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Come Out from Among Them
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Authorized (King James) Version 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial {the devil}? or what part hath he that believeth {in God} with an infidel? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Can Two Walk Together Except They be Agreed?
Amos 3:3-8 Authorized (King James) Version 3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? 4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? 5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all? 6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Bad Companions Corrupt Good Character
1 Corinthians 15:33 Authorized (King James) Version 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Have No Fellowship with the Unfruitful Works of Darkness
Ephesians 5:11-21 Authorized (King James) Version 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Reject the Heretic
Titus 3:10-11 Authorized (King James) Version 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Do Not Even Eat with People Who Claim to be Christian
But Do Not Live by the Bible
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a {Christian} be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Progressive Sanctification
The Word Vs. the World
We Christians Are Not from This World
Stay in the Word, the Bible, and Out of the World
As the Lord Jesus said in Jn. 17:6-19, stay in the Word and out of the world. This is called "Sanctification", which means to be "separated" from the ways of the world by living the Bible, as God said above in the opening passage 2 Cor. 6:17 to be separated from the world through the Bible.
John 17:6-19 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
Christ Intercedes for the New Testament Church
6 {And Jesus said} I have manifested Thy Name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world {the Apostles}: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word {the Bible}. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. 8 For I have given unto them the Words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me {the New Testament Church}; for they are Thine. 10 And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them.
Jesus Prophecies About His Ascension
{Acts 1:6-11}
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy Name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition {Judas Iscariot - Acts 1:16-20}; that the scripture might be fulfilled {Ps. 41:9; 109:8}. 13 And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they {the Apostles and the New Testament Church} might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Thy Word {the Bible}; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify {separate} them {from the ways of the world} through {Your ways in} Thy Truth {the Bible}: Thy Word {the Bible} is Truth {not the ways of the world}. 18 As Thou hast sent Me into the world {to witness to it with the Bible- Jn. 7:7}, even so have I also sent them into the world {to witness to it with the Bible}. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify {separate} Myself {from the world}, that they also might be sanctified {separated from the ways of the world} through the Truth {Your ways inside the Bible}.
Witness But Do Not Become Friends
(Mk. 16:14-20/ Lk. 24:45-49)
Witnessing in public is how to show God's love for people. But your personal fellowship with the Holy Spirit comes before people you meet when you witness. This means not to go back to sin and do what they do if it is sin (2 Pt. 2:20-22), so that you stay right with God in your personal life, which means that you put your fellowship with the Holy Spirit first and before people and their ungodly ways (Mt. 6:24-34). So, we witness to the world but do not be friends with them unless they first convert to Christianity. Otherwise, their ungodly ways will regress our godly ways if we become friends with them, or, do things their way (sin) instead of God's way in the Bible.
Matthew 28:18-20 Authorized (King James) Version 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Be Faithful to God's Word, the Bible
And Do Not Become Entangled with the Ways of this World
2 Timothy 2:1-7 Authorized (King James) Version 1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2 Peter 2:20 Authorized (King James) Version 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
Galatians 5:1 Authorized (King James) Version 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty {from sin} wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage {to sin}.
Stay In Church and Out of the World
So That You Get Strong from the Mutual Agreement of other Christians
And from Living the Ways of the Bible
Hebrews 10:24-25 Authorized (King James) Version 24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together {in church}, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day {of Christ's return} approaching.
Word In Your Heart, Word Out of Your Heart
World In Your Heart, World Out of Your Heart
Proverbs 4:20-27 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 20 My {child}, attend to my words {in the Bible};
incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart {by studying the Bible - 2 Tim. 2:15}.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 {Guard} thy heart with all diligence {with my words in the Bible}; for out of {your heart} are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee
{with my words in the Bible}. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee
{with my words in the Bible}. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established {in my words}. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil
{with my words in the Bible}.
To Be Friends with the World Makes You an Enemy of God
James 4 Authorized (King James) Version 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Compatibility
God teaches us about compatibility in these passages. Compatibility is the key to successful relationships. Make friends with people in Church who are compatible with you having the same Christians values. Do not make friends with people that you're incompatible with, or you'll have problems and conflict with them and with God.
Define Compatibility
com·pat·i·bil·i·ty
/kəmˌpadəˈbilədē/
noun
a state in which two things are able to exist or occur together without problems or conflict. "he argues for the compatibility of science and religion"
a feeling of sympathy and friendship; like-mindedness. "they felt the bond of true compatibility"
Computing the ability of one computer, piece of software, etc. to work with another. "software compatibility is another important factor to consider"
Similar: like-mindedness, similarity, agreement, affinity, closeness, fellow feeling, harmony, rapport, empathy, sympathy, friendship, camaraderie, togetherness, communion, concord Opposite: incompatibility, problems, conflict.
My personal definition of the word "incompatible" is "to have nothing in common". No common denominators to have a successful relationship. There will only be problems and conflict.
The Reward and Incentive for Listening to the Lord's Bible While in this World
Healthy & Eternal Life
1) A Healthy Life and Body in this Life
3 John 2 Authorized (King James) Version 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
Proverbs 4:20-22 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
20 My {child}, attend to my words {in the Bible};
incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart {by studying the Bible - 2 Tim. 2:15}.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
2) Knowing God. A Fulfilled and Eternal Life of Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
Through Pleasing God with Obedience to His Word, the Bible
John 17:3 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
3 {And Jesus said} And this is {eternal life}, that they might know Thee the only true God,
and {Me}, Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
3) The Right to Enter the Gates of the New Heaven
Revelation 22:14 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
14 {And Jesus said} Blessed are they that do {God's} commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of {eternal} life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city {the New Jerusalem}.
Do Not Marry an Unbeliever
Malachi 2:11 Authorized (King James) Version 11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
1 Corinthians 7:12-16; 39
Authorized (King James) Version
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
World without end. Amen.
"Create In Me A Clean Heart O God" (The late Keith Green)
"You Love The World" (The late Keith Green)