Introduction
There may come a time in the life of Christian individuals and institutions when they may need to separate themselves from other people and institutions for the sake of the Gospel. It is never an easy process and it always involves pain, but there are times when it is absolutely necessary to do so.
· Our Lord taught that the Gospel might have a dividing effect.
Mt. 10:34-37 – Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of hisown household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
· Paul tells us that there is a fundamental difference between faith and unbelief.
2 Cor. 6:11-7:1 – O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
· One of the things that Jesus will do at his coming is to separate true faith from pretenders.
Mt. 13:24-30 – Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"
It is easy to understand why faith and unbelief don't belong together, even though we often fail in the practice of this separation. We have a hard time understanding that some times it is necessary to separate from others who profess to be followers of Christ. Samuel's actions toward Saul will help us understand that.
I. Samuel Severs His Official Relationship with Saul, 35.
A. Separating from Saul was not an easy thing for Samuel.
1. He mourned for Saul.
2. Samuel is just being a reflection of the Lord in this situation, 35b.
a. Samuel's motivation wasn't hatred or self-righteousness.
b. His motivation was allegiance to the Lord.
B. Though Saul tried to visit Samuel at least twice, Samuel never sought out Saul – Saul's attempts: 1 Sam. 19:23-24 and 1 Sam 28 (the medium of En Dor).
II. Separation for the Sake of the Gospel May Have to Happen in Several Contexts.
A. Individual separating from individual.
B. Individual separating from an institution
C. Institution separating from individual
D. Institution separating from institution.
III. Separation is not so much based on sins committed, but on the attitude toward sins committed.
A. It wasn't the fact that Saul disobeyed God that led Samuel to leave Saul.
B. It was Saul's lack of true repentance in acknowledging that what he did was a sin against God.
C. The apostle Paul speaks of the lack of true repentance as separation (death).
2 Cor. 7:10 – For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
IV. Individual Separating from Individual
A. In Eph. 5:11, Paul says that we are not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.
1. Earlier in the chapter, he gave us a sample list of what these sins are.
Eph. 5:3-7 – But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
2. These are the works of unbelief and since we are no longer unbelievers, we don't participate in them anymore.
3. Now, these sins don't exist in and of themselves.
a. Fornication doesn't exist apart from the fornicator.
b. Covetousness doesn't exist apart from the covetous person.
c. Idolatry doesn't exist apart from the idolater.
4. One cannot obey the Holy Spirit in his command to have no fellowship with these works while at the same time fellowshipping with those who unrepentantly practice them.
a. It is contradictory to a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ to have our closest friends be workers of the works of darkness.
b. It is prejudicial to your growth in your faith to fellowship with those who deny that what Jesus says about sin is true.
1) Fellowship means partnership.
2) Fellowship means intimate connection.
c. That's why God says that a believer should not marry an unbeliever.
2 Cor. 6:11-7:1 – O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
d. Someone may bring up Jesus's spending time with sinners.
1) Jesus went to their houses for dinner.
2) Jesus hung out with them.
e. Jesus was purposeful and intentional in those relationships.
1) They weren't hanging out just for the sake of hanging out.
2) Jesus related to them through the Gospel.
f. So if that's what you doing, being like Jesus, more power to you.
g. But don't use Jesus as a tool to indulge in the desires of your own flesh.
B. You may also have to separate yourself from one who professes to be a follower of Christ – not out of hatred or self-righteousness, but out of allegiance to Christ.
1 Cor. 5:11 – But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
2 Thess. 3:6 – But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
V. Some times an individual needs to separate himself from an institution (congregation).
Rev. 3:9 – Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
A. It is a very serious business to leave a church and it should be avoided if possible.
1. Leaving a church is painful for all involved.
2. Often we can be the best solution for the problems we see in a church.
B. But we should never be part of a congregation that is ok with sin and is obviously disobedient to the Word of God.
"Christians are commanded by Scripture to belong to the visible church, and thus to one of its branches. However, it is a sin to belong to a church which is officially and judicially apostate. This would require the recognition of, submission to, and support for a false gospel." BPC Synod definition of separation
C. Even in this situation you should use all ecclesiastical means available to you in order to try to bring the congregation back to the Gospel.
VI. Some times an institution needs to separate itself from an individual.
A. This may happen when a congregation faithfully practices church discipline.
1. A member who is caught up in sin refuses to repent from the sin.
2. The elders faithfully follow all the steps in disciplining that member.
3. At that point the congregation must declare that member to be no longer a member and place him/her outside of the church – that's what we call excommunication.
B. This is not something for each local church to decide.
C. As matter of fact, a church cannot be a true church if it refuses to practice biblical church discipline.
D. That was Paul's instruction to the Corinthian church.
1 Cor. 5:13 – But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."
VII. There may come a time when a particular congregation need to separate itself from the denomination it is part of (institution to institution).
A. To stay in fellowship in a denomination that openly refuses to follow the Word of God is to give approval to that rebellion.
B. We find this pattern in the New Testament.
1. Paul would go to the synagogue which was the local church.
2. Once the synagogue refused to follow Jesus, he would leave and start a new congregation.
3. From that new congregation, he would call others to leave the synagogue.
C. This is the history of our denomination – explain
D. It is because of this history that we have the following clause in our constitution.
"Particular churches need remain in association with the Bible Presbyterian Church only so long as they themselves desire. The relationship is voluntary, based only upon mutual love and confidence, and is in no sense to be maintained by the exercise of any kind of force or coercion whatsoever. A particular church may withdraw at any time for reasons which seem sufficient to itself." FoB 3:2
E. Throughout our history, we have tried to practice faithful, biblical separation from churches that have not remained faithful to the Gospel.
1. Sometimes we succeeded.
2. Many times we failed by being too separated.
3. But we have tried to follow the Lord's direction for his church.
4. Our official position on biblical separation will be posted on our blog at 12:30 today.
Conclusion
Why preach a sermon that could be seen as hateful and devise? Why not just talk about love or grace? The answer is simple: love and grace is demonstrated in Jesus's love for his bride, the Church. He loves his church to the point of dying for her. And he is purifying her. Out of love for him, we invest ourselves into the purity of his bride. To neglect the purity of the bride is to neglect the love of the groom.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-faithful-view-of-separation-1-sam.html
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