Power in Allegiance

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

By Pastor Stewart McCarter, April 21, 2024

(2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1)

Allegiance to Jesus must be absolute, or it is nothing.

  1. WE MUST HAVE ONLY ONE YOKE (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

    1. What is a yoke?
      1. “Heterozygous” other yoked
      2. A devise that allows two animals or people to pull together against a heavy weight
      3. I means to be bound together
      4. Where else is a yoke mentioned? Matthew 11:29-30
        1. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
        2. "Those who bear Christ’ yoke cannot share it with others who deny Christ” David Garland, page 331, The New American Commentary, 2 Coriinthians
        3. One can be a true yokefellow only with a fellow Christian Philippians 4:3 (Garland) 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion,[a] help these women, who have labored[b] side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
        4. Paul has in mind spiritual opposites
    1. What is an unbeliever? a) Apistoi - an unbeliever b) Those who’s values, belief’s, and practices that are antithetical to the Christian faith. For Paul, it was unconverted gentiles who inhabit the world of idolatry and immorality as found in Corinth.
    1. Paul uses examples to make his point
      1. Partnership of righteousness and lawlessness -
        1. Rightousnesss (refers back to 5:21)
        2. Lawlessness - those who intentionally violate Gods’ laws
      2. Fellowship of light and darkness
        1. Gentiles before knowing Christ are in ethical and theological darkness
        2. God has called believers into fellowship with Jesus Christ, therefore you can only have fellowship with Him and with other christians.
      3. Accord has Christ with Belial
        1. Accord, Harmony suymphonesis suggest mutual agreement
        2. 4:4 is the paradigm of which Paul gazes. There can be no harmony between Christ and bell
        3. Christ is Jesus
        4. Belial means worthlessness
        5. Paul may use this name as an antithesis to Christ 1 Corinthians 10:20
      4. Portion has a believer with a nonbeliever
        1. We have a lot in common
        2. “The Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” Colossians 1:12
        3. Unbelievers have no share with us in our promises
      5. Agreement has the temple of the living God with idols
        1. “Consensual affiliation”
        2. The Church is the Temple of God

  2. We, the Church, are the temple of God (16b-18)

    1. These quotes are strung together from different passages
      1. Vs. 16 Leviticus 26:11-12 sets people apart from worshipping idols to revere God’s holy place
      2. Vs 17 Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:34 Isaiah context is carrying theLords vessel out of Babylon. Ezekiel context is calling the people together to purge the rebels
      3. Vs 18 2 Samuel 7:14, Deuteronomy 32:18-19 Indicts the people of God for abandoning God, serving strange gods, and sacrificing to demons and other deities.
    2. Taken as a whole, they
      1. Show God’s presence
      2. Show God’s promises
      3. Show God’s presumption
      4. Show our position

  3. We must complete our holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1)

  1. “We have these promises” OT promises that apply to the people of God
  2. 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 “As many as may be”
  3. They come with a responsibility
  4. We will be restored THEN scrutinized
  5. We must purify ourselves from that which contaminates (molysmos-religious defilement from worshipping other gods.”
  6. Body ad Spirit indicates the entire person is corrupted by idolatrous practices
  7. Holiness to be perfected covenantal not developmental or progressive. Holiness is a gift to the christian (1 Corinthians 1:30) (2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  8. Holiness is something that the Christian strives to complete (1 Corinthians 7:34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) (Romans 6:19)
  9. Holiness is something that God will complete ate the end. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

Conclusion:

  1. Examine yourself. What areas are you unequally yoked?
  2. Do people see the holiness of God in your life?
  3. What is one area you can commit to total surrender to holiness?