Rev. David Holwick N 2 Corinthians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
April 18, 1999
2 Corinthians 6:14- 7:1
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SERMON SUMMARY: Christians are supposed to be different - in what way?
Discusses the meaning of spiritual separation and its corollary,
being yoked to Jesus.
I. Strict Christian upbringing.
A. How many grew up in strict Christian homes? [show of hands]
1) Not just church-going, but STRICT.
2) Example of Billy Graham on Sunday - no playing, only reading.
B. My Christian college. [Wheaton]
1) No drugs, no sex, no alcohol, no dancing, no movies, no
cards, and the tennis courts were locked on Sunday.
2) We had a lot of fun. Really.
C. Why the rules?
1) Christians are supposed to be different.
2) The rules set us off from everyone else.
3) Outsiders knew little about our college, but they knew we
were religious and had lots of rules.
4) Is this God's goal for all of us?
II. We are meant to be different.
A. Harsh transition?
1) Some even think a previous letter got pasted in here.
2) Paul is focusing on reconciliation.
a) It is the message we bring to world.
b) It needed to occur between Paul and this church.
1> A closed heart was part of their problem.
2> Compromise with world was another part.
c) He suspects they feel they cannot because of their
ties with pagans. They feel guilty.
B. Five contrasts between believers and the world.
1) Righteousness, wickedness / light, dark.
2) Christ and Belial.
a) Belial is a name for Satan.
3) Bible often presents these stark contrasts.
a) 1 John 5:19-
We know that we are children of God, and that the
whole world is under the control of the evil one.
C. Is there a real difference?
1) Polls show our lifestyles are not much different than others.
2) Maybe this is why church lacks influence or conviction.
3) What sets YOU apart?
III. Don't be yoked.
A. The nature of a yoke.
1) Heavy wooden beam, connects animals.
2) O.T. says only similar animals can be yoked. Deut 22:10
a) Yoke different types, they will hurt each other.
b) Ray Stedman and Palestinian farmer with camel and donkey.
"When I was traveling in the Middle East I saw a farmer
plowing his field with a camel and a donkey.
It was almost ludicrous to watch.
The camel was three times the height of the donkey, and
his legs were three times as long.
He was striding along at a rather slow pace for him, but
the little donkey was running as fast as he could to
keep up.
The farmer kept beating him all the time trying to get him
to keep up.
It was cruel.
Both animals obviously were miserable; they hated being
tied together like that.
Rev. Ray C. Stedman
"Watch Out For These"
January 6, 1980
B. Everybody is chained to something.
1) We cannot live without ties, obligations.
2) What will we be chained to?
a) We will always face moral choices.
b) To make no choice is to make the most dangerous choice.
C. People yokes.
1) Application to business?
a) Not explicit here.
2) Application to marriage?
a) Old Testament background is strong.
b) Jews forbidden to marry outside their religion.
1> Not a racial prohibition, but due to faith.
2> Also applicable to Christians?
A> 1 Cor 7 - don't marry non-Christians.
B> Example of Jerold Simms and Dorothy Boeke.
She converted to become a Jew like him.
They had children.
They had problems in marriage and separated.
She reconverted to Catholicism.
Took kids to church.
Jerold sued for "religious custody."
Court agreed with him, forbid kids to go to
church.
#649
c) But Paul tells Corinthians to leave yokes, and he never
counsels this with a mixed marriage.
1> If it's already a reality, stay, make best of it.
3) Yoke of compromise with godless world.
a) Idolatry is main image.
b) Note the religious nature of Paul's contrasts.
c) Correct view, but broad.
IV. Come out and be separate.
A. How should Christians separate from influence of world?
1) Complete withdrawal - monastic approach.
a) Mt. Athos in Greece, no non-believers, no women.
1> Not even female animals allowed on grounds.
b) Fundamentalist immersion into church culture.
1> Often more superficial than real.
2> Ultimate - double separation.
A> Separate from liberals.
B> Separate from conservatives who won't separate
from liberals.
c) But Paul warns that complete withdrawal is impossible.
1> We would have to leave planet. 1 Cor. 5:9-11
A> Many fundamentalists end up completely
isolated.
2> Separate from those who influence us in wrong way.
A> Whether Christian or pagan.
2) Selective withdrawal.
a) From wild living. 1 Peter 4:3-5
b) From corrupting companions. 1 Cor. 15:33
c) From anything a Christian should be ashamed of.
B. What we may have to give up to be a Christian. (Barclay)
1) Give up your job.
a) In early Church a man's Christianity often meant that
he had to quit his job.
Time and again in the early Church the choice came to a
man between the security of his job and his loyalty
to Jesus Christ.
It is told that a man came to Tertullian.
He told him his problem and then he said, "But after
all I must live."
"Must you?" said Tertullian.
2) Give up social life.
a) Much food was offered to idols.
3) Give up family ties.
a) Husband might drive wife from house.
4) There are certain things a man cannot do and be a Christian,
however hard this may be.
C. Christians must be different.
1) God makes distinctions.
a) These distinctions must be evident in our lives.
2) We must make moral choices, or be brought down.
V. Look on the bright side.
A. Striving for purity leads to a relationship with God.
1) Father/son-daughter closeness.
B. Christian "yoke" is not a bad deal.
1) Jesus' yoke leads to rest for our souls. Matt 11:29
2) The "Ties that Bind" - Christian fellowship.
a) Should be a closeness that we can depend on.
3) Seek Christian relationships.
a) Marriage is important.
b) Make sure they are committed.
C. What a Christian should be able to offer you.
1) Biblical values - honesty and integrity.
2) Commitment through thick and thin.
3) Spiritual resources of prayer and Bible.
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#649, Christianity Today magazine, February 17, 1989, page 14.
This and 4,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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