Lesson 14 – 2 Corinthians 6:15-18 & Chapter 7:1
We only have four verses left in chapter 6, and so far Paul has put into the Scriptures how he had to deal with the Corinthian believers, that he was always clear and concise with them, and it was always with love.
In 1 Corinthians, one of the standout chapters is chapter 13, the love chapter. The fact that a whole chapter is devoted to teaching us about love tells us love is something that needs to be that added ingredient in how we live and how we deal with others.
The problem is, we get so entangled with the things of the world, including our own fleshly desires, and the attacks from the evil one, that sometimes love is left on the sidelines.
Paul was all about love, and he had such a love for Jesus that it spilled over into his everyday life. This is how it should be for us as well, and acquiring a godly love comes to us by feeding on the Word of God each and every day. So, let’s continue with Paul…
2 Cor. 6:15:
“And what accord has Christ with Belial (bel-ee’-al)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?”
Belial… is a name for satan, and in the Greek it means worthless or wicked. There are many names for satan, but worthless and wicked rightly describe him. A little interesting tidbit is that Belial is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls in reference to satan.
The NLT says, “What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil?
Having harmony with someone means experiencing a deep sense of alignment, peace, and a mutual understanding in your relationship. It’s like being in sync emotionally, mentally, and sometimes even spiritually.
So it goes without saying, there’s no harmony between Jesus and satan, as there shouldn’t be with us and satan as well.
In our previous verse, Paul drilled down on righteousness and light being believers, whereas lawlessness and darkness represented unbelievers, they should never be “yoked” together.
Here Jesus is truly the light of the world and satan is the pure depths of darkness, two kingdoms diametrically opposed, and will never be yoked together.
Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
As believers, we often fail to recognize the danger in being unequally yoked.
A Christian man might say of his un-believing girlfriend, “It’s not really that serious, we’re just having a good time.” At first, marriage isn’t even on his radar, but as time goes on, one step leads to another, and before long they’re married. Eventually, the consequences of that unequal partnership begin to surface, and the marriage can start to unravel.
When we ignore the wisdom found in God’s Word, we inevitably face the consequences. His guidance isn’t just good advice for us, it’s His instruction, meant to protect and bless us. Many times disregarding God’s instructions opens the door to unnecessary hardship.
If you really think about it, faith and unbelief just don’t mix. People who live by faith and those who don’t are coming from completely different places, they’re driven by opposite beliefs and influenced by totally different forces. It’s like trying to blend oil and water together, they’re just not built to flow together.
Hebrews 3:12 (NLT) [talks about the effect of being unequally yoked]:
“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”
James 1:6-8 (NIV):
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
James shows how doubt mixed faith creates instability, reinforcing that they cannot coexist peacefully, just as a believer and an unbeliever should not coexist.
2 Cor. 6:16:
“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols…
Exodus 20:3-5 (ESV):
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image… You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God…”
Another major reason to avoid being yoked with an unbeliever is the spiritual influence they can have. Over time, they may expose you to beliefs and practices that conflict with God’s truth, ideologies that seem harmless at first but slowly pull you away from the foundation of His Word. It’s not just about differences in opinion; it’s about being spiritually vulnerable to false doctrines.
Christianity must stand alone; it is incompatible with every other form of religion.
John 14:6:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Acts 4:12 (ESV):
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Salvation is found in Christ alone, not in any prophets, philosophies, or rituals from other faiths. Anything other than Christianity is blasphemous.
For you are the temple of the living God…
Every follower of Jesus Christ is considered the temple of the living God… and what an honor and privilege that is, even though we see many believers are living like satan’s third cousin. Sadly, many believers are living in ways that reflect more of the way of the world, and even the enemy, than the holiness they’ve been called to.
Paul is taking us back to 1 Corinthians 6:19;
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
Being God’s temple is both an honor and a responsibility for every believer. It means we carry His presence wherever we go. When we live in compromise to the ways of the world, we dishonor our sacred calling. This includes us as individuals and as a congregation.
Being God’s temple was foretold even before Jesus was born…
Matthew 1:23:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
This is a good verse for us as we inch closer to Christmas, and it states that God is with us, and for the believer, He is not only with us, He is in us. Christmas isn’t just about God coming near, it’s about God choosing to dwell within us.
Many religions teach that human beings can ascend to godhood or divine status through enlightenment, reincarnation, or spiritual progression. In contrast, Christianity teaches that believers are not becoming gods, but are instead indwelt by the one true God, through the Holy Spirit. This happens the moment they receive Christ into their life.
