The Abundant Life – #3 – The Separated Life

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The separated life is simultaneously positive and negative.  The old adage – “be in the world, but not of the world,” was derived from the topic of this article.  

Romans 1:1

 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. . .

Read that carefully!  We are to be “separated unto the gospel of God”!  This is  POSITIVE SEPARATION.

2 Corinthians 6:17

 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

We must come out of ANYTHING that is contrary to the perfect will of God. This is NEGATIVE SEPARATION.

FOR THE BELIEVER – TO BE SEPARATED –  MEANS TO BE SANCTIFIED (SET APART) FOR SALVATION AND SERVICE

1. The Word of God has the power to separate the believer from sin.  John 17:17 – Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth.  Ps. 119:11 –   Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

2. God the Father has the power to separate the believer unto the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thess. 5:23 – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. God the Son has the power to separate the believer unto righteousness, “not having spot, or wrinkle.”  Eph. 5: 24,27 –  

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; 

26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

27 That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

4. God the Holy Spirit has the power to separate the believer unto salvation and service.  2 Thess. 2:13 –  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

If we are not separated, we can still have a relationship with God, but we can not have fellowship with Him.  This is the problem of the dominant church spirit at this time – Laodicea.  The majority of churches are now so closely allied with the world, there is no fellowship with God.  They may be united with Him at Calvary, but separated from Him in sin.  

Isaiah 59:1-2

59 Behold, the Lord‘s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

Without separation we can have:

  • Influence without power
  • Movement without achievement
  • Trying without trusting
  • Serving without success
  • Spiritual battle without victory

WITHOUT SEPARATION UNTO GOD – OUR ENTIRE CHRISTIAN WALK WILL BE “WOOD, HAY, AND STUBBLE.” 

THE TRULY ABUNDANT LIFE IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST – MADE REALITY BY SEPARATION UNTO HIM. 

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