Because you’ve been made new, you should live new
9 You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited, the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. 10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 11 You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together. – Deuteronomy 22:9-10
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. – 2 Corinthians 5:19-20
What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?
### What fellowship has light with darkness? ### What accord does Christ have with Belial? ### What portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? ### What agreement has the temple of God with idols?
In this passage the prohibition against being “yoked together” with unbelievers forbids not mere association or even acceptance of help (cf. Luke 9:50, but also 3 John 7), but rather the giving up of control over one’s activities and the loss of freedom to act in obedience to God for these restraints are what is implied in the metaphor of being “yoked” together. – Wayne Grudem
The metaphor of the yoke which Paul uses here shows that he is thinking of close relationships in which, unless both parties are true believers, Christian harmony cannot be expected to flourish and Christian consistency cannot fail to be compromised. – Hughes
Any action that would cause the believer to link up with the world in thought or act must be avoided. – Ralph Martin
Because God has given his gospel promises to you as a new creation, live new.
What are His holiness-inducing promises?
- God draws near in intimacy to us
[11] I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. [12] And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. [13] I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. – Leviticus 26:11-13 (ESV)
26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. - Ezekial 37:26-27 (ESV)
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV)
- God has adopted us, joining us to Him
Three Questions:
- Have you been made new?
- Where are you unequally yoked?
- Do you believe these promises?
Chris grew up in a moral home, but didn’t find the grace of Christ until he was a sophomore in college. He began to devour the Word and was soon helping to lead bible studies, outreaches, and worship at church. He married his beautiful wife, Tara, in the summer of 2002.
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