Keep Yourself

Pure

Dan Corner

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The Apostle Paul, knowing that sin will bring the righteous to their spiritual death, appropriately told Timothy, keep yourself pure:

...do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. (1 Tim 5:22)

It was Timothy’s responsibility to do this for himself. God was not responsible to do it, as some have been deceived into thinking. Because it was Timothy’s obligation to do this vital thing for himself, the devil would certainly try to interfere any way he could. By not sharing in the sins of others, Timothy would keep himself pure, which shows his present tense spiritual purity could be lost. It was a salvation issue for Timothy himself and those he had spiritual influence over:

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim 4:16)

They Mingled with the Nations

and Adopted Their Customs

Paul always stressed godly living, especially among spiritual leadership. Sin is never anything to toy with. It should be viewed as an ugly and deadly viper and never like a harmless cute little puppy dog! To mingle with the darkened, dead and deceived people of our world—those enslaved by sin—will have a defiling, contaminating and deadening spiritual effect on the godly. This is especially shown in the following passage:

They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. (Psa 106:34-43)

Because they mingled with the heathen, their wicked ways (observed through association) rubbed off on Israel. The spiritual influence did NOT go from the godly to the ungodly, but the reverse! The people who were pure became defiled. Sin adversely affected them. Sin has always been a vital thing for the righteous to avoid. Such mingling is a common way sin can enter.

Come Out From Them

and Be Separate

Being around ungodly people in a socializing way (trying to have fellowship with them) is expressly forbidden (and properly so) because of what will happen:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 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. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence [Greek is fear] for God. (2 Cor 6:14-7:1)

Unbelievers are the opposite of Christians and there can be no real fellowship. It is impossible. Not only that, but seeking such fellowship will only endanger the spiritually pure. That doesn’t just apply for worldly people in general, but also with listening to false teachers, such as the grace changers.

Bad Company Corrupts

Good Character

Ponder the following warning also from Paul:

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” (1 Cor 15:33-35)

Bad company corrupts! Moreover, did you notice the context is corruption through false teachers? In chapter 15 of that same epistle Paul is addressing false doctrine. To keep company with a false religious teacher, by listening to his teachings, is to expose yourself to spiritual dangers too. Paul said corruption would result and that is what happened at Corinth. False doctrine led to sin. Again, it was their own responsibility (not God’s) to keep themselves from such bad company. Likewise, it is your responsibility to not allow corruption to enter into your life, even through false teachings!

For a Christian to not mingle with the ungodly around him will certainly result in, at least, some moments of loneliness. Hence, the satanic temptation to disobey God and mingle with the heathen may eliminate loneliness, but at the same time, to socialize with the foolish will open a Christian up to loss of salvation through spiritual defilement.

The Christian battle rages for truth and righteousness. SOULS hang in the balance regarding these issues. To eliminate loneliness at the expense of spiritual defilement is not a wise exchange:

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36,37)

Regarding the many false teachers around us, do not even read what comes from the license for immorality teachers, Prosperity teachers, Ecumenical teachers, Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, SDA, etc. To contemplate their message is to endanger yourself. Read the Bible for yourself and put it into practice:

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Prov 13:20)

GOD BLESS YOU.

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