Called to Be Separate

Bible Studies

In the menu at left you will find Bible studies on various themes. Click on the name of a study to read it.

1. What was the first separation that ever occurred in the history of the universe? Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:7-9

Lucifer (later Satan) let pride enter his heart. As a result, he lost his loyalty to God and created a rebellion in heaven. Finally, when he would not repent, it was necessary for him and his angels to be cast out of heaven. This was the first separation that had ever occurred between God and any of His creatures.

2. How did mankind then become separated from God? Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah 59:2

Sin separates man from God. When Adam and Even sinned, they were unable to remain in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24).

3. At the time of Adam and Eve’s sin, how did God foretell the separation that was to exist between His own followers and those of Satan? Genesis 3:14, 15

There was to be enmity between the woman (God’s church) and the serpent (Satan). The Seed of the woman (Jesus), would come to earth and conquer Satan. Jesus’ followers could never be in harmony with Satan’s followers (symbolized by enmity between the woman’s seed and the serpent’s seed).

4. How does the Bible describe Jesus, the Seed of the woman, who came to conquer the serpent? Hebrews 7:26

Jesus was separate from sin and sinners. This does not mean that He did not spend time with them and minister to them. Oh no! (See Matthew 9:10-13). Rather, this means that Jesus took no part in their sin, nor did He conform to their ways. He associated with them only for the purpose of leading them to eternal life.

5. What does the Bible command us? 2 Corinthians 6:17

We, too, are to come out from the sin in this world and those who cling to it, and be separate.

6. What has God called us out of? What has He called us into? 1 Peter 2:9

7. What will be the last separation to occur in the history of sin? Matthew 25:31, 32; Romans 6:23

Jesus Himself will separate the righteous and the wicked. The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death. The eternal death of the wicked will truly be eternal separation from God. How this will break God’s heart, for He does not want anyone to choose separation from Him!

8. What is the promise to those who choose to separate themselves from sin now? 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18

Decision: I want to allow God to separate me from all sin that is in my life, so that I can become His son/daughter, and live with Him throughout all eternity.

God's Vision for His People

In this study we will take a look at passages in which God speaks of His peculiar people, in order as they are found in the Bible.

1. Soon before the giving of the Ten Commandments, God told the Israelites of His plan for them to be a peculiar people. What were the conditions on which this could take place? Exodus 19:4-6

They were to obey His voice, and keep His covenant.

2. God in His mercy gave many chances to the nation of Israel to live up to their high calling. If they would be holy unto Him, where did God promise to place them? Deuteronomy 14:2

God wanted Israel to be an object lesson for the other nations of the world. It was to be their job to bring the message of salvation to those in darkness (Isaiah 49:6).

3. What were God’s peculiar people to keep? Deuteronomy 26: 16-19

God’s peculiar people would keep all His commandments. This would place them on an eminence among all the nations, who would see their holy lives and thus learn about the true God.

4. What did God call Israel? Psalm 135:4

Israel were God’s chosen people, His peculiar treasure. Sadly, the nation of Israel as a whole rejected this high calling (John 1:11). Thus, the nation could no longer continue as God’s chosen people.

5. Today, who are God’s peculiar people? Romans 9:23-26

Today, God’s peculiar people is made up of faithful Jews and Gentiles, people of any nationality, who accept Jesus as their Saviour, and keep all of His commandments.

6. How does John describe these peculiar people? Revelation 12:17

These people keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10).

7. These peculiar people are living righteously in an ungodly world. What blessed hope are they preparing for? Titus 2:11-14

8. In what words does Peter describe God’s peculiar people? 1 Peter 2:9, 10

Peter echoes Paul’s statement in Romans 9:25, 26. God’s people are chosen, peculiar, called out of darkness into the light of truth and righteousness.

Decision: I want to obey all that God has said and be one of His peculiar people. I realize I cannot do this on my own. However, I can choose to allow Jesus to do this transforming work in me.

Separate from Sin

Biblical separation means separation from sin. First we must separate from all sin on the inside. In other words, sin must be removed from our characters.

