I WILL LIVE WITH THEM

Passage: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

Key verse: 6:16

NIV

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(A) with unbelievers.(B) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(C) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(D) Or what does a believer(E) have in common with an unbeliever?(F) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(G) For we are the temple(H) of the living God.(I) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[b](J)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(K)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[c](L)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(M)
says the Lord Almighty.”[d](N)

7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(O) dear friends,(P) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(Q) out of reverence for God.

Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Temple of the Living God

14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For (B)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or (C)what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 (D)What accord has Christ with Belial?[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (E)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

(F)“I will make my dwelling among them and (G)walk among them,
    and (H)I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore (I)go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 (J)and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

7 Since we have these promises, beloved, (K)let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[b] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Footnotes
  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Greek flesh
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul reminds us that we are the temple of the living God (15). God said, “I will live with them and walk among them (16).” This is astonishing! The holy God, who dwelled in the Most Holy Place, now lives with us and walks among us. He was unapproachable because we are sinful and unholy. But Jesus made all the difference. He became our way to God (John 14:6).

One problem is the constant temptation of idol worship that creeps into our hearts. We want to enjoy the sinful pleasures of wickedness and darkness. We depend on money instead of God and seek comfortable lives on earth. These things defile us and block us from being united with Christ.

The Lord commands us to “come out from them and be separate,” “touch no unclean things (17).” What happens when we purify ourselves? God will be a Father to us, and we will be his sons and daughters. He will counsel, discipline, and provide for us. Therefore, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates us.

Prayer: Father, though we are sinful, the blood of Jesus cleanses us through and through. Help us to purify ourselves from idols and unclean things. As my Father, guide me today.

One Word: What is one thing that the Lord wants to purify in me?