Unequally Yoked With Unbelievers

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” 2 Cor. 6:14-15. Why do people enter into part­nerships with worldly people in earthly projects? If the motive is to make more money, such a life will often cost you many tears and give you many wounds. It can even cost you your eternal life. Don’t enter into relationships where you begin to run on their way and in their spirit, so that you become bound with an unbeliever. Do you think that this will increase your life in God? Never reach out your hand for the things that the world can give you.

Many people, after becoming bound because they did not follow God’s Word, begin to pray in the hope that God will make an easier way for them, contrary to His own Word. Such thought processes reveal a very poor understanding, and they are the result of a powerful deception by the spirit of antichrist.

“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 7:1. God will not receive us unless we take life seriously! You become defiled by the filthiness of the flesh if you are unequally yoked with worldly people. Through filthi­ness in your spirit you are led into false doctrines. You want to be good and friendly to all people, and you get praise, approval and acknowledgement at every turn. But you’re not so enthusiastic over those who place a lighted candle in the candlestick. If you don’t have power to do this, you are not a true prophet or an apostle.

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will se­cretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” 2 Pet. 2:1-3.

We must be God-fearing. Anyone who receives the for­giveness of sins but continues to sin is ungodly. That is a very poor attitude of mind. They are religious sinners. These people had already sneaked their way in during the apostles’ time and preached false grace. In our day they have taken over virtually all of Christianity. To bring an apostolic mes­sage of Jesus as the High Priest, it is almost as if we have to “sneak in.” It is apparent that the entire Christian world’s un­derstanding is corrupt and thoroughly permeated by harlotry. And that is why it will perish. The ungodly will not stand in the church of God. He will make sure of that!

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. 1:5-8. First, I must strive to get a hold of all the virtues. Without such a life I cannot preach God’s true Word, and people will not be able to come to faith. It must get into our blood that flesh and self-will cannot live. Every single person who wants to be along in promoting the kingdom of God must take up his cross every day. If you love people, then take heed to yourself and the doctrine. The virtues must be present, and they must grow.

We are a royal priesthood who have been called to declare His virtues in an ever-increasing fullness. This has a good ef­fect on mankind. Examine yourself and see if there is a greater and greater fullness. We must be tipped and poured from vessel to vessel so that the process of separation can take place. Every one of us must be in need and poverty so we can receive more and more of the heavenly kingdom—that is, the virtues.

“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you al­ways of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” 2 Pet. 1:12-15. They knew about this, and we know about it. How much re-minding is there in our preaching? Only those who are awake can awaken others. What matters is a life in God. What have you gotten out of your life? We will be recompensed for what has taken place in our body. We will stand and give account for our life. You who are a shepherd, how diligent are you with exhortations? Do you labor?

In the breaking of bread—communion—we are reminded of the Body that died. We remember the battle and the suffer­ings of the One who allowed Himself to be broken. It brings rest when a person allows himself to be broken so that he can lead others to God. We long for a deeper fullness of the One who was anointed more than His brothers.

“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” Rom. 6:17. This form of doctrine that has been committed to us leads us to greater freedom from sin, and as a result, we become God’s servants. False teaching does not free people from sin. Everything the apostles wrote revolved around being set free from sin. We must be con­formed to the image of the Father! Religious people’s under­standing and attitude will not allow them to believe these most powerful words of God. Usually they end up in false lib­erty and continue in their sins. How horrible it would be, for example, to be subject to God’s wrath over sin together with ungodly people just because you have walked on the way of sinners. Ps. 1. That must not be our children’s future! When your body is for the Lord, the Lord is for your body. Then we have a tremendous hope, and we can proclaim it with power.