Lesson 2060

(Lesson 2060)(07-24-17) 2 Corinthians 6:1-18
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

    In today’s quote, Paul counciled the church at Corinth to be vigilent in their work for the Lord.He told them to remain steadfast under all conditions, whether those conditions were good or bad.
    In the latter part of the quote, Paul said’ “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. Many today understand that directive to be instructing the children of God not marry someone who is an unbeliever. That is a total misunderstanding of what Paul actually said in the quote, because many tend to read over the word “unequally” in that directive. Be ye not “unequally” yoked simply means that a child of God should be strong enough in their faith so as to not be lured away by heresy. My contention is proven by what is said in 1 Corinthians 7:14 in part, “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean”. Therefore, it is perfectly ok for a child of God to marry an unbeleiver so long as his/her faith is strong enough to indure.~