of Peter’s readers were similarly characterized prior to their conversion to Christ. In their prior lives they engaged in (1) Moral depravity: “sensuality” and “lusts.” These activities describe a thoroughly degenerate and depraved lifestyle. “Sensuality” has primarily to do with lack of moral restraint, particularly in regard to sexual relationships. “Lusts”describes those sinful, base human passions as in, for example, “drunkenness, orgies, and drinking parties.” Alcoholic binges often lead to carousing and unconstrained, socially disruptive behavior in general, accompanied by indiscriminate sexual activity. (2) Religious abominations:“lawless idolatry.” This probably does not so much have the sense of illegal activity as far as governmental authorities are concerned, but the sense of an “unholy and profane lifestyle” (Thomas R. Schreiner, NAC, 1 Peter, 203). Such activities might include idol worship with demonic overtones, heathen ceremonies, and the worship of pagan gods, which today we might associate with witchcraft, the occult, seances and the like. That’s how you once lived, Peter says, “doing the will of the Gentiles” (4:3) rather than “the will of God” (4:2), living like the world around you with no thought of God or his will for your life.
This stark description served to remind Peter’s readers of who they once were prior to their conversion to Christ and to warn them against being tempted to return to their former lifestyle, which they may be tempted to do in order to avoid their suffering as Christians.
Now you may say, “Well I’m a follower of Christ. I don’t live like the world around me.” Really? Let me challenge you on that. Let me first address young people. How much of your life is spent in partying and drinking? What about sexual immorality? Ever do drugs? “No,” you say. “I don’t do that.” Well, what about looking at pornography in the secrecy of your bedroom so that no one knows? “No, you say. I don’t do that either.” Alright, what about time spent on electronic devices and social media platforms? A survey conducted during the fall of 2018 showed that the most popular social network for 46% of U.S. teens was Snapchat, followed by Instagram at 32%. How much time do you spend sending and reading useless and perhaps even defiling messages on social networks? Studies show now that social media is producing a generation of isolated, anxious, socially inept, and psychologically unbalanced teenagers. All these activities – sexual immorality, drunkenness, partying, drugs – are a serious moral problem. But do you know another problem? When you engage in these activities you are not only wasting your life but also running the risk of ruining your life!
Now let me speak to adults. How much time do you waste posting and reading frivolous and useless information on Facebook? Who really cares what you made for supper last night? I mean, really! This problem isn’t limited to any one social group. It cuts across all age ranges and classes. It applies to pastors, elders, deacons, and ministry leaders as well. Are you wasting your time in sinful living like the rest of the world? Think about this: one day everyone of us will give an account to God for how we lived our lives. God has given us a certain number of days to live, a certain number of breaths to breathe. We are responsible for how we use that time.
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If you are a Christian, you are going to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ one day and everything that you have thought, said, and done will be reviewed by him at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10). Think about that! Everything that you did that was not for his glory, what the Bible calls “wood, hay, straw” (1 Cor. 3:12), will be burned up because it has no lasting value. Though you yourself will suffer loss for misusing the time and gifts and opportunities God gave you, praise God that because of your faith in Christ and his sacrifice on the cross you yourself will be saved, “but only as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15).
If you are not a Christian, you too will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ one day and everything you have thought, said, and done will be reviewed by him at the Great White Throne judgement. Think about that! If you are not a Christian, there will be nothing that is for God’s glory in your life. Everything about your life will be revealed as being self-centred and useless as far as your standing before God is concerned. For you, there will be no excuse and no remedy – you will have nothing to say! Instead, you will hear the words from Christ himself, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23) and you will be banished from God’s presence forever.
So, make a conscious decision right now. Don’t spend your life pursuing sinful desires. Turn away from the world and its self-centred focus. Instead, decide to follow Christ. Decide to do the will of God. Make a conscious decision to abandon the sinful activities of your past. That’s what you do when you become a Christian. You identify with Christ in his sufferings and you make a conscious change in your activities. You abandon the sinful activities of the past - that was then – and...