1. What have our sins done to us? Isaiah 59:2

Sin has separated us from God. After Adam and Eve sinned, no longer could they meet God face to face.

2. What has God done for us so that we need not suffer eternal separation from Him? John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19

Jesus gave His life in order to reconcile us to God, so that we would no longer be separated from Him.

3. In order to be reconciled to God, what must we do? 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

The promise of becoming sons and daughters of God is conditional. We are to separate from sin. We are to “touch not the unclean thing.”

4. What is “unclean”? Isaiah 64:6

While we must flee the uncleanness of the world around us, the Bible warns that the most dangerous and subtle uncleanness of all exists right in the unconverted heart.

5. When we surrender to God, what change takes place? Romans 6:18, 19

We are made free from uncleanness, in that we no longer yield to it. Rather, we yield ourselves to God.

6. How does God describe those who will enter heaven? Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27

Their garments (character) will be clean, free from sin.

7. Who makes this cleanness possible, and how does He do it? Psalm 51:10; 1 John 1:7

Jesus, the Creator, saves us from the sin in our own hearts and creates in us a clean heart. This clean heart symbolizes a new life of surrender to God, and freedom from sin. This is really the greatest and most glorious separation in the Bible—separation from sin.

Personal Commitment: I want God to give me a clean heart. I want Him to separate all sin from my character as I daily surrender to Him.

What is the World?

The Bible says, “Be not conformed to this world.” But what is the “world”? What is it that we are not to be conformed to?

1. What are we not to walk according to? Ephesians 2:2

When the Bible speaks against conforming to the world, it means “the course of this world,” which is “according to…the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

2. Why does the Bible associate the world with the “children of disobedience,” since there are both righteous and wicked living in the world? Matthew 7:13, 14

The majority of the world’s people choose the broad way to destruction. Only a few choose life. Therefore, the world’s culture and way of life is most strongly influenced by the former class.

3. How pervasive is this influence of the majority, who follow Satan? 1 John 2:16 and 5:19

John describes the condition of this world’s cultures in very grave terms. By the expressions “all that is in the world” and “the whole world,” he shows that the greater number of people in this world are followers of sin.

4. Has this condition of the world improved since the days of the apostles? 2 Timothy 3:13; Matthew 24:12

No. Rather, because of the abundant wickedness in the end, “perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1

5. With what does the Bible contrast the world? John 8:23; Colossians 3:2; James 3:15, 17

The Bible contrasts the world with things “above”—that is, heaven. We must choose between things that originate “from above,” and those whose source is “from beneath.”

6. What are the main interests of people who love the world? Matthew 6:31, 32; Luke 17:26-30; 1 John 2:16

Eating, drinking, dressing, marrying, buying, selling, planting, building, fleshly desires, outward appearance, and pride, are among the top concerns of those who follow the world’s way of life.

7. The Bible gives many strong and colorful descriptions of the world and its way of life:

It hates and persecutes Christ’s followers. John 15:18-20
Its wisdom is foolishness with God. 1 Corinthians 3:19
It follows perishable fashions. 1 Corinthians 7:31
It is evil. Galatians 1:4
It brings bondage. Galatians 4:3
Satan is its god and prince. Ephesians 2:2; John 16:11;
2 Corinthians 4:4
It is in darkness. Ephesians 6:12
It follows philosophy, vain deceit, and the traditions of men. Colossians 2:8
Its friends are enemies of God. James 4:4
It is corrupted through lust. 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 2:16
It is polluted. 2 Peter 2:20
It will one day wonder after the beast. Revelation 13:3, 8

Decision: I want to obey the Bible’s command not to conform to the world, for I realize that it is the broad way that leads to destruction. I choose not to follow the prince of this world, but rather to follow the God of heaven.

Strangers in this World

God’s people have always confessed that this world is not their home.

