Nakala

We live in a world filled with potential accidents and dangers. Some of the dangers we face are so obvious that a warning label seems unnecessary—like the warning label on a wheelbarrow that read, “Not intended for use on the highway”; or the warning label on a baby stroller that read, “Remove the child before folding.” I had to laugh when I read a warning label on a child’s Superman costume that read, “This does not enable you to fly.” I could just imagine a little child learning the hard way when he jumped off the living room couch.

The Bible also gives us some warning labels so we do not have to learn things the hard way. As we set sail today in 2 Corinthians 6, Paul warns us about two dangers we need to be aware of in life.

Here is the first one: Do not live in a way that harms your gospel witness. Paul writes in verse 1, “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Receiving God’s grace “in vain” means to not allow it to work into your heart and life all that God intended.[1]

I believe Paul is taking us back to the judgment seat of Christ he talked about earlier in chapter 5. He wants Christians to avoid having their lives judged as worthless. He is warning us not to live lives that discredit the gospel and are ineffective in advancing the cause of Christ.

I talked to a man recently who said that when he was an unbeliever, a man at work used to witness to him. The problem was his coworker was often inebriated—too drunk to work like he should. His life discredited his witness, and it was hard to believe him because of the way he behaved.

The Corinthians needed this warning. Their church was argumentative and divided. They had tolerated immorality in their membership. Their lives were ruining their witness in the community. How they behaved was getting in the way of what they said they believed.

Christians need this kind of warning in every generation. And Paul wants us to respond quickly to this warning label. In fact, he quotes from the Old Testament here in verse 2: “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

These words are from Isaiah 49:8. And Paul adds his own conclusion here as he writes, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

There are two sides to this conclusion. Paul could be referring to the fact that unbelievers need to accept Christ as Savior now—today! Do not wait. You do not have tomorrow guaranteed. So, today is the day of salvation. And that is certainly true.

But there is another side to this challenge because this quote from Isaiah is in the context of that coming day when the Messiah returns to earth to rule and reign. Paul is wanting unbelievers to be saved now—today—but he also wants the Christian to look forward to the day when Jesus rules in His kingdom!

So, Paul writes, “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way” (verse 3). In other words, do not let your life become an obstacle for someone to refuse the gospel. Do not live in such a way that communicates to your world that you really do not think Jesus is coming back. Let us make sure that how we behave matches up with what we say we believe.

In verses 4-13, Paul lists a range of ways he has personally endured in his own life—willingly I might add—to give people the gospel without becoming an obstacle. Paul experienced great hardships—he mentions beatings, imprisonment, hunger, and slander, to name a few.

So, the first warning label that should come attached to the life of the believer is this: Do not live in a way that harms your gospel witness.

Here is the second warning label: Do not live in a way that hinders your godly commitment. Paul writes this in verses 14-16:

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial [a name used for Satan in Paul’s day]? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God.

What does it mean to be “unequally yoked”? This idea goes back to Deuteronomy 22:10, which forbids plowing with an ox and a donkey together. These two animals are unbalanced in size and weight, so they are not able to pull together in unison. One animal would cause the other to veer off the path. But when two oxen are yoked together to pull a plow, they are in balance.

Paul is painting a picture here for us today. Christians and non-Christians have radically different outlooks, ambitions, and allegiances. A close partnership between a believer and unbeliever is asking for trouble. They are not going to pull together toward the same goal, and it will not be long before the unbeliever starts pulling the believer off the path! There is an imbalance in their partnership. The sincere believer wants to bring glory to God, while the unbeliever wants to live for the world.

So, heed this warning label. Do not link up in a close partnership with an unbeliever. That will put pressure on you to compromise your godly commitment. This would also apply to dating an unbeliever or marrying an unbeliever. I cannot tell you how many folks I have counseled over the years who compromised by marrying an unbeliever. They did not think it would matter all that much; but they soon discovered how difficult it was to walk with Christ and lead their children for Christ when their spouse wanted nothing to do with the Lord.

Paul then continues:

“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.” (verses 17-18)

Now Paul is not recommending divorce if one of the spouses is an unbeliever. We have dealt with this subject back in 1 Corinthians 7. Make that marriage as honorable and God-glorifying as you can. What Paul is saying here is that making a commitment to live a holy life is something that pleases the Lord.

Paul’s warning about touching the “unclean thing” is a quote from Isaiah 52:11—Paul must have been having his devotions in Isaiah these days. But then he adds words from Ezekiel 20:34 and 41, promising that when we do separate ourselves, the Lord welcomes us as a father would, to walk with Him through life.

Paul is not delivering these warning labels to scare us or discourage us. They are just like the warning label on a child’s stroller that says, “Remove the child before folding.” That is not intended to discourage you from ever having children or taking them outside for a stroll. It is just a reminder to stay alert.

Now the first verse of chapter 7 really should be placed with chapter 6 because it is the final verse on this subject. Paul writes here in verse 1, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit.”

In other words, we have been given much from the Lord; let us be careful not to wander away from the truth. Let us pay close attention to these warning labels and stay on track. Here is how those labels read: Do not live in a way that harms your gospel witness; do not live in a way that hinders your godly commitment.