The DeGRAFF FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
State Route 235/ 100 East Miami Street
DeGraff, Ohio 43318
Phone: (937) 585-4463
Pastor James Roby
The Bible Truth About Separation
One of the most ignored Bible doctrines in our day is the doctrine of separation. It is ignored, and even despised by some, despite the fact that it is revealed in the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible teaches that there is a vast incompatibility between like and unlike. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"(Amos 3:3). It is important to separate right from wrong in order to preserve right. We have to separate truth from error so that we do not contaminate (and thereby destroy) truth. We are called to separate the true Christ from false christs so that men might find and serve the true Christ. We separate the true church so that it does not lose its identity in the false Babylonian church. We must separate true believers from false believers and unbelievers so that the world may have a true witness! Those who deny separation take the position that there can be a certain "unity" between Bible-believers and compromisers. They could not be more wrong! "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). Separation is a Bible truth intended to keep God's people pure and apart from that which defiles. Many professing Christians today seem totally unable to distinguish betwen that which is of God and that which is not. They are incapable of discerning between true and false. It is like the man who is color-blind, they are unable to see and detect error. As a result, they run with open arms to nearly anything that has a little religion in it. Jesus warned us to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, tares that look like wheat, and Judases who kiss Jesus in order to betray Him! Our Lord also warns about the WAY OF THE MANY. It is not right to merely think and do as the crowd does. We dare not follow the fashion of this world and swim with the stream's current...even if it's a religious current! Jesus further told us that the way that leads to everlasting life is NARROW and STRAIT, and few there be that find it. The broad way of the many leads to destruction. These are fearful truths that should be considered seriously by every true child of God. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 5:20). "Through Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY...Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:104-105, 128). It is only through God's Word and the guiding of the Holy Spirit that we can have our "senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14).
God's Word is very explicit about WHO and WHAT we should separate from...
1). THOSE WHO DO NOT CLEARLY CONFESS THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST. "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who CONFESS NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not IN THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST , hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 7-11). Christians, then, should have NO SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP with people who do not confess the doctrine of Christ. The Doctrine of Christ includes His eternal existence, His deity, His virgin birth, His miracles, His vicarious death on the cross for the sins of the whole world, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, His literal second coming, and the fact that He is the only way to get to Heaven. Notice the verse does not say that we should merely separate from those who DENY these great truths...but we should also separate from those who do not CONFESS (openly declare and unashamedly stand for) these things. We should not allow preachers in our pulpit who do not confess the doctrine of Christ! Our Sunday School teachers, guest speakers, our fellowship with (attendance at) other churches, should all be limited to those who boldly proclaim the doctrine of Christ. This is why we should not join ministerial associations, affiliate with denominations or conferences, be any part of the National and World Council of Churches, community services, para-church organizations etc. If we even wish these folks well (God speed), God says we are partakers of their evil deeds! "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her (false religious system), My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4).
2.) THOSE WHO TEACH HERESIES THAT COULD DAMN THE SOUL TO ETERNAL HELL. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in DAMNABLE HERESIES even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." )2 Peter 2:1-2). Damnable heresies are false doctrines that could damn the soul. Notice that this passage of scripture says that "many" shall follow their pernicious ways. That is why it is important for Bible-believing Christians to stay separated from those who preach error...especially errors that, if believed, could lead people to Hell. This includes doctrines such as: Baptismal regeneration (you get saved by being baptized), salvation through joining a church), salvation by works, sinless perfection, that one can live a lifestyle of sin and be saved, predestination of the individual (fatalism), universalism (everybody will eventually be saved), no Heaven and Hell, modernism, purgatory, reincarnation, etc. Christians should have NO SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP with individuals or organizations that adhere to any of these doctrines that mislead people about eternal salvation. The proponents of these dangerous errors will beguile many unstable souls and cause great disappointment on Judgment Day. Our separation from these errors and those who advocate them will help those who may otherwise be deceived. At the very least, our influence will not be used to approve of these kinds of heresies.
3.) WE ARE TO REJECT (SEPARATE FROM) HERETICS. "A man that is A HERETIC after the first and second admonition REJECT; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." (Titus 3:10-11). A heretic is a man who holds false doctrine. When a Christian talks to him and about his error and he refuses to listen, after the first and second admonition, he is to be rejected. The Christian is to have no more to do with him. He is proven to be subverted (corrupt, perverted, warped, twisted) and is, at least at the present time, unreachable. We are not to waste valuable time debating and arguing with people who refuse to listen to the plain Word of God. This is equivalent to casting our pearls before swine and giving that which is holy to the dogs. (Matthew 7:6).
4.)WE ARE NOT TO BE UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hathrighteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING" (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). This passage forbids our FELLOWSHIP with unbelievers in SPIRITUAL MATTERS. For example, we should not allow unbelievers to be members of our church; we should not have fellowship with churches who allow unbelievers in their membership; we should not have anything to do with organizations or para-church groups who welcome unbelievers into their memberships. This would include many organizations like Promise Keepers, Gideons, the Christian Coalition, Moral Majority, Reclaiming America, Right to Life, Emmaus Walk, Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship, Women's Aglow, Union Revivals, Ministerial Associations, Youth For Christ, Christian Women's Club, etc.
5.)WE ARE TO EVEN HAVE A MILDER SEPARATION TOWARD THOSE IN OUR OWN CHURCH WHO WALK DISORDERLY. "Now we command you, brethren , in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that WALKETH DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which he received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15). It is possible for a Christian to get "off" in his thinking, believing and behavior. This will certainly affect his walk with God. He may pout, become somewhat contentious, go around behind the scenes to stir up strife, etc. God tells us to withdraw from such a one. (refuse to hear his complaints, give him no encouragement in his wrongdoing, firmly and lovingly rebuke his error.). Hopefully, he will become ashamed of his conduct, will repent and be won back as a valuable part of the church. This text does not address gross sin, but instead refers to someone who gets sidetracked on a lesser matter. In the context of 2 Thessalonians, the problem was that some had gotten so wrapped up in the imminent return of Jesus Christ (a doctrinal truth! but out of balance), that they quit their jobs and sat around waiting for the Rapture..all the while expecting the "less spiritual" people in the church to support them financially! With all the spare time they had, they had become busybodies, visiting and bothering the members of the church who had work to do. They probably had time to figure out all the answers for everybody else! The way to handle this problem was to withdraw from them and have no company with them. Don't encourage them in their error and prayerfully they would become ashamed and repent. They were not to treat them as enemies, however, but to admonish them as brothers.
