Great Doctrines of the Bible
Lesson 25
Bible Separation

Introduction
All who have ever been born of God, all to whom Christ has been made a living reality by the power of the Holy Spirit, realize fully that while they live in the world of spiritual darkness, they are not of it (John 15:19). Having been chosen out of it (John 15:16), they are crucified to it and separated from it by the cross (Galatians 6:14; Hebrews 10:10).

The Bible views Christians as having been sanctified (separated unto God) in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2), and are exhorted to separate themselves from sin, sinners, professing Christians who refuse to behave, the world with its lusts and pleasures, false teachers and apostate religion.

Questions and problems abound. Are Christians isolationists? Are we to climb into our white ivory towers and let the world go by? Are we Pharisees, proudly asserting that we are not like other men? And what should be our attitude toward that professing Christian leader who denies the deity and shed blood of Christ? Just what is Bible Separation?

These are a few of the questions we have endeavored to answer in this lesson. May your heart and life become more separated unto God as you study the truth with us (John 17:17).

Importance of this Lesson

• Some Christians live in bondage as though they were still under law. The separation they manifest is legalistic which tends to be like the Pharisees.
• Others know the joy and freedom of a separation wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit. It is vitally important to know the difference.
• While we are exhorted to not love this world (1 John 2:15-17), nor be conformed to it (Romans 12:2), worldliness continues to permeate the churches. It is important that we know just what worldliness is and what God requires.
• In spite of God’s warning to “turn away” from religion that has deteriorated into a mere “form of godliness” (2 Timothy 3:1-5), millions of professing Christians have chosen to remain in and support liberal and apostate churches. It is important to know what our attitude should be toward such situations.

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The Lesson

I. GOD SEPARATES FROM THE WORLD AND FROM UNREGENERATE HUMANITY, THOSE WHOM HE HAS CHOSEN FOR HIMSELF

1. Illustration of the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:15) – “...when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace.”
2. Illustration of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) – “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified (separated) thee….”
   • The word “qodesh” in the Old Testament and the Greek word, “hagios” in the New Testament are translated variously as holy, holiness, sanctification, sanctified, and sanctify. The word always means “set apart,” separated for and unto God as holy.
3. Ephesians 1:4 – “According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (set apart and separated) and without blame before him, in love….”
4. John 15:19 – “...because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world (separated), therefore the world hateth you.”

II. MANY THINGS IN SCRIPTURE ARE DECLARED HOLY, SANCTIFIED, SEPARATED AND SET APART FOR GOD

1. A. God sanctified the seventh day (Genesis 2:3).
2. The firstborn were to be sanctified (Exodus 13:2).
3. The Tabernacle (Leviticus 8:10).
4. The priests (Leviticus 8:30).
5. The temple was called “the holy place” (Matthew 24:15).
6. Angels are holy (Matthew 25:31).
7. Jerusalem was a holy city (Matthew 27:53).
8. The scriptures are holy (Romans 1:2).
   • This list naturally could be greatly extended. The point I wish to make is that separation from sin and unto God for His glory and service was a commonly accepted fact for both things and people in the scriptures.

III. THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS WERE DECLARED TO BE HOLY AND WERE SEPARATED UNTO GOD FOR HIS SERVICE

1. Luke 1:70 – “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets....”
2. Acts 3:21 – “...which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets....”
3. 2 Peter 1:21 – “...but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
4. Ephesians 3:5 – “...as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”
5. Revelation 18:20 – “Rejoice over her; ye holy apostles and prophets.…”
6. Ephesians 4:11 – “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists....” (He called them, set them apart.)
7. Romans 1:1 – “Paul...called...an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”
   • Keeping in mind that the word, “holy” basically means “set apart” or separated unto God, we see in these verses that the prophets and apostles were uniquely chosen and called of God and separated from the rest of the world for His service and glory.

IV. CHRIST HIMSELF WAS HOLY AND SEPARATED FROM SINNERS

1. Luke 1:35 – “...that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God.”
2. 1 Peter 2:22 – “Who did no sin.…” (Hebrews 4:15) He was without sin.
3. Hebrews 7:26 – “...who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”
   • Christ was the perfect example of one who could communicate with sinners without being one of them. He should be our pattern (1 Peter 2:21-24).

V. GOD’S INTENTION AND PURPOSE FOR HIS PEOPLE (THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM) HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT THEY BE A SEPARATED AND HOLY PEOPLE, IN BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

1. Israel
   1. Leviticus 11:44-47 – “...ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy for I am holy...For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy...To make a difference between the unclean and the clean....” (Also, Leviticus 10:10; Exodus 11:7; Leviticus 19:2; 20:7).
   2. Leviticus 20:26 – “and ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
   3. Deuteronomy 7:6 – “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Also, Deuteronomy 14:2; 26:19).
      • It is clear that Israel was called, chosen, and sanctified by God to be a unique, separated nation or people from all other people on the earth for the major purpose of revealing God as the one and only
      true and living God. See how this is paralleled by the true church and/or all believers in the New Testament.
2. The Church
   1. 1 Peter 2:9 – “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation...a peculiar people (a people of His own); that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
   2. 1 Peter 1:15 – “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”
   3. Ephesians 1:4 – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy...” (set apart, separated).
   4. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit.…”
   5. Ephesians 3:10 – “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers...might be known by (through) the church the manifold wisdom of God.”
      • It is just as clear that the Church (all believers on the Lord Jesus Christ) is a called, chosen and sanctified (separated unto God) people whose major purpose is to set before the world the excellencies, wisdom, power, and glory of Jesus Christ.