Romans 8:9:
“But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)”
As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
Paul is quoting Jer. 32:38:
“They shall be My people, and I will be their God;”
Today, with all the antisemitic rhetoric taking place around the world, as well as those saying the Church has replaced the Jewish Nation, all believers are God’s children and His people.
Romans 1:16:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
The gospel does not erase Israel in any way; it fulfills God’s plan to bring salvation to the whole world.
The gospel is all inclusive, not in a way that waters down the truth, but in a way that magnifies God’s grace. It all began with the Jews, and then was extended to the Gentiles, forming one unified body in Christ; let us never forget that.
Eph. 2:14 (NLT):
“For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”
So, here’s the challenge to the Church: Let us reject replacement theology and stand up against antisemitism in all its forms. Somehow satan has made it fashionable once again to come against the Jews, just like he did in the 1930’s and 40’s. Instead, let us celebrate the unity we have in Christ and honor the roots of our faith.
Zechariah 12:10 (ESV):
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn…”
This prophecy speaks of a moment of deep repentance and recognition by the Jews. Israel will see Jesus for who He truly is, and grieve over their rejection of Him.
The Second Coming of Jesus is closely tied to Israel’s recognition of Him. Many biblical scholars believe this national turning of Israel will be a key event in the end times.
In a world filled with antisemitism and theological confusion, it’s vital to affirm that God’s love for Israel endures forever. The day is coming when the veil will finally be lifted, and Israel will embrace Jesus as Messiah, not just individually, but as a nation.
At its heart, being unequally yoked in the service of God has never aligned with His design. From the beginning, He has called His people to walk in unity of spirit and truth. When we step outside of that, we risk compromising the very witness we’re meant to carry.
2 Cor. 6:17:
“Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”
Paul is speaking from Isaiah 52:11:
“Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.”
Does this mean we should avoid engaging with sinners? Not at all. Jesus Himself was known as a Friend of Sinners.
What’s crucial to remember is this: wherever Jesus went, He didn’t conform to the culture, He transformed it. His presence brought lasting radical change to the lives of those He encountered. We’re called to do the same; we can do this by simply having a friendly conversation with that person who has bright purple hair, and having everything pierced except their eye balls… we are all created in God’s image.
Let’s go back in time when Jesus walked the earth. Imagine a dinner table in a dusty Galilean town. Around it sits tax collectors, outcasts, and sinners, basically people society had written off, and at the head of that table is Jesus.
He wasn’t there to affirm their lifestyles or to try to blend in with their brokenness. He was there to bring healing, truth, and transformation. Wherever Jesus went, He didn’t leave people the same. Zacchaeus gave back what he stole. The woman at the well left her water jar and ran to tell her village. Matthew walked away from his tax booth and started following Jesus.
Jesus was called a Friend of Sinners not because He tolerated sin, but because He loved people enough to call them out of it.
Just a word of caution, if we are not well grounded in the Word of God, we must be careful not to allow the sins of the worldly to have an ungodly influence on us.
1 Peter 1:14-16:
“As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Remember, we are the temple of God.
Do not touch what is unclean…
Yes, we need to separate from what is unclean, but we still have to live in this world.
John 17:14-18:
“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
Like most things in life, we need to strike a balance in the way in which we engage the world around us.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Like a skillful physician, we must practice “contact without contamination.” Otherwise, we will isolate ourselves from the people who need our ministry the most.”
At the same time, the church is called to refrain from worshiping or ministering in unity with those who pervert or deny the truth of God’s Word.
And I will receive you… or it’s also translated, “and I will welcome you. In the Greek it says, “to admit into one’s favor.”
This suggests that when believers distance themselves from those who are immersed in unbelief, they will discover God’s embrace waiting to receive them.
When we choose to walk away from compromise, we walk into a close communion with God. When we let go of what defiles us, we take hold of what sanctifies… by God’s grace and mercy.
2 Cor. 6:18:
“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
This probably comes from 2 Samuel 7:14, and at the end of the verse it talks about God’s discipline toward David’s son Solomon.
John MacArthur says, “As always, obedience brings blessing; disobedience brings chastening.”
Hebrews 12:6:
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
That’s what a good father does, he disciplines his child because he loves his child, and that’s how God is with us. Paul says on God’s behalf, I will be a Father to you…
What a blessing it is to be considered a child of the One who created the whole universe!
Romans 8:14-15 (NLT):
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
Gal. 4:6:
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
“Abba, Father” is a deeply intimate and reverent expression that reflects a close, trusting relationship with Go, like that of a beloved child to a loving parent.