2. You accept the consequences of the present – this is now (4:4). If your lifestyle does change radically, there will be a price to pay. You will have to accept the consequences in your present life. When you follow Christ, you will suffer for it. One of the first indications of this is your relationship to your unbelieving friends and acquaintances. “With respect to this they (unbelievers) are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you (4:4). You will be ridiculed and scorned by your unbelieving friends. They will mock you for having decided to cease from sin because your conduct convicts them of their own sin. Once you turn to Christ, your unbelieving acquaintances with whom you once spent your past lifetime will be “surprised” that you no longer do what they want to do, when you no longer associate with them in their degenerate behavior. They will vilify you because you now dissociate from them, because you no longer join in their impetuous and excessive acts of self-gratification, because you don’t participate in their unrestrained indulgences. Your previous unbelieving friends will openly mock you, defame you, speak evil of you, (lit.) “blaspheme you.” By not participating in their immoral lifestyle, you condemn their sinful ways and they, in turn, will respond in self-justification by slandering you as a Christian.
When you become a Christian, you identify with Christ in his sufferings and in so doing you make a conscious decision to change your attitude and to change your activities. You abandon the sinful activities of the past - that was then. You accept the consequences of the present – this is now. And…
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3. You trust God’s judgement for the future – this is coming (4:5-6). Peter moves from “that was then” to “this is now” to “here’s the future.” Regardless of what you have to suffer from unbelievers now, in the future “they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (4:5). Lest Peter’s readers should become discouraged and be tempted to co-mingle once more with the world in order to escape suffering, let them remember that God will vindicate them. At the final judgement those who torment believers now “will give account” to God for their actions. But then it will be too late – there will be no escape for them! Then they will see how utterly useless their lives were, how utterly self-serving their lives were, how utterly this-worldly their lives were, how utterly short-sighted their lives were, how utterly depraved their lives were. Then they will acknowledge that their lives were thoroughly devoted to self and devoid of God. Then they will know the truth and consequences of the gospel.
Christians may be unjustly judged by people now, but at the final judgement, their accusers will be judged by God - both those “living” at that time and those who are already “dead.” None of those who blaspheme or falsely accuse or malign believers will escape God’s judgement! God is “ready to judge.” His judgement is imminent, for “the Judge is standing at the door!” (Jas. 5:9). As Peter reminds us, “the end of all things is at hand” (4:7). Jesus Christ is the judge whom God has appointed (Acts 17:31). The One who himself was unjustly treated (2:23) will, at the last day, judge justly everyone who has ever lived. In keeping with Peter’s theme throughout the epistle, those who caused believers to suffer for their faith will not ultimately get away with it. God is their judge and at that time he will fully vindicate his own people.
Since “the living and the dead” will both be judged by God, the obvious concern is, “What will happen to Christians who have already died?” Peter responds: “For this reason (i.e. in view of having to “give an account” to God who is “ready to judge the living and the dead”), the gospel was preached also to those who are now dead, so that, on the one hand, they might be judged in the flesh according to men, but that, on the other hand, they might live by the Spirit according to God” (4:6). We all die (1 Cor. 15:22; Heb. 9:27) – no one can escape that destiny, Christian or non-Christian, unless Christ comes for Christians before they die. But to those Christians who had already died at the time of Peter’s writing, though they might have been subject to the judgement of men while they were alive – i.e. they may have been judged according to the standards of earthly courts and civil authorities (perhaps inferring that they may have been judged by unbelievers for their Christian testimony) – yet because of their faith in Christ (through the preaching of the gospel which was “also” preached to them as it was to those who are still alive) they will be raised to life by the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. 3:18) according to God’s standards. Peter is really reiterating Jesus’ words to Martha, “Whoever believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live” (Jn. 11:25). Thus, the end of believers is vastly different from that of unbelievers when they give an account to God (4:5). This is the great reversal, the counterpart, if you will, to the slander they experienced from unbelievers.
