The Response to the Ministry

The Response to the Ministry Complete Devotion to God in Separation The Temple of the Living God Bringing Holiness to Completion

Who are You? dentist, doctor, nurse, IT security specialist, carpenter, construction guru, plumbing foreman, software engineer, assembly line worker, home inspector, realtor, barista, well-known artist, retail salesperson, copy machine repairman, entrepreneur, mechanic, engineer, consultant, accountant, teacher, manager, technician, husband, wife, mom, dad

Who are You? Are you a Christian? For whom do you work?

2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Devoted to God, Separated from the World • We are the Temple of the Living God • Be Holy for I Am Holy

Contrasts in Relationships of Life • Righteousness and lawlessness – moral behavior • Light and darkness – intelligence regarding the things of God • Christ and Belial – realms of authority in our life • Believer and unbeliever – domains of faith we live by • Temple of God and idols – subject of a person’s worship by William MacDonald

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

Devoted to God, Separated from the World • Unequally yoked with unbelievers • Righteousness with Lawlessness • Light and Darkness • Christ and Belial • Believer’s portion with unbeliever

Unequally Yoked Matthew 11:29-3029 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Light and Darkness Psalm 27:11 The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear? John 8:1212 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Light and Darkness Matthew 5:1616 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Sounds like a purpose…

Believer’s portion with unbeliever Lamentations 3:24 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

2 Corinthians 6:16 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

We are the Temple of the Living God • Idols and the Temple of God • You are not your own 1 Corinthians 6:19-2019 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body

We are the Temple of the Living God • I will be their God (Paul is citing) Leviticus 26:1212 And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 6:17 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing;

We are the Temple of the Living God • Separate ourselves – come out! • Cited from Isaiah 52:11 • Refers to Ezekiel 20:41

2 Corinthians 6:18 …then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

We are the Temple of the Living God • A compilation phrase from • Exodus 4:22; 2 Samuel. 7:8, 14; Isaiah 43:6; Jeremiah 31:9; Hoshea 1:10; Revelation 21:7

We are the Temple of the Living God • He welcomes us, opens arms to us • Called His sons and daughters • A conditional response • For obedient people

2 Corinthians 7:1 1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Be Holy for I Am Holy • What promises? • He will be with us, IF • We are obedient – cleanse ourselves • Every defilement – filthiness • Molusmos (gr) - Worthlessness, wickedness

Be Holy for I Am Holy Leviticus 11:44-4544 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. … 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Be Holy for I Am Holy • Consecrate: to dedicate yourself to the object of your faith, to the rules of engagement, to obedience, to setting yourself apart, (to holiness)

Be Holy for I Am Holy • To completion… • Increasingly conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ • Not on earth, but over a lifetime • When we see Him “face to face” (1 Cor 13:12) • In the fear of God • Not debilitating fear of an enemy • Reverence and awe

Holiness Guided Titus 2:11-1411 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Holiness Granted Hebrews 10:1010 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Ephesians 1:44 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Holiness Strived for Hebrews 12:1414 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. If the desire to live a life wholly pleasing to God is not there, then we should seriously question whether our faith is genuine. Jerry Bridges (The Pursuit of Holiness)

Holiness Rewarded 2 Chronicles 7:1414 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

You are a New Creation 2 Corinthians 5:1717 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Your Actions Matter 1 John 2:15-1715 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Your Testimony is Evident 1 Peter 2:99 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The Response to the Ministry