Separation from the world - Demonstration of Christian love

The love that Paul had for the people of God at Corinth has been declared by him in words so effusive that he felt it necessary to apologise, verse 11. 

The only recompense he seeks for his love is that they return his love, verse 13. The verses that form our study today outline the practical outworking of the love that Paul would see in them. 

True Christian love will work separation from the world. 

We have another example of how opposed is man’s thinking from God’s for separation from the world is deemed to be the outcome of narrow sectarianism void of true love. 

In the words before us we have four reasons why we should separate from the world.

I. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD IS THE NATURAL OUTCOME OF A LOVE FOR CHRIST

1. It is the natural outworkings of our new nature. Eph 4:24-32. The child of God being regenerated has life from God within. It is heavenly life which seeks heavenly things, Col 3:1-4. We are out of step with the world and cannot be comfortably yoked together with it. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together, Deut 22:10.

2. It is natural result of our love for Christ. 1 John 4:19. The more our eyes are opened to Christ’s love for us, the more we  will be drawn to Him and away from our former pursuits, 1 Peter 4:1-4.

3. It is the natural result of being on a different road from the world. Matt 7:13-14. Christ caused division, Luke 12:51-53; John 7:43, 9:16, 10:19. (Rent, Matt 9:16).