Note that Peter is not teaching that people have an opportunity to respond to the gospel after they have died. No! He is teaching by way of a sharp contrast that, “on the one hand” the Christians who had already died were “judged in the flesh according to men” (i.e. they had died either from persecution or from being unjustly condemned to death or from some other cause) “but, on the other hand,” since they had died in faith (having heard and responded to the gospel while they were alive) they will be raised to everlasting life “by the Spirit according to God.” This contrast can only be said of believers. Unbelievers do not die as a result of being “judged in the flesh according to men” nor will they live “by the Spirit according to God.” It was important for Peter’s readers to understand that Christians do not suffer the same destiny as unbelievers - true, we die, just like everyone else, but those who die in Christ will not come under God’s condemning judgement as unbelievers will.
Ultimately, there will be a complete reversal of situations. The believers who are now suffering for their faith, even losing their lives for their faith, will ultimately be raised from the dead at the last day by the power of God’s Spirit to live eternally, just as Christ himself was “put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit” (3:18b). But their tormentors who are now maligning the believers and even putting them to death for their faith will be judged by God and condemned to eternal death – eternal separation from God. What will be a time of eternal judgement for unbelievers will be a time of vindication and eternal life for all believers.
Be assured of this: God will vindicate every believer! He will eternally condemn all those who have opposed him and his people and he will eternally bless those who have stood firm for his name’s sake in this life. As Peter Davids points out, “They, like Christ, may have been judged as guilty by human beings according to their [human] standards … But also like Christ, God will have the final say, and his verdict in the final judgement will be life. Thus they will live in resurrection life (i.e. ‘in the Spirit’).” (First Epistle of Peter, NICNT, 155).
So, Peter is saying the same thing as the writer of Hebrews. When you suffer unjustly for your faith remember the example of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Hebrew believers “endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction” (Heb. 10:32-33a)<. In such circumstances, the writer encouraged them to “look to Jesus (fix your eyes on Jesus), the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Heb. 12:2-3).
Final Remarks
We see once more in this passage the centrality of the cross in 1 Peter. In our passage, Peter is emphasizing the example of Christ and the impact of the cross on our Christian behavior through separation from the world. At the cross, Christ suffered once-for-all for sin, for which he will never suffer again. This is the model that we are to follow by identifying wholly with Christ, such that just as he dealt finally and fully with the sin issue in his sacrificial death on the cross, never to take it up again, so we must also “cease from sin” in our lives, to be done with sin “so as to live for the rest of time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” Bear in mind that such a decision will put you in harms way – the devil does not like Christians living like Christ, so he attacks us by causing us to “suffer in the flesh” just as Christ did. Oh, we may not suffer crucifixion as he did, but we will encounter some kind of opposition or even physical persecution.
Remember our thesis: When we identify with Christ in his sufferings, a radical change takes place on our lives. First, you make a conscious change in your attitude (4:1-2) - (1) Your perspective changes (1:1a); (2) Your purpose changes (1:1b-2). Second, you make a conscious change in your activity - (1) You abandon the sinful activities of the past (1:3); (2) You accept the consequences of the present (1:4); and (3) You trust God’s judgement in the future (1:5-6).
You can only do this by being conformed to Christ, by “sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10), by watching with him in the depths of Gethsemane, by entering into his griefs, by falling at his feet, like the apostle John, as one dead (because we are not worthy to be in his presence), and by rising with him in his resurrection to eternal glory. This then is the life to which we, as believers, have been called. We have been called to a life of suffering (1 Pet. 2:21) followed by a life of glory (1:11; 4:13; 5:1, 10). This is the prospect and reward which lies ahead. The question is: “Are you armed and ready for this?”
John Stott reminds us that “The cross does not solve the problem of suffering, but it gives us the right perspective from which to view it. So we need to learn to climb the hill called Calvary and from that vantage point survey all life’s tragedies. Since God has demonstrated his holy love in a historical event (the cross), no other historical event (whether personal or global) can override or disprove it.” (Through the Bible, 88).
I. The World from Which the Christian Is to Be Separated.
By "the world" here is meant . . .
its sinful principles,
its sinful spirit,
its sinful customs,
its sinful practices,
its smiles, and
its frowns.
