INTRODUCTION.

I. THE AUTHOR OF SEPARATION.

A. Instances of Separation.

B. Interpretation of Separation

II. THE COMMAND OF SEPARATION.

A. Put Away Darkness.

B. Not Unequally Yoked.

C. Come Out.

III.THE CHARACTER OF SEPARATION.

A. The Two Aspects.

B. The Results.

CONCLUSION.

References for Study:

Gen. 1:4; Deut. 22:9-11; Matt. 13:24-30,36-43; John 17:15; Rom. 1:1; 12:1,2; 13:12-14; 1 Cor. 9:7-10; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 7:1.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).

A close study of the Scriptures is necessary on this most important topic, because people tend to substitute personal conviction for scriptural truth. We do not wish to suppress personal conviction, we want to encourage it; but don't expect everyone to share your conviction unless they can be backed up with a chapter and verse reference.

1. THE AUTHOR OF SEPARATION.

In the opening of the Bible, we see God dividing the light from the darkness. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness" (Gen. 1:4). God, by example, is demonstrating to us that many things must be divided or separated one from the other. Some things, by their very nature, cannot be mixed. The moment light appears, it is no longer dark. And darkness, by definition, is the absence of light. There cannot be one where the other exists. This truth may seem too elementary to be given much thought, but it is, as we will see, a truth to which Scripture calls to our attention over and over again.

God also required a division or separation of seeds sown in a vineyard. "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with diverse seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled" (Deut. 22:9). Once the seeds were sown together, they became so mixed that the fruit was not pure. Once sown, it is nearly impossible to separate the two. This is a major lesson in the parable of the wheat and the tares found in Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43. Had the field been allowed to yield only wheat, there would have been no doubt as to the nature of each plant. But once the field became defiled with the seeds of tares, once the separation had broken down, it became difficult to tell the two types of plants apart. Of course, this is not the only truth taught in this parable, but it is an important Principle and worthy of our attention. God forbade the sowing of the seeds together because of ineptitude. The beasts of burden that worked in the fields were to be separated. "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together" (Deut. 22:10). This is a case of incompatibility. The very nature of these two animals forbids that they work together. They have a different gait and differ in strength. They cannot work together comfortably. There were even different kinds of garments that God did not allow His people to wear together. "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together" (Deut. 22:11), a case of inharmony.

What was the purpose in God's clear declaration that different things are to be separated? Was His primary concern for the literal fruits of the vineyard, or for the actual ox and ass, or for the unharmonious mixing of fabrics. Paul explains the hidden principle behind ceremonial law in 1 Cor. 9:7-10. God outlined ceremonial law as a picture, a constant reminder, of moral truth. God demanded the separation of seeds and animals and garments; He separated light from darkness, to illustrate to men, that things which are different in basic nature ought to be separate. Men who live in spiritual darkness cannot mix well with men who live in spiritual light. When seeds of spiritual impurity are sown among good seeds, it becomes difficult to distinguish the spiritual wheat from the tares. The distinct quality and testimony of the good is swallowed up and hidden among the bad. Animals of different strength, size, and temperament do not work together well. They are not suited to the same things. Nor are the activities of the world suited to the life-style of the Christian. When God commanded His people not to blend certain fabrics and garments, He was teaching, in principle, that His people should also not blend those things which are godly with those things that are ungodly. It is the responsibility of God's people to be as easily distinguished from the world as light is from darkness, not to be so mixed among the tares that only final harvest can separate the two.

God does not stop with teaching Separation by example. He commands that Christians live a life that is separated from the conduct of the world. Paul, writing in Rom. 13:12-14, says that Christians are to cast off darkness and put on the armor of light. He is speaking to the saved in these verses, and not to those who are lost. He is telling Christians that they must be separate from the works of darkness. They are not to be identified with the activities or the world. They are to cast them away and make no provision for them.

In 2 Cor. 6:14 the believer is commanded not to be yoked with unbelievers. A yoke is an implement of work, and the Christian's work of glorifying Christ is totally alien to the unbeliever. It is contrary to the unbeliever's nature to glorify the Son of God. So, if the believer and unbeliever are working together, their work will probably not be the kind that brings glory to Christ Jesus. Of course, we do not mean that the saved and lost cannot work together in the sense of working for the same employer. When we speak of work, we are speaking of the motivation or thrust of an individual's life. That motivation, for the Christian, is to bring glory to the Father and to His Son. The unbeliever will only bring glory to himself.

God's clear command is to come out from among unbelievers. See 2 Cor. 6:14-18. Again, we are not to sever all connections with unbelievers. We cannot win those to Christ with whom we have no contact at all. But, we are not to identify with them. Our goals are to differ from their goals. Our motivations are to differ from their motivations. Our activities are to differ from their activities. Our attitudes are to differ from their attitudes. Believers are to be identifiably different from unbelievers. God commands it.

III. THE CHARACTER OF SEPARATION.

As we have seen, Bible Separation is not withdrawing physically from the world. Jesus, in John 17:15, prayed not that believers should be taken out of the world, only that they should be kept from the evil of the world. Nor is Separation simply avoiding those questionable or sinful activities that are common among the unsaved. True, Scripture says that we should so separate ourselves from worldly activity that we do not even make provision for the lust of our flesh. However, there is more to Separation than a negative list of things not to do. Bible Separation means also being separated, or set apart, to God. This is taught in Rom. 1:1. The same passage in Rom. 13:12-14 that told us earlier to cast off the works of darkness now tells us to put on the armor of light. It also tells us to put on Jesus Christ. We are to give the living of our lives over to Christ. His word and the working of His Holy Spirit are to be the center of our lives. Separation has two aspects: the putting off of the things of the world and the putting on of the power and grace of Jesus Christ. We are to make Him Lord of our lives, to fully submit and surrender to His perfect will (Rom. 12:1,2). This is the final goal of Separation, dedicating ourselves fully to Him.

The reward for Bible Separation is fellowship with the Father. Read carefully the words of 2 Cor. 6:14 - 18. Righteousness has no fellowship with unrighteousness. Light has no communion with darkness. Christ has no concord, or agreement, with Belial. The believer has no part with the infidel. Gods temple, the believer, has no agreement with the temple of idols. But God's command is not without promise. He tells us that if we will separate ourselves from these things, He will receive us, fellowship with us, and be to us as a Father is to sons and daughters. The fellowship and blessing of God depend upon our practicing Bible Separation.

The promise of God's fellowship should motivate us to true Bible Separation. "Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).

Darkness and ______________________ cannot mix.

THE COMMAND OF SEPARATION.

1. Cast off _______________________ put on ___________________________ (Romans 13:12-14).

2. Be not unequally ________________________ with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

3. Come out from among them and be ye __________________________.

1. We are to be separated from the ______________________ and to ___________________________(Romans 1:1).

2. Separation will result in _____________________________ with the Father (2 Corinthians 16:14-18).

Memory Verse: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).

Short Version: Be not conformed . . . but be ye transformed.

Brief Studies