2 Corinthians 6 - How Can You Be In the World But Not Of the World?

2 Corinthians 6

6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,

    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Some people put off making the decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. This is definitely risky as one never knows when Jesus will come back, God will call us home. This is why Paul says, "Today is the day of salvation." 

What does it mean to receive God's grace in vain?  I think it means to receive God's grace in Christ and be saved, but then not offer your life back to God to be used by him. By grace we have been given salvation, but Paul says to, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12

We all have been given "grace gifts" too! We also call these "spiritual gifts". We use our spiritual gifts to help build up the body of Christ. One day we will be accountable for what we did with the gifts we have been given. See the Parable of the Talents. Matthew 25 

“God’s grace is always coming to my heart and life in very wonderful and blessed experience of now. Yesterday’s grace is totally inadequate for the burden of today, and if I do not learn to lay hold of heavenly resources every day of my life for the little things as well as the big things, as a Christian I soon become stale, barren, and fruitless in the service of the Lord.” (Redpath)

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Paul's biggest fear was that something he did would become a stumbling block to someone hearing the gospel in all of its clarity. Rather than rebelling against the persecution he was experiencing, he endured it for the sake of the gospel. Note he did not rely on his own power to do this but he says, "In the Holy Spirit" and "In the power of God". Paul did not receive God's grace in vain. 

Paul not only preached the gospel, but he lived the gospel. There was nothing in his life that could be viewed as a stumbling block to the gospel. On contrary his steadfastness in the midst of suffering gave him great credibility. 

The Christian rock group D.C. Talk, their song "Jesus Freak" has these lyrics.  

"The greatest cause of atheism today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, but deny him by their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable."

If you call yourself a follower of Christ, does your lifestyle back up your faith. Is there anything in your life which might be a stumbling block to an unbeliever? 

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Because of Paul's transparency and sharing from his own life, he urges the Corinthians to return the favor. This is the essence of any relationship. A lot of relationships stay only on a surface level because there is no vulnerability or transparency about the real issues. As we share our lives and share out joys and struggles, we develop a depth of relationship that Paul longed to have with those in the churches he planted. 

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them

    and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

    and they will be my people.”[c]

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them

    and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

    and I will receive you.”[

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,

    and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”[e]

Apparently some of the believers in Corinth were marrying unbelievers. Paul tells them not to, "Be yoked together with them." Why? Oftentimes being yoked referred to holy marriage. I.e. When two become one.  When you have sexual relations with someone you are not just offering your body but also your soul. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit resides in you, so when a believer has sex with an unbeliever it is mixing light with darkness. 

The idea of do not be unequally yoked together is based on Deuteronomy 22:10, which prohibited yoking together two different animals. It speaks of joining two things that should not be joined.

But this is not just related to marriage and/or sexual relationships, but also the influence others can have on you. 

 However, Paul means much more here than only marrying an unbeliever. It really applies to any environment where we let the world influence our thinking. When we are being conformed to this world and are not being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), we join together with unbelievers in an ungodly way. - Guzik

This presents a challenge because by saying this Paul is not saying that we should not have any interaction or relationships with those in the world. After all, we are called to be, "The salt and the light of the world."  "The light shines greatest in the darkness." "Salt preserves a rotting world." 

A good adage is that Christians should be, "IN the world but not OF the world." This is why we need to be a part of a local church where we are built up, discipled, encouraged, and then sent out into the world to carry out the only mission Jesus gave to us. Jesus' Great Commission was for us to "GO and make disciples". Not, "Sit and make disciples." You have to go out into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit and make a difference.

As the old Sunday School song goes, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Hide it under a bushel "no", I am gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!" 

Is the light of Christ shining through you in the world? Do you rub shoulders with those who do yet know Christ yet? Most likely you were reached by someone who took time to share the love of Christ with you. Ask God to send you out to the people who need to see Jesus in you.

Let's make sure not to, "Receive God's grace in vain!"