UNEQUALLY YOKED

By Aude McKee and reworked by David Riggs

Intro.
   A. Text: 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1
   B. Paul's main point is: "Do not form alliances, relationships,
      partnerships, or friendships that might involve you in sin."
   C. This text can be divided into four parts:
      1. The basic principle that is laid down.
      2. The reasons for the basic principle.
      3. The commands connected with the principle.
      4. The promises to those who apply the principle.

I. THE PRINCIPLE: "BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED."
   A. The "yoke" was a crude device, a rather large beam carved out  
      of wood, and laid across the necks of animals, usually oxen.
      1. When you placed a yoke on the animals, they had to be in
         fellowship.
      2. Where the one went, the other had to go. They had joint
         participation because of the yoke.
   B. The principle of not being unequally yoked is based in O.T.
      teaching. Deut. 22:10
      1. These two animals were of a different kind, and God said
         they were not to put a yoke on them and work them
         together.
   C. The prohibition is with "unbelievers" - "Do not be unequally
      yoked together with unbelievers."
      1. Who are these? Is it merely those who deny the existence of
         God?
      2. To understand who the "unbelievers" are, we might ask,
         "Who is a believer in the N.T. sense?"
         a. Acts 2:44; 16:34; 18:8 - The word "believer" is used
            comprehensively to cover all the things a person does to
            become a Christian and to remain one.
      3. Thus, we are not to be unequally yoked together with those
         who are not Christians, with those who are not faithfully
         serving God. 

II. WHY IS THE PROHIBITION GIVEN?
   A. The apostle answers the question with five rhetorical          
      questions. A rhetorical question is one that needs no answer;  
      the answer is obvious.
      1. "What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness?"
         a. Righteousness is characterized by obedience to the
            commands of God. Psalm 119:172; 1 John 3:7
         b. The word "unrighteousness" here in our text is the word
            "nomos" (law) in the Greek, but with the "a" in front of
            it; thus, "no law" or "without law."
         c. What partnership can people, who have respect for
            divine law, have with those who have no regard for
            divine law?
      2. "What communion has light with darkness?"
         a. Throughout the Bible, "light" represents truth, holiness,
            goodness, and so on.
         b. "Darkness" stands for sin, ignorance, corruption, error,
            and so forth. Eph. 5:11; 1 John 1:5-7
            (1) We should not have joint-participation with
                darkness, or with the people of darkness.
            (2) We are the children of light and walk in the light.
      3. "What accord has Christ with Belial?"
         a. "Belial" is a word used frequently in the O.T. meaning
            "a worthless or wicked person."
            (1) Vine says, "In the period between the O.T. and
                N.T., it came to be a proper name for Satan."
         b. The Greek word for "accord" or "concord" (KJV) is the
            word "symphony" which means, literally, "a sounding
            together."
            (1) What "sounding together" could there be between
                Christ and Satan?
            (2) It's like an orchestra playing, and one walks in and
                begins to ring a cow bell.
         c. Christians cannot have fellowship with that which
            pertains to the devil.
      4. "What part has a believer with an unbeliever?"
         a. Again, "believer" and "unbeliever" is the same Greek
            word, except the word "unbeliever" has the "a" in front
            of it; thus, a "no believer" or "non believer."
         b. We use the word "part" in the same way; e.g. "I have no
            part (involvement) in that."
      5. "What agreement has the temple of God with idols?"
         a. The O.T. temple was erected by Solomon in Jerusalem
            and was their center of worship.
            (1) For anyone to bring an idol into that structure
                would have desecrated it.
         b. The apostle is not talking about the O.T. temple, but the
            present temple, the people of God.
            (1) For Christians to have idolatry in their lives, or to
                have fellowship with idolaters, is unthinkable. It is
                an unequal yoke.
         c. Eph. 2:19-22
            (1) Observe that in Eph. 2:21 there are a lot of little
                buildings. The KJV does not make it as clear as
                other versions; e.g. "each several building" (ASV).
            (2) The temple or church is made up of a lot of little
                temples fitly framed together by the Master builder.
            (3) We all are "living stones" which make up a spiritual
                house. 1 Pet. 2:5

III. FIVE COMMANDS ARE GIVEN IN CONNECTION WITH THESE PRINCIPLES.
   A. "Come out from among them."
      1. Thus, we are to separate ourselves from unbelievers or
         unrighteous people who are walking in darkness, who are
         idolaters, who are following Satan.
   B. "And be separate, says the Lord."
      1. There must be a line drawn between the person who is a
         child of God and the person who is not a Christian.
      2. People often accuse members of the church of being overly
         concerned about doctrine, but unconcerned about the way
         they live.
      3. Though this is not true in a general sense, there are some
         members who emphasize the right organization, work, and
         worship of the church, but who get out and hopnob with the
         world.
         a. They are so much like the world that no one can tell the
            difference between them and the people of the world.
         b. There is a clear line where the muddy waters of the
            Mississippi river and the blue waters of the gulf of
            Mexico meet.
         c. People ought to be able to see the difference between us
            and those around us.
         d. If we go to the same movies, dress the same way, talk
            the same way, and do the same things as the people of
            the world, there is something wrong indeed.
   C. "Do not touch what is unclean."
      1. All of us need to be separate, keep ourselves pure, and not
         be partakers of others' sins. 1 Tim. 5:22
         a. We are to hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.
            Jude 23
      2. Let us pause here to make this observation on these three
         things - "Come out..."   etc.
         a. I am not recommending marriage between a believer and
            unbeliever, but I want to say that these verses are not
            dealing with marriage.
         b. If these verses are dealing with marriage, those who are
            married to non-believers must "Come out..." etc.
            (1) Paul taught Christians to do otherwise. 1 Cor.
                7:10-15
         c. An adulterous marriage, though, would be an unequal
            yoke.
   D. "Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and        
      spirit."
      1. There is filth in the mind, and there is filth              
         (uncleanliness) connected with some sins done in the body.
      2. Let us cleanse ourselves of all filthiness, both in mind and
         body.
   E. "Perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
      1. The word "holiness" comes from the same Greek word for
         "saint" and "sanctified."
      2. It means to be set apart, dedicated, and consecrated to God.
      3. It is not something that automatically occurs when one obeys
         the gospel. It is something that is to be perfected.

IV. CONSIDER THE BEAUTIFUL PROMISES IN THESE VERSES.
   A. "I will dwell in them and walk among them."
      1. There is the indwelling of God in every child of God, and we
         are the buildings which make up the temple of God.
      2. These promises are to those who are separate, who obey
         God's will.
   B. "I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
      1. What a blessing! The true God can be our God, and we can
         be His people.
   C. "I will receive you."
      1. If the Persian Kings did not hold out the golden scepter,   
         the intruder was to be put to death. Esther 4:11-5:2
      2. God is always ready to receive us. Heb. 4:16
   D. "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and
      daughters, says the LORD Almighty."
      1. No relation could be more tender and dear that this one.
      2. No higher honor can be bestowed upon mortal man than
         being a child of God. 1 John 3:1

Concl.
   A. Read Paul's conclusion in 7:1 once again.
      1. Thus, Paul's persuasion and encouragement is based on the
         promises of God.
      2. Having deep-rooted faith in the promises of God, let us
         continue to perfect holiness in the fear of God.