These unitedly form a stream or course against which he who would arrive in Heaven must struggle; and from people having principles inimical to the truth, he must be separated.
1. The world is under Satanic influence. "What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" 2 Corinthians 6:15. Belial is a word which signifies extreme wickedness, and appropriated by the Jews to Satan, who is emphatically "the wicked one" This world is his kingdom, Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30. Sinners are his subjects, and are like him. Can saints associate with them?
2. The world is wicked. "For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?" 2 Corinthians 6:14. The world is filthy; "unclean," verse 17; Romans 3:10; 1 John 5:19; 3:8-10.
3. The world is full of moral and spiritual darkness. "What fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14. John 3:19; Ephesians 5:8, 11.
4. It is an unbelieving world. "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." 2 Corinthians 6:14. Unbelief is founded on ignorance; principally on aversion to God, pride, love of the world, John 5:44; Matthew 22:5; Hebrews 3:12; John 5:10. They trust in themselves, and despise Christ.
5. It is an idolatrous world. "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?" 2 Corinthians 6:16. Are not the pleasures, the possessions, the honors, the creatures, etc., of this world idolized? Colossians 3:5; 1 John 5:21.
6. It is an infidel world. "Infidel," verse 15. How this prevails at the present day! And also atheism. It is not the result of sober inquiry, close investigation, or full conviction; but the slow production of a careless and irreligious life, operating together with prejudices and erroneous conceptions of the nature of the doctrines of the Gospel. Infidelity, in general, is a disease of the heart more than of the understanding; for it always increases as morality declines.
II. The Nature or Separation From the World
1. Separation from the world does not interfere with the natural or civil connections of life. Proper relations are not to be abandoned because they are irreligious. 1 Corinthians 5:10. The godly are compelled to have fellowship with those whose ungodly deeds are grievous to them, like "Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)" 2 Peter 2:7-8
2. It does not imply separation from legitimate worldly concerns.While in the world, we must live, and we are commanded "not to be slothful in business," etc.
3. Actual separation from the world. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord." 2 Corinthians 6:17." With the men of the world as associates, or as companions for life, verse 14; not to resort to the places where they go and sin — as the tavern, the theater, etc.
4. The world must be overcome, as a most deadly foe, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith!" 1 John 5:4. And the principle of victory is faith. Redeemed from this present evil world by faith — faith in Christ — faith in future eternal realities.
5. It implies enlightened, believing, and holy conduct.
Is the world under Satanic influence? Believers show that Christ is their Master.
Is the world unrighteous? Believers are made righteous by the blood of Christ, etc.
Is the world full of darkness? Believers are light in the Lord.
Is the world unbelieving? Believers live by faith.
Is the world idolatrous? Believers worship God alone.
Is it an infidel world? Believers are rooted and grounded in the truth, and earnestly contend for the faith.
6. Separation from the world is indicated by devotedness to God and his cause. The Church is loved, fellowship with God and his people is enjoyed; Christians are his companions, his brethren, etc. He is traveling with them to Heaven; he is united with them in the bonds of holy love, and separate from a corrupt world.
7. This separation is enforced by many motives.
By the example of Christ, and his Apostles.
By the nature of regeneration, which produces opposition to the world.
By the nature of our Christian profession.
Many have been destroyed by the world, as Demas, etc.
Our own salvation demands separation from it.
