BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED

2 Corinthians 6:14 - "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:
for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness
and what communion hath light with darkness?"

The Apostle Peter wrote, "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy...because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Pet. 1:15-16). The word "holy" is "hagios" in the Greek, and "kadesh" in Hebrew. Both mean "to be set apart." Just as God is not a part of His creation, those who belong to Him are not to be a part of this world. Jesus said, "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (set them apart unto Yourself) through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth" (Jn. 17:15-17).

What did Jesus mean by "the world?" "World" is from the Greek "kosmos" which has to do with the way it operates. Born again believers are to be set apart from the world by living according to the Scriptures; not following the world's ways. We are to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25), which is always according to God's will as described in the Word of God. In other words, born again believers are not to do things "the world's way," but God's way.

It goes without saying that believers are to avoid sin; that is a given. The Apostle Paul warned of being unequally yoked with others who do not walk according to God's Word (1 Cor. 5:1-13). But believe it or not, he warned of a far worse kind of yoking that takes place within the Church. Believers committing sin within the Church is bad enough, but a greater problem is having "fellowship" with those who, claiming to be believers, proclaim a different Gospel.

In Galatians 1:3-9, Paul describes the true Gospel as teaching salvation is a gift, it is by grace (v. 6). He said Jesus gave Himself to "deliver us from this present evil world" (v. 4). Paul is quite clear that the Church should have no fellowship with those who preach salvation by works (v. 7-9). In his other epistles, Paul presented the Gospel as being based upon one's faith in the finished work of Christ on our behalf (Rom. 10:1-13; 1 Cor. 15:1-23; Eph. 2:1-13; etc.).

The Apostle John also made it quite clear as to how born again believers are to treat those who hold to "another Gospel." He wrote, " Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 Jn. 1:9-11). Here are some other passages you might want to consider: Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:6; and 2 Thessalonians 3:6.

There really is such a thing as guilt by association!