1. In what place were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob strangers? Exodus 6:3, 4

2. What covenant did God make with them when they were strangers? Psalm 105:8-12

3. What is the land of Canaan called in the Bible? Hebrews 11:9

4. Did these men live to see the fulfillment of this promise? Hebrews 11:13

5. Later, where did their descendants live as strangers? Acts 13:17

6. What was Moses’ testimony in the land of Midian? Exodus 2:22

7. What was God’s promise for the Israelites in Egypt? Exodus 6:6-8

8. How was this promise fulfilled? Jeremiah 32:21, 22

9. Today, how does God address us? 1 Peter 1:1; 2:11

10. What land are we striving to reach? Hebrews 11:16

11. As pilgrims and strangers, seeking a heavenly country, how are we, then, to live? 2 Peter 3:13, 14

Decision: I want to keep my focus on the heavenly Canaan, always remembering that this world is not my home. I want to be ready for that land by perfecting a pure character in Jesus’ strength.

1. What part of our body especially determines whether our thoughts will be full of good or evil? Matthew 6:22, 23

Our eyes are windows through which visual impressions come. If our eyes are single, that is, focused on God, our minds will be full of light. If our eyes are evil, feeding on the sin of this world, our minds too will be full of darkness.

2. In what way do the things we view affect us? 2 Corinthians 3:18

This principle works both ways. By beholding we are changed, either into the image of the Lord by beholding Him, or into the image of Satan by beholding his attributes.

3. We cannot actually see Jesus. How then, are we to behold Him? Job 36:24, 25; John 1:14

One way to behold Jesus is to look at His works, both the things He has created, and His dealings with humanity throughout history. Especially do we get a glimpse of Him in the records of His life on earth.

4. At the Second Coming of Jesus, we will have the opportunity to behold Jesus. Will we literally see Him? Job 19:26, 27

5. What must we do now in order to see Jesus face to face in that day? 1 John 3:2, 3

Those who hope to see Jesus as He is, purify themselves.

6. We must be pure “even as He is pure,” but just how is He pure? What is His purity like? Habakkuk 1:13

The Bible says that God’s eyes are too pure to behold evil and iniquity. To be like Jesus, we should turn away our eyes from every-thing sinful, and not choose to look at it. If we enjoy beholding iniquity, in any form, we are unfitted to one day behold Jesus.

7. What kind of people only will be enabled to see the King in His beauty one day? Isaiah 33:15-17

Two marked characteristics of those who will be saved are that they stop their ears from hearing of blood (violence), and shut their eyes from seeing evil. We cannot behold Jesus and willingly behold iniquity at the same time. All who choose to willingly place their eyes on sinful scenes, without repentance, will miss the wonderful opportunity of seeing Jesus face to face, and living with Him for eternity.

8. After the curse of sin is destroyed, what privilege will we have if we have the pure character of Jesus? Rev. 22:3, 4

Decision: From this day forward, I choose to shut my eyes to all iniquity, with Jesus’ help. I choose not to unnecessarily place myself in situations where I will undoubtedly be exposed to evil sights.

Israel and Judah fell progressively deeper into apostasy, until God finally tried to bring them to an awareness of their condition through the experience of captivity. But what was really behind their worship of Baal and Ashtoreth? What was the root that grew into such a tree of apostasy?

1. Apostasy took root early in the history of Israel. What did God give the children of Israel on Mt. Sinai? What was their response? Nehemiah 9:13-16

Israel would not hearken to God’s Commandments.

2. When Israel worshipped heathen gods during the days of the judges, what did this signify their rejection of? Judges 2:17

3. What did God do to test the Israelites’ allegiance to His Commandments? Judges 2:21-23 and 3:4

He left some heathen nations in place. Would Israel obey His Commandments and keep themselves separate from the ways of the heathen, or would they intermingle, assimilate, and adapt, and thus break His Commandments?

4. Did Israel pass or fail the test? Judges 3:5-7

Sadly, Israel showed their disloyalty to God’s Commandments by worshipping idols and intermarrying with the heathen. Both of these actions were transgressions of God’s Ten Commandments. By marrying heathen spouses, the people were condoning the idolatrous, worldly lifestyle of these spouses