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14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

‘I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God. 2 Make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.

 

This part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church contains a collection of God’s promises from Leviticus, Ezekiel, Isaiah and 2 Samuel to believers that God will welcome us as His sons and daughters. Paul rhetorically asks, if we are accepted by God, what part do we have with unbelievers, lawlessness, darkness, Beliar (Satan), or idol worship?

God intends his sons and daughters to live changed lives, “making holiness perfect”. How can we be holy and perfect when we fall so far short? A podcast by Timothy Keller on holiness points out that what made objects “holy” in the Old Testament was that they were separated from ordinary use and dedicated to God’s purpose. In that sense we can be holy by devoting ourselves to following His commandments rather than what “the world” values and by serving God and others rather than living only for ourselves.

Thank you, Jesus, for your atoning blood that allows us to be accepted as children of our Father God. Help us to live lives that reflect that. Amen

Linda Giesen

linda.giesen37@gmail.com

 

 

Prayer Concern: That Christians’ lives would make a positive difference in the world.