VI. CHRISTIANS ARE VIEWED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AS BEING SANCTIFIED, HOLY AND SEPARATED UNTO GOD AND ARE EXHORTED TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO HOLINESS – A SEPARATED LIFE

1. Seen as holy
   1. Acts 26:18 – “...among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
   2. Ephesians 1:4 – “...chosen us in him,...that we should be holy....”
   3. 1 Peter 2:9 – “But ye are...an holy nation.…”
   4. 1 Corinthians 3:17 – “...for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
2. Exhorted to be holy (separated):
   1. Romans 6:19 – “...yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”
   2. Romans 12:1 – “...that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God....”
   3. Ephesians 4:22-24 – “...put off...the old man, which is corrupt...and...put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
   4. 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “...let us cleanse ourselves...perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
      • It is hoped that you will seriously ponder these and numerous similar verses until you become fully aware of the fact that as a believer you are holy in God’s eyes and that He wants you to live a holy, separated life.

VII. HOW DO WE BECOME A SEPARATED PEOPLE?

1. Positionally and eternally we are separated unto God through the redemption and sacrifice of Christ.
   1. Hebrews 10:10 – “...we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
   2. Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
   3. Hebrews 10:29 – “...the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified...”
2. By God, the Father – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “And the very God of peace sanctify (separate you, set you apart) you wholly….”
3. Christ Himself – Hebrews 2:11 “For both he (Christ) that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one….”
4. The Holy Spirit – Romans 15:16 “...being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” (Note also 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.)
5. Through the Word – John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (Note Ephesians 5:26, 27.)
   • Bear in mind that the moment one believes on Christ, he is baptized into Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), is viewed as being “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3,4), and it is there, in Christ, where we are “sanctified,” separated from sin, and this world (1 Corinthians 1:2).
   • Notice that the entire Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, work together through the sacrifice of Christ, and the Word, to separate us from sin and the world unto God.