III. The Blessed Results of this Separation.
1. Present and final deliverance from the evil consequences of worldly association. 1 Corinthians 11:32.
2. The Indwelling of Deity, "As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 2 Corinthians 6:16
3. A saving interest in God, and all that he has promised; "and I will be their God," verse 16.
4. Divine acceptance and approval. "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 2 Corinthians 6:16
5. The paternal love of the Almighty God! "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:18.
1Cor 5:1) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. (2) And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? (3) Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. (4) When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, (5) hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. Paul says that we should put this man out of our fellowship! He says that this man should be handed over to Satan; not for evil but so that he becomes so miserable that he turns back to God so he will be saved. How is that for separation from sinners! (6) Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? (7) Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (8) Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. A little tolerance for sin works through the whole body of Christ. If sin is tolerated and accepted, then it will soon spread and thought to be OK. As the saying goes… “One bad apple spoils the bunch”. Years ago it was almost unheard of to have divorce within the church. Today it as common for Christians to divorce as it is pagans. That which was sin before, is now accepted. Years ago sex outside of marriage or "living together" was strictly prohibited; it was sin and was not allowed in the church. Today it is common place within society and in the church. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump". Teen pregnancy is a common place today. Homosexuality used to be an absolute sin in every church and not tolerated what so ever, but today it's more and more acceptable with more and more preachers themselves coming out of the closet that they are gay. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump". Yes we can go on and on what we accept under the disguise of love and grace by Jesus Christ but the Bible says otherwise. (9) I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— (10) not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. (11) But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.Paul is talking about “so called” believers here, those who claim to be a Christian but live contrary to what the Bible says. How many people do you know who profess they believe in Jesus, yet lives contrary to His teachings? Those we are not to associate with! (12) What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? (13) God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." We don't see this in our churches today, yet it's a command for the church that we are to be separated from sin. When was the last time we heard a good sermon on sin and holiness? When was the last time we were told not to associate with believers who are not following the teachings of Jesus?
a difficult subject for many people. The Biblical principles pertaining to this all-to-common and devastating series of events in married lives are very important. Handling divorce and desertion properly and the profound rejection that accompanies it according to God’s Plan through correct application of His Word is the key to maintaining momentum in your spiritual life! Below, I have provided a few of the Biblical principles necessary to handle events preceding and following divorce and/or desertion. Follow them as unto the Lord.
New Testament Words for Divorce
Apoluo
The Greek word APOLUO is composed of the Greek preposition APO which means away from and the verb LUO which means to loose. Hence, the meaning is to loose away from yourself and refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. APOLUO is so used in Matthew 1:19, Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:3, Matthew 19:7, Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:2, Mark 10:4, Mark 10:11-12, and Luke 16:18.
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (Matthew 1:19)
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:32)
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" (Matthew 19:3)
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" (Matthew 19:7)
I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9)
Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" (Mark 10:2)
They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." (Mark 10:4)
He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10:11-12)
"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Luke 16:18)
In Mark 10:12, the Lord used APOLUO to refer to a wife divorcing her husband while talking to Greeks. The Greeks permitted it, but the Jews didn't. In Jewish society, the husband could divorce his wife, but a wife could not divorce her husband. Not so with the Greeks. In the New Testament, Paul makes it clear that if there are grounds for divorce, it relates to both male and female equally. A wife could have just as much grounds for divorce as the husband. If the man is guilty of immorality and/or desertion, the woman has grounds for divorce.
Apostasion
The Greek word APO means away from and STASION is a standing or a tearing. APOSTASION means a tearing away from or a standing away from. It refers to a defection or a standing off in the marriage relationship where a cessation of the love relationship has occurred whether based on personal or impersonal love. This situation usually leads to divorce. APOSTASION was used for a bill or a writing of divorcement. This is seen in Matthew 5:31, Matthew 19:7 and Mark 10:4.
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' (Matthew 5:31)
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" (Matthew 19:7)
They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." (Mark 10:4)
APOSTASION is also the word from which we get apostasy. What is apostasy? It is the same thing, by way of analogy, that happens in a marriage. First of all, there is rejection by one or both parties. This is what happens when a believer becomes apostate. He rejects the Word of God and becomes indifferent and hostile towards it. First, there is rejection, then there is separation.
There is separation before divorce - whether formal or in formal. This is when people who become reversionistic separate themselves from doctrine and doctrinal teaching. Then you have the divorce which means you are dead to that former relationship. Thus, people who are temporally dead are out of fellowship, they stay out of fellowship, then they perpetuate carnality into retrogression. Their rejection has gone from rejection to separation and they have divorced themselves from the entire Plan of God. They are still in the plan of God, but they are not functioning in accordance with it because of their indifference and rejection of Bible truth.
