Salvation

Lesson 19

Hi. Welcome back. In our last lesson, we spoke about separation in general, but now I want
to talk to you about some of the things we should separate from. First, the things to watch.
Psalm 101:3 says, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes…” That is plain. There is a
pledge to God to not watch wicked things. There are many things on our televisions, in the
cinemas, and on our computers with the internet that should make us ask, “Would Jesus
watch this?” I do not think so. There are movies that mock sin like adultery, many video
games are ungodly, many chatrooms involve wicked things a Christian should not be
involved in. There are books and magazines that involve pornography and glorify sin.
These all corrupt the mind.

Job 31:1 says, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”
Job would not let himself look upon certain things. He would not get distracted. Guard
your eyes. Second, there are also certain places a Christian should not go. For example,
certain bookstores that contain wicked things. There is a story of a clergyman who slipped
and fell down some stairs, breaking his neck, in one of these places, and it was in the news.
He died in this adult bookstore. What a sad place and way to die if you claim to be a
minister. Jesus could come back at any moment, and we could be caught somewhere, and
doing something, we should not be doing. 1 John 2:28 says, “And now, little children, abide
in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before
him at his coming.”

We do not want to be embarrassed at the rapture or coming. We do not want to be

ashamed. So, you must determine where and what God wants you to do. That is between
you and God. But it helps to keep in mind and determine if something is what Jesus would
watch, or a place He would go. Third, are the things we say. We need to separate from
certain things. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers.” There are some words we say and some conversations we have that are corrupt.
They are not holy.

Once, I was a doing a Bible study with a man who claimed to be a Zen Buddhist, and he
said an awful word. He must have seen an expression on my face when he said, “What I
said is not wrong. It is only wrong if you think it is wrong.” No, it is wrong if God thinks it
is wrong! It is wrong if it is a word we would not use around children. When we use bad
language, we defile ourselves. It is a low‐class thing. Every language and dialect have a list
of curse words and Christians should not use them. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be
alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every
man.” This talks about our speech, and our words are powerful. Words identify who we
are, and identify us as born‐again Christians?
So, do we answer every man the way we should, or do our words hurt our testimony?
Fourth, we need to separate from certain people we associate with. Now, let me explain this
carefully. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good
manners.” This speaks of people we associate with. If we hang around ungodliness or
wickedness, it will influence us. In the Bible, there was a man by the name of Amnon. He
had a lust problem for his half‐sister, Tamar, but he restrained himself. To his credit, he did
not act on that, but his cousin, Jonadab, had an evil mind, and he came up with a plan for
Amnon to rape his sister. Well, he raped his sister, and he was put to death.

It caused many issues in the family of David. This wrong association, even with family.
Now, here is the difference. If we are around the unsaved, we need to reach them. They
need to be born‐again. They are the mission field, and God wants us to reach them. But
once they begin to affect us spiritually, we need to separate. Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor
sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Notice it talks of the believer not taking life counsel or
advice from the ungodly. Keep it in the place where you are around those that need to be
saved, but not associating with them in their doings.

Now, I want to emphasize a scorner from a struggler. There are many Christians’
struggling and discouraged. Do not make the mistake of separating from them, since they
need help. They may be sick or lose a loved one. Perhaps they left church. We should come
alongside them and desire to see them come back to church and live for the Lord. Proverbs
22:24‐25 says, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt
not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” If you are around angry
people long enough, their angry spirit will pass on to you. Do not hang around them. There
are certain things we need to pull away from. Find godly friends and associations. Proverbs
13:20 says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be
destroyed.”

There are foolish people out there. Do not become a companion of them. They will destroy
us. A wise man will walk amongst the wise. Proverbs 14:7 says, “Go from the presence of a
foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.” Again, do not make a
noise when you separate, just go quietly. There are some I avoided immediately, there are
some who you cannot correct. So, anyone that can drag you down you need to separate
from. If they bring the worst out in you, separate. Just do not become proud with a holier
than thou attitude.

Fifth, there is an unequal yoke. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked
together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness?” A yoke was an instrument attached to
oxen to guide while plowing. It guided them in the same direction. God is saying do not be
attached or yoked up with unbelievers. There are certain areas we should not yoke up with
an unbeliever.
For example, marriage. The most important union or relationship on earth. The Bible says
husband and wife become one flesh. Samson was always with unbelieving women, and
that took him down. Think about the consequences for the children of that relationship.
They are in a home with a Christian and an unbeliever, creating confusion for the children.
A Christian home should be a Christian home. So, what if a person gets saved after they get
married? Paul spoke on that, and I will not get into that here, but the believing spouse is to
remain married to the unbelieving spouse. Hoping that spouse gets saved by the believer’s
godly living. A big difference exists going into a marriage, knowing they should not be
unequally yoked.

We also should not unequally yoke up with religion. Solomon was the wisest man to live,
and yet, he was destroyed because he yoked up with unbelievers. And in the process,
Solomon worshipped the idols of his wife. God commanded the heathen to be removed
from the land before the Jews lived there. God knew they would influence the Jews. They
needed to separate themselves from them. We have today something called the ecumenical
movement, which allows all religions to come together. Before Jesus returns, we learn there
will be a one world religion. That will be the last push to get the people of the world to
worship a false God.

There are true born‐again Christians compromising in these areas and yoking up with a
false religion or religions that believes in baptizing babies. That is not what the Bible
teaches. That is called baptismal regeneration and is a false teaching. Ephesians 5:11 says,
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
You may ask, “Pastor, how do I know what an unfruitful work of darkness is?” Well, the
Bible says if they speak not according to this word, the Bible, it is because there is no light
in them. There is to be no fellowship with them. But then we must reprove and point out
false teaching. There are certain things religion wise we cannot yoke up with. Amos 3:3
says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The obvious answer is no.

In America, we have religious cults that knock on doors at our homes and share their false
doctrine. We do not want to be mean and unkind, but we should not invite them into our
home. 2 John 9‐10 says, “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. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed.” God is tellinh us here not to yoke up with them.

There are some excuses used by born‐again believers to not practice separation. They may
say, “I need to get on the level of ungodly people and act like them to reach them.” That is
total confusion. Evangelicalism is an imitation of the world. And the last thing the world
needs is an imitation of itself. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of
evil.” We are not to get into worldly sin to reach the world. Two wrongs do not equal a
right. It does not pay to cut corners. 2 Timothy 2:5 says, “And if a man also strive for
masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” This means we follow the Bible.
We serve the Lord and reach the world, but we will not receive a reward if we compromise.
There is another excuse Christians use to not separate, and that is abusing the liberty we
have in Christ. They may say, “I can live any way I want.” But liberty is never a license to
sin. Galatians 5:13 says, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty
for an occasion to the flesh…” There is no excuse to be worldly or ungodly. Paul put it
another way in 1 Corinthians 6:12. He said, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things
are not expedient…” Paul meant that he could go any place and do anything, but no good
will come out of it. He also said in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take heed lest by any means this
liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” We should always be
thinking about others and not ourselves.

Now, taking all that we have talked about in this lesson. There are some guidelines we
should consider. First, we should always ask if it is scriptural. Second, can I do this with
God’s blessing? Third, does this glorify God? Fourth, will others be hindered if I do this?
Finally, do I have any doubts? There is an old expression, “When there is doubt, do not.”
Romans 14:23 says, “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

So, I close on the thought of separation. And I hope this has been a blessing to you. Again,
we should not be pharisees when it comes to this subject, but we need to be in obedience to
God and pull away or separate from certain things. When it comes to the subject of unite or
divide or collaborate and separate, I hope God gives you the wisdom to know when you
ought to do one or the other. God bless you.