VIII. FROM WHAT ARE WE TO BE SEPARATED?

1. Sin. The great purpose of Christ’s first coming was to save us from our sins (Galatians 1:4; Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:12). Therefore, the Lord expects and commands us to:
   1. Turn away from that darkness in which we once walked (Ephesians 5:8; Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:7).
   2. Put off the “old man” of sin and put on the “new man,” Christ (Ephesians 4:22-32; Colossians 3:5-10).
   3. Lay aside sin (Hebrews 12:1; also, 2 Timothy 2:19).
2. Sinners. Christians are a “holy” people and God expects us to separate ourselves from every worldly, ungodly, and sinful relationship we had formerly.
   1. Ephesians 5:7-12 – “...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them....”
   2. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord....”
      • Separation from sin and sinners means separation from everything revealed in the word to be contrary to God’s holy and perfect will.
   3. From professing Christians who refuse to behave themselves properly.
      1. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – “We command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”
      2. 2 Thessalonians 3:14 – “And if any man obey not our word by this epistle; note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.” (See also 1 Corinthians 5:11.)
         ¨ The professing Christians in these passages were disobedient to the word they had been taught. They were idle, negligent, and indifferent to their Christian responsibilities, perhaps thinking that since the Lord was coming soon there was no need to attend to the practical aspects of the Christian faith.
         In the Corinthian passage, the professing Christian was a fornicator, idolater, drunkard, and one who extorted money. What is to be our attitude toward all such professing believers? We are not to eat or have fellowship with such a person (1 Corinthians 5:11), we are to withdraw from him and no longer regard him as a Christian brother (2 Thessalonians 3:6) and we are to mark such a person and have no company with him (2 Thessalonians 3:14). We are to withdraw all Christian fellowship from him “that he might be ashamed.”
         • We are not to judge, punish or speak harshly to these people. We simply let them know by our separation from them that they are living contrary to the word of God and that we no longer recognize them as being Christian brethren.
   4. From the World. Dr. Harry Ironside used to say, “This world is a system controlled by Satan, in which people are trying to make themselves happy without God.” Simple, yet profound! The word “world” in the New testament is translated three ways:
      1. To mean all of mankind (Matthew 26:13).
      2. To mean the created world or earth (Hebrews 4:4; 11:4; Ephesians 1:4).
      3. This present world system of unregenerate humanity, organized and controlled by Satan (1 John 2:15-17; John 15:16-19).
         • It is the third meaning with which this lesson is concerned. The word used is “kosmos” and refers in the ethically bad sense, to this present Satan organized and operated world system in which unsaved humanity is operating on satanic principles of lust, greed, pride, power, ambition and covetousness.
         1. What God says about this world:
            1. It is controlled by Satan (John 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19 [wickedness should be “wicked one”]; Matthew 4:8,9). He controls “the kingdoms of this world.”
            2. It is directly opposed to Christ (John 7:7; 15:18; 16:33).
            3. It is made up of “...the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life...” (1 John 2:16).
            4. It offers nothing of spiritual value to the needy, longing, empty, sinful hearts of men.
            5. It has no love for the followers of Christ. John 17:14 “...and the world hath hated them….”
            6. It cannot see, hear or receive the things of the Spirit of God. John 14:17 “...whom the world cannot receive….” (Also read 1 Corinthians 2:9-12.)
         2. What is the Christian’s relationship and attitude toward this world?
            1. He has been chosen out of it (John 15:16).
            2. He no longer belongs to it (John 15:19).
            3. He has “escaped” its corruption by the New Birth (2 Peter 1:4).
            4. He is crucified to it by the cross (Hebrews 10:10; Galatians 6:14).
            5. He is hated by it (John 15:19).
            6. He is not to love it (1 John 2:15).
            7. He is not to be a friend to it (James 4:4).
            8. He is to keep himself unspotted from it (James 1:27).
            9. He is not to conform to it (Romans 12:2).
            10. He does not get tangled up in it (2 Timothy 2:4).
            11. He should overcome it (1 John 5:4).
   5. From Apostasy and Apostate Teachers.
      1. What is apostasy? It is the denial and rejection of the incarnation (1 John 4:1-4) and deity of Christ and His redemption for us by the shedding of His blood (2 Peter 2:1) by those who remain professedly Christian. They maintain a “form of godliness” but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5).
         • Apostasy is not simply error due to ignorance (Acts 19:1-6) or heresy due to Satan’s snare (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).
      2. What are false or apostate teachers?
         1. They are teachers “having itching ears” who teach fables for the truth (2 Timothy 4:3,4).
         2. 2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-19 is a detailed description of them.
         3. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 – They have departed from the faith and have given way to satanic deceptions and doctrines of demons.
         4. Matthew 7:15-16 – These are “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
         5. Mark 13:22 – They’ll show signs and wonders seeking to seduce the elect.
         6. Jude 4, 8, 11-13, 16 – Study these vivid descriptions.
      3. What should be the Christian’s attitude toward all apostasy and apostate teachers?
         1. 2 John 10-11 – Do not receive him into your house and don’t say “God bless you” or “God be with you.” (Note: This goes for Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who come to your house.)
         2. Romans 16:17 – “...avoid them.”
         3. Galatians 1:8, 9 – “...let him be accursed.”
         4. 2 Timothy 3:5 – “...from such turn away.”
         5. Titus 1:13 – “...rebuke them sharply....”
         6. 1 John 4:1-4 – “...try the spirits...” – put them to the test of truth!
            •It seems clear that Christians are to shun apostasy and apostate teachers. Since there is no cure for apostasy except judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 2 Peter 2:17, 21), it is sheer folly for a Christian to remain in an apostate church with the hope of reviving or rescuing the situation. We are commanded to turn away from and avoid all forms of apostasy.

IX. WHY BE SEPARATED?

1. To show forth the “praises” of Christ (1 Peter 2:9).
2. To prove or demonstrate the good, acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).
3. To enjoy the fullness of God’s “fatherly” blessings (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).
4. To be loyal to Christ – the world is Christ’s enemy (John 7:7), and Satan, his greatest foe, controls it (1 John 5:19; John 14:30).
5. To avoid being spotted and ruined (James 1:27; 2 Timothy 4:10; Matthew 13:22).
6. To reveal the sufficiency of Christ (Romans 8:32; Philippians 4:19).
7. To show others the way to heaven (Matthew 5:16). Billy Sunday used to say, “If men see this world in you, you’ll have a hard time pointing them to the next.”

X. SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON BIBLE SEPARATION

1. Remember that while you are not “of” this world you definitely are “in” it and you have a responsibility to “let your light shine” (Matthew 5:16).
2. Separation by no means should be construed as isolation. Jesus dined with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:11) and often mingled with and ministered to the multitudes (John 6:1-14). Paul the apostle, identified with people wherever he went and was able to say, “...I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
3. Keep your separation positive. Christians should be known by what they are FOR, not what they are against.
4. Avoid being like the Pharisees as you would the plague! Don’t strut around as though you had arrived at a spiritual plateau. Shun letting your separation sink into proud legalism – proud of what you don’t do. As another has said, “Do so fast, you don’t have time to don’t.”
5. Remember, Bible separation is that separation wrought in the life and heart of a believer by the power of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:10,14) and the word of God (John 17:17), applied by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).
6. Believe, then, and practice a Bible-believing, positive, God-honoring, Christ-glorifying, soul-winning, Holy Spirit wrought separation and not a separation that is cold, technical, mechanical, and legalistic.

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