Even if your earthly father didn’t know how to love you or express it, your heavenly Father stands as the true and faithful Father… His love is constant, and His arms are always open.
Psalm 27:10:
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.”
Anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord may call the God of this universe “Father,” even “Abba Father.”
It would be wise on our part to allow God to fully take up His role as our Father, not just in name, but in relationship. This happens by us choosing to walk away from partnerships, relationships, activities, and even priorities that are not aligned with His holiness. When we separate ourselves from what is unclean, we make room for His presence to dwell richly in our homes and hearts.
As you take that step of obedience and faith, never forget the weight He bore for you. In the person of Jesus Christ, He carried the Cross… bearing the burden of sin and shame… so that His blood might be shed for your redemption. That yoke was not His to carry, but He took it willingly, so you could be free to call Him Father.
CHAPTER 7
2 Cor. 7:1:
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
As we begin this chapter, the last few verses of chapter 6 segue right into chapter 7, and that’s what Paul is referring to when he says, “therefore.”
Having these promises… refers to God’s assurances of His presence, we saw this in verse 16…
“I will dwell in them and walk among them,” then in 17 and 18, the promise of a relationship and fellowship with God being our Father. Also remember, obedience brings blessing, and disobedience brings chastening by our Father who loves us.
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh…
Our obedience requires a cleansing or purification like we talked about before, which involved a separation from those who insist in remaining in their sins. In other words, be careful with who you hang out with.
The NLT says, “Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit.”
Lecrae’s Story: From Compromise to Cleansing
Lecrae, a Grammy-winning Christian hip-hop artist, once found himself entangled in a lifestyle that blurred the lines between faith and cultural acceptance. Though he was a professing Christian, he admitted to compromising his values in order to gain approval from both secular and Christian audiences.
In his memoir “Unashamed,” Lecrae shares how he struggled with identity, trauma, and the pressure to fit in. He began to surround himself with people who didn’t challenge him spiritually and who encouraged behaviors that pulled him away from God’s truth. Over time, this led to a spiritual crisis.
Eventually, Lecrae reached a breaking point. He realized that true obedience to Christ required more than just public declarations, it demanded a cleansing of his heart and a separation from relationships and environments that were feeding his compromise. He stepped back from certain partnerships, took a sabbatical from music, and sought healing through counseling, prayer, and Scripture.
This season of separation wasn’t easy. He faced criticism, loneliness, and even depression, but through it all, God was faithful. Lecrae emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of grace. His music now reflects a more transparent, Christ-centered message, and he actively encourages others to pursue holiness over popularity.
Our takeaway is, when we distance ourselves from those who persist in sin, we make space for God to purify, restore, and use us more powerfully.
Proverbs 13:20 (NLT):
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”
Of the flesh and spirit or body and spirit… this phrase addresses the full nature of a person, both in their outward behavior and inner being.
Perfecting holiness in the fear of God…
The question we should ask ourselves is, “What attitude do we hold toward God?”
If our hearts are marked by deep reverence for Him, it will be evident in the way we pursue obedience and walk in the path of sanctification. This journey of holiness is not a one-time act, but a continual process that takes place in us… one that finds its fulfillment, its perfection, in Christ alone. In Him, we are not only called but also empowered to grow into spiritual maturity, becoming complete in the likeness of our Savior.
Col. 1:28:
“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 6:1 (NLT):
“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”
It’s important for every believer to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God… not as a one-time decision, but as a lifelong journey. This pursuit is not driven by fear of punishment, but by a reverent awe of who God is. When we truly grasp His majesty, His purity, and His love, we are compelled to live in a way that honors Him.
To be perfect in holiness means for us to grow in our spiritual maturity, to allow the Spirit of God to refine us, cleanse us, and shape us into the image of Christ. It’s a process on our part, of surrender… laying down our old ways, separating from sin, and walking in obedience.
If you’re taking notes, you can see that obedience is a common theme tonight.
This isn’t legalism, it’s a love for God. It’s the response of a heart that has seen the goodness of God, and desires to reflect His holiness in every area of life.
Here’s the beauty: we don’t walk this path alone. The same God who calls us to holiness also empowers us to pursue it. His Spirit works in us, shaping us into the image of Christ, day by day… and that’s promise you can hold on to.
Let’s pray…
Lord, help me to walk in reverent awe of You. Cleanse my heart from anything that hinders my relationship with You. Teach me to pursue holiness… not out of fear of punishment, but out of love for who You are. Make me more like Jesus, and let my life reflect Your glory.
And if the Holy Spirit has been tugging at your heart tonight…