That is why APOSTASION was used as an analogy to what takes place in the dissolution of a marriage. First rejection, then separation, then divorce where you are dead to the former relationship. This is what happens to people when they get away from the Truth of God. May it never happen to any of us! May we never become indifferent to Bible truth so that we reject it in our apathy and antagonism! May we never separate ourselves from grace-oriented teaching thereby actually becoming dead to the plan of God for our lives.
The Non-Divorce/Non-Desertion Use of the Greek Word CHORIZO
Leaving or Departing
CHORIZO is a verb in the New Testament which is used for divorce and/or desertion. I want to show you some passages that illustrate the fact that it is used in other contexts for other meanings. This is the non-divorce, non-desertion use of the verb CHORIZO. Here, it means leaving or departing. For example, leaving or departing from one geographical location to another. It is used this way in Acts 1:4 where the apostles were told not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait or tarry for the promise of the Father which was the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 30 A.D. to form the Church Age.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (Acts 1:4)
Going from One Geographical Area to Another
CHORIZO is also used in Acts 1 and Acts 2 for going from one geographical area to another. It is also used in Romans 8:35 and Romans 8:39. Here, the phrase "Who shall separate us" means to cause us to leave or depart. Nothing shall ever be able to separate us from the love of God. It is used in Romans 8:39 for separation and gives us eternal security where no thing or power could ever separate us from the love of God which is in union with Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35)
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)
Mental or Soulish Separation
CHORIZO is also used for the doctrine of mental or soulish separation in Hebrews 7:26 where it describes the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ as set apart. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated from sinners. He was separated from sinners. How can that be when He had fellowship with tax collectors who were considered the most hated people in the ancient world? The only people they could have fellowship with were prostitutes. We are not talking about sexual fellowship. We are talking about just getting together and talking, conversing, and having dinner. The Lord Jesus Christ met with the Publicans, the tax collectors, the sinners, and the prostitutes. He did not separate Himself from them physically. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated from those sinners. He did not go along with their lifestyle, their viewpoint, or their way of doing what they did. He had mental and soulish separation even when He was in their midst.
Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26)
The same is true of the many times He talked to, confronted, and usually chewed out the religious leaders and religious people in His own day and age. He did not have any ivory tower or a holier-than-thou attitude. He was right there with them, trying to convince them that He was the Messiah and the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ condemned their religiosity, often in vitriolic terms, yet He always did so with a perfect unconditional love fro them exhibited by His virtue and thoughtfulness. Jesus Christ was never religious. To be religious is to be evil. Religion is man by man's efforts seeking to gain the approbation of God on the basis of his human good, his merits, and his good deeds. Religious people try to get God to smile on them and throw the pearly gates wide open. This is a terrible, terrible evil and is the control center of Satan's cosmic system of evil.
And so the Lord was not religious in any sense of the word. He was the epitome of grace. In John 1:14, in describing who and what the Lord Jesus would be, it says He would be full of grace and truth (doctrine). You cannot be full of grace and doctrine and be religious. If you are religious, you are full of something that is not grace and doctrine, but evil. The Lord was with the religious leaders and religious people trying to convince them concerning the Father's grace plan for the incarnation. He was trying to convince them of His claims - that he was the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the World as stated in Matthew 1:21.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
He was right there with them, but in His soul, thought pattern, motivation, emotion, conscience, and His volition He was totally separated from them. So, you see, this is how CHORIZO is used in the New Testament. It is used for soulish and mental separation. The Lord was with the tax collectors, but He was separated from them within His soul. He was with the prostitutes, but He was separated from them in His soul. He was with the religious people, but He was separate from them within His soul.
