A Call To Holy Living (6:14-7:1)
Neal Pollard
Paul shifts his focus to the recipients of his message, the focus of his ministry. He admonishes the Corinthians to answer God’s call for godly, sanctified behavior. It is so tempting to blend into this world and go with its flow. We can come to feel that we can only succeed if we play by the world’s rules, linking ourselves to it through our speech, relationships, and conduct. But, knowing God has something infinitely better in store for us in eternity, we will reject its call and hear God’s. What does that look like, practically speaking? It calls for a proper:
- CONNECTION (14–“Do not be bound together with unbelievers”)
Watch who you let yourself be linked to.
- PARTICIPATION (14–“What partnership have righteousness and lawlessness?”)
Watch what you allow yourself to be caught up in
- ASSOCIATION (14–“What fellowship has light with darkness?”)
Watch what you tell others you are comfortable with
- HARMONIZATION (15–“What harmony has Christ with Belial?”)
Watch what worldly values you allow yourself to accept
- PORTION (15–“What has a believer in common with an unbeliever?”)
Watch what secular and societal causes you attach your name to
- ACCEPTATION (16–“What agreement has the temple of God with idols?”)
Watch giving others the idea that you revere what rivals God
- RESIGNATION (17–“Come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “And do not touch what is unclean”
Watch the tendency to blend in with the world and taint yourself with it
- PRIORITIZATION (17-18–“And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty)
Watch relationships that displace God as Father
- PURIFICATION (1–“Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”)
Watch whatever would spiritually taint and make you profane
The age-old tension is one I’ve heard all my life expressed this way, that “we are to be in the world, but not of the world” (1 John 2:15-17; John 17:15). Peter talks about keeping our behavior excellent among the Gentiles by abstaining from fleshly lusts which war against our souls (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Paul is just showing us how that looks, practically. We need to build relationships with the lost if we hope to win them. We have to work jobs, live in neighborhoods, transact business, and assimilate into society both to provide for our families and to be leavening influence for righteousness. But, we cannot surrender God’s promises, taint ourselves with sin, or choose to fear the world. God has something far greater in store for us! Let’s not be an Esau, who sold his blessing and lived with tearful regret (Heb. 12:16-17).
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