An Example of Repentance that Leads to Salvation

In 2Corinthians 6:14 (ESV), Paul says, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”   (17-18) 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, says the Lord Almighty."

This passage has been wrongly used by many in the church to separate themselves completely from the broken and lost, to isolate themselves in what they believe to be a righteous Christian bubble.  However, these verses are not a call for religious isolation that separates the believer from the society around them, but instead a plea holy and righteous behaviour in the midst of a sin bound world.

What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?  The answer is “none!”  These verses are God’s call for a believer to demonstrate a holy integrity, to “be in the world, but not of the world.”  In John 17:15 (ESV) Jesus prayed, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”   Jesus has asked the Father for our protection. We have nothing to fear.   We can be Jesus, show Jesus, demonstrate Jesus to a lost and broken world.

There is no way to witness to God’s love and redemption from within the cocoon of the Christian community. If you build it, they will NOT come.  We are called to be among, to walk along-side those that so desperately need to experience God’s grace and mercy.

The purpose of the admonition in 2Corinthians 6 and 7 is reconciliation… redemption and restoration. It is always God’s will and intent to restore.  Even when He punishes iniquity, the purpose is restoration, repentance and return…to be grieved into repenting. For, “Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret.” 2Corinthains 7:10 (ESV) The exhortation for us to come out from among them is a call to avoids their sin, to be a righteous example of repentance that leads to salvation.