Marital Unfaithfulness as a Basis For Divorce
Jesus Christ was always healing people as presented in Matthew 19:1-2. He did this not only to alleviate suffering, but more importantly, to provide a platform to declare who and what He was. He loved them unconditionally and loved to heal them of their illnesses. If Jesus Christ healed others only to alleviate human suffering, then our Lord was terribly amiss because He only succeeded in healing a very small number of the human race and in a very limited geographical area. Jesus Christ always healed people to declare that He was the long-awaited Messiah and Savior of all mankind.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. (Matthew 19:1-2)
Pharisees often came to hear Jesus talk in public to test Him as seen in Matthew 19:3-4. This is another example of Jesus being in the midst of religious healers, but not agreeing with them and presenting God’s Word. The Pharisees are providing meddlesome comments within the crowd listening to the Lord to distract both Jesus and the crowd. They were experts at cynicism and sarcasm, thus trying to put people down and to try to refute what the Lord was teaching.
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' (Matthew 19:3-4)
and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Matthew 19:5-6)
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." (Mark 10:9)
Matthew 19:5-6 states that two united in marriage are no longer two people, but one flesh, one in purpose and motivation, two people building a life together. John Calvin said, concerning this passage, that in marriage, two persons come to think, act, and feel as one. That is what marriage is all about.
"Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:7-9)
Matthew 19:7-9 presents what Jesus Christ had to say about the basis for Biblical divorce.
The Lord Jesus Christ states that there are absolutely no grounds for divorce except for marital unfaithfulness. This means physical unfaithfulness or adultery and mental or physical desertion as we will see in the following sections.
Desertion as Biblical Grounds for Divorce
Desertion is also a valid reason for divorce. Marriage should never be dissolved Biblically except for immorality and/or desertion, whether physical, mental, or soulish desertion. In 1 Corinthians 7:10 a divine mandate is given that the wife should not leave her husband nor divorce her husband.
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:10)
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:11)
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. (1 Corinthians 7:14)
In 1 Corinthians 7:10, 1 Corinthians 7:11, and 1 Corinthians 7:14 we have the Greek verb CHORIZO in the middle voice. CHORIZO means to separate oneself mentally, soulishly, and/or physically. It means to depart from mentally, soulishly and/or physically and we have it in these passages in the middle voice. For example in 1 Corinthians 7:10 it says the wife must not separate from her husband or she must not divorce her husband. The reason it can be translated separate or leave or divorce is because the same Greek verb is used later on in this passage for desertion. The verb CHORIZO is used for divorce and desertion (i.e., divorce is desertion and desertion is divorce). This is why the contexts are interchangeable. CHORIZO is the same verb and is used in the middle voice. This is very important! What this means is that the subject is to be benefited by the action, so where there are grounds for divorce, the "innocent party" can get on with their life.
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:11)
In 1 Corinthians 7:11 it says but if she does leave, let her remain unmarried. If she leaves or terminates the marriage for any reason other than immorality, then she is to remain unmarried or else be reconciled. If there is separation and it does not lead to divorce, then she can be reconciled. But if she goes ahead and divorces, then she has to remain unmarried unless they can settle their differences and be reconciled to one another. However, neither one can have been involved in a sexual relationship with another! Whether in or out of marriage, this is something that would completely frustrate the sexual initiation and responsive activities of both male and female and would greatly hinder the possibility of their being reconciled.
If she does divorce her husband, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. If she can be reconciled to her husband, then they can remarry according to the Bible. An modern day example is that the movie stars Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood married, were divorced, and then got married to each other again. In 1 Corinthians 7:11 it says the husband must not send his wife away or separate from her. It also says that the husband must not divorce his wife. It can be translated either way. That is why Paul is building up to 1 Corinthians 7:15 where we have the doctrine of divorce. In 1 Corinthians 7:15, CHORIZO is also used in the middle voice, but we're building toward this.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. (1 Corinthians 7:15)
According to 1 Corinthians 7:12, just because you get saved and your wife remains unsaved is NOT Biblical grounds for divorce! This erroneous reason for divorce is practiced by a certain element of Pentecostalism within the Assembly of God Church. They wrongly teach that if you get saved and your mate is unsaved, you can divorce your mate and become involved with a fellow Pentecostal. When you have the emotions controlling the soul, you can do nothing but corrupt your life. So, for this and many other reasons, stay away from the tongues movement.
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. (1 Corinthians 7:12)
In 1 Corinthians 7:13, it states that if a woman who is a believer has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband. This is a case for either the husband or the wife as believers who are married to an unbeliever. Neither believer can use the unbelief of their spouse as grounds for divorce. This is because the laws of divine establishment state that marriage is for both believers and unbelievers alike.
And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. (1 Corinthians 7:13)
In 1 Corinthians 7:14, the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. This does not mean they are saved by proxy. It means that they are under blessing by association as stated by the phrase "Or otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy."
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. (1 Corinthians 7:14)
The Greek verb CHORIZO occurs again in 1 Corinthians 7:15 as the word "leaves" and means "to desert." In other words, the believer who did not leave or desert their unbelieving spouse is free from the marriage union. They are no longer obliged to remain married under these circumstances. However, it is always God's will for the marriage to be saved, if it can be saved. It is always God's will for us to live our marriages under His grace blessing and prosperity.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. (1 Corinthians 7:15)
In 1 Corinthians 7:16-17 a mandate is presented for the believing spouse to continue in the personal evangelism toward their marriage partner based on their unconditional love for them. This is no different that the believer’s mandate to be a witness for Jesus Christ to the unbelieving world through their Ambassadorship as part of their Royal Priesthood for the Church Age. Those married to unbelieving spouses should continue to be a positive example to their spouses of what the Word of God can do to someone and through someone. They should continue to present the Gospel and Bible doctrine to their spouses under unconditional love whenever the opportunity arises.
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. (1 Corinthians 7:16-17)
What if your spouse says they want nothing more to do with your marriage? What if your spouse says they don’t want to have any type of relationship with you at all? What if your spouse says they don’t want to even remain a friend, but would like to stay around the house or apartment just as a roommate or casual acquaintance? What if your spouse says they want to remain living with you, but want to go their own way whenever they want to and with whomever they chose? The Bible says these situations are the same as desertion. These are examples of mental desertion which are mental cruelty which are Biblical grounds for divorce. These are examples of irreconcilable differences, which are grounds for divorce. They are tantamount to desertion because the verb CHORIZO is used here and not only refers to physical separation or physical desertion, but to a mental desertion which is much worse and much more tragic to the innocent party.
This is desertion in the soul where the person wants absolutely nothing to do in any way with the Christian marriage or Christian family. This is a sound interpretation because CHORIZO is used for both physical and mental desertion or separation. From the positive standpoint, our Lord was separate (CHORIZO) from sinners. From the negative standpoint, a person can be separate, removed, and in a position of having already left or deserted the other mate while still under the same roof.
Greek Words for Physical Separation or Desertion
Apochorizo
APOCHORIZO is another Greek word which means "to depart asunder" or "to remove." This is a physical departure or removal only. This word is seen in Acts 15:39 and Revelation 6:14. This is used for physical separation, desertion or removal. APOCHORIZO is not used for mental or soulish separation or desertion, whereas CHORIZO is.
Diachorizo
Another compound Greek word for separation is DIACHORIZO which means "to separate", "to leave", "to depart completely and definitely." This word is used in Luke 9:33 and is a physical separation, whereas CHORIZO is used for both divorce and desertion and can be either physical or soulish/mental divorce or desertion.
We must consider all that we have learned in this study about what the Word of God has to say about divorce and the legitimate Biblical grounds for it. The Biblical bases for divorce are: unfaithfulness (adultery) and mental and physical desertion. We have to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul make an explicit modification to the creation command relating to marriage - that marriages can be terminated because of immorality or desertion. The Bible teaches that marriage is a covenant of companionship between two people (a man and a woman only) and is something that has been going on since the beginning of human history. Proverbs 2 and Malachi 2:13-16 express the application of the Word of God to your life and that through that application, you will maintain your spiritual advance to maturity and the true inner happiness that results.
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair--every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. None who go to her return or attain the paths of life. Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it. (Proverbs 2:1-22)
Another thing you do: You flood the LORD'S altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, "Why?" It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. (Malachi 2:13-16)
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