LESSON 7: SEPARATION
The issue of “separation” is one of the distinguishing features of Bible-believing Baptists. It is a subject which has to do with the way we live, the way we conduct ourselves as a Church – and yes, standards!
Such a study could easily become just a list of taboos – but that is only part of what the Lord intends. As you enter into this study of the Bible, it is important for you to grasp the principles involved as well as the practices.
We are living in a world of rapidly declining moral and spiritual standards. This decay is seriously affecting Christians and churches to the point that it is often difficult to tell Christians from non-Christians!
I. WHAT IS MEANT BY SEPARATION
A. When the Bible says something is holy it conveys that it has been set apart.
When we say that God is holy, this means He is “set apart” from all His creation in righteousness. When we say that the Bible is holy, we mean it is “set apart” from all other books. When we are taught to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, this means we are to set God apart from idols.
B. There are two aspects to separation in your life:
Positional separation- We been set apart unto God. In Hebrews 10:10 it says that “we are
Practical separation – As a Christian I choose to be set apart unto God. 1 Peter 1:14b-15 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [conduct];
C. There are two parts of separation (different sides of the same coin):
Separation to the Lord. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Separation from Ungodliness. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
II. THE BASIS OF PRACTICAL SEPARATION
A. The basis God’s nature:
1 Peter 1:16 says:”Be ye
B. The basis of redemption
[your redemption has been paid for by Jesus Christ-you have been BOUGHT by Christ]: Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
C. The basis of regeneration
[After being bought by Christ, He has regenerated you into something new].
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we read that once someone has accepted Christ “he is a new
III. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
The believer is IN the world but NOT OF the world – because the Lord chose us OUT OF the world. [Practical separation does not mean we are to live a cloistered life or have nothing to do with unsaved people.
John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.
The believer is to “love not” the world, neither the things that are in the world.
When the Bible speaks of “the world” in this sense, it does not mean God’s creation, His material provisions, etc. It refers to the “world system”, which is the dominion of Satan.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. It defines the world as:
i. The lust of the
ii. The lust of the
iii. The pride of
1 John 2:17 And the
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
Young people need to be especially careful concerning this.
Romans 12:2 And be not
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself
A worldly Christian is one given over to pleasing the “flesh,” the old sinful nature. The works of the flesh are listed in Galatians 5:19-
IV. SOME AREAS OF PERSONAL SEPARATION.
A. The things I will allow my eyes to see:
Psalm 103:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
What are some wicked things to be seen today?
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Areas of personal separation applies to many common practices such as:
• Movies & televions (violence, adultery, drunkenness, witchcraft, and all kinds of perverted and ungodly living)
• Internet
• Books and magazines
B. The places I will allow myself to go:
We are taught that the Lord Jesus Christ may come at any moment, and that we should never be ashamed to meet Him [1 John 2:28 - 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.]
There are many places the Christian should not go… establishments whose business it is to exploit man’s vices (human nature) for entertainment.
C. How I present myself.
Clothing – The area of fashion is a difficult one especially for Christian women. This is difficult because fashions go through such extreme – from weird to conservative, from short-short to ankle length, from modest to provocative, etc. The Bible does give some clear instruction in this matter.
1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Not only women, but men today are consumed with making statements and being flashy with apparel rather than their character.
Bare thighs (mini-skirts, and shorts) is equated with nakedness. Read Isaiah 47:1-3.
Hair length – the Bible teaches men should have short hair (uncovered and women should wear their hair long (as a covering) to honor her husband. Read 1 Corinthians 11:6-16.
Maineville Baptist Church recommends these principles when it comes to our clothing and testimony in the world:
Modesty- No revealing or tight clothing.
Nothing flashy to draw attention.
Line of demarcation between men and
women- men should dress like men and
women should dress like women. We
should avoid unisex clothes or anything
doubtful.
3.Line of demarcation between the Christian and the world- Do we look like a Christian or do we look like a lost person? It should be obvious.
4.Heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ- We are children of God; we should dress and act like it.
Your Pastor and teachers keep a standard when leading, teaching and preaching at church. Men where ties and suit jackets and women wear knee length skirts and dresses. If these standards are good at church, we should also implement them in our daily lives as well. With purpose – dress like men and women; dress with modesty; dress as a Christian should as a child of God.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are
Proverbs 7:10-11 10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the
D. The things I will say.
No
The swearing and cussing of our generation is wicked and sinful and should not be used by the Christian. It is a terrible testimony for God.
Christ centered speech – Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Speak with grace [elegance or beauty of form]. Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
DO NOT TAKE THE LORD’s Name in vain (3rd Commandment)!
E. The people I will associate with.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep
Proverbs 22:24 Make no
Don’t associate with gossips or busybodies: 1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
V. SEPARATION IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS
Do not be unequally
The most important application of this principle is marriage. It is both wrong and dangerous for someone who is a Christian to date an unsaved person. It is a sin for a Christian to marry a non-Christian. If you are desiring to get married, first pray and ask God to direct you; then get godly counsel from your parents, pastor, and look at church first (or other Baptist churches of like faith).
VI. SEPARATION IN RELIGOUS MATTERS
We are living in an ecumenical age where all religions and branches of Christianity are coming together in religious unity. When Bible believing Baptists refuse to have part with the World Council of Churches, or fellowship with non-Baptist religious groups, or even work together with other Baptists, they are often called narrow minded, unloving, or extremists. Read scripture to see what the Word of God says:
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be
2 John 1:9-10 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth 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:
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
According to this passage, we are to mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to doctrine and avoid them.
VII. THREE EXCUSES CHRISTIANS USE FOR NOT LIVING SEPARATE LIVES
Excuse #1: Other Christians don’t have your standards. Many Christians see nothing wrong with rock music, worldly fashions, questionable amusements, etc. – but this does not make them right! We need to study the Bible and form Bible-based convictions; then live by them.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is
Excuse #2: The most important thing is to win souls, and to do this I must be acceptable to the lost.
NO! You need to please your Lord. It is NEVER right to do wrong in order to accomplish a right! Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Excuse #3: I have liberty in Christ (because I am saved…)
True, but Christian liberty in NOT license. Liberty is the freedom to do right – never the freedom to do anything! Rather our freedom is to choose to serve God with our lives.
We are NOT to use our liberty as an occasion to the flesh. Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the
1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things
Be careful to never use Christian liberty as a
1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
VIII. PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING A SEPARATED LIFE
A. Is it scriptural? Does the Word of God have anything directly to say on the manner? Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy
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**B. According to Colossians 3:17, all that I do is in the
C. In Romans 14:21, we see that we should be careful not to cause a brother
D. Do I have doubts about it? When in doubt… don’t do it! Read Romans 14:22-23 (from verse 21) which defines doubt as lack of faith which is sin:
E. Believers should