Bible verses about separating from the world

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

This is a verse that I haven’t read, thought about or pondered on for a long time.

But today God brought it back to my remembrance. And I knew it was time for me to take another, deeper look at it.

Most believers already know that this verse does not mean that we are to literally, physically separate ourselves from unbelievers. This would be virtually impossible.

Additionally, doing so would not fit what God’s word tells us when it comes to being a light to a dark world, being a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14) or not hiding our light under a basket (Matthew 5:15).

We need to let our light so shine before men! And we can’t do that if we do not interact with others.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

So, now that we have firmly established that fact, let’s look more closely at what it means to be separate while not being separated.

It’s important that we understand that this verse is really speaking symbolically about our behavior, which stems from what’s in our hearts. What’s in our hearts will manifest outwardly in our actions, even if our words might say something different.

As long as our heart is still united with the things of the world, our outward actions will not change enough to significantly matter.

Paul actually took pieces of this verse from Isaiah 52:11, where the Israelites were commanded to remove themselves from their lands of exile and return home to Jerusalem, but not to bring any of the idols from their foreign lands home with them.

Similarly, we need to be sure not to bring pieces of the world with us as we mature from earthly (carnal) thinking to heavenly (Godly, Spirit-led) thinking.

It is irrational (unreasonable, illogical, absurd) to think that we, as believers, can be united with (bound to, joined together with) unbelievers and the ways (the habits and the thinking) of the world in our actions and our behavior.

Jesus was our example in this as He walked this earth, interacting with others from all walks of life without taking on their habits or behavior. He remained pure from start to finish.

This was confirmed for us here in Hebrews;

Hebrews 7:26 (NKJV) 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

It’s time for us to take this seriously and put action behind our words.

It’s time for us to let God circumcise our hearts once and for all, helping us to shed those foreskins (the idols of our former lives) that keep us tied to the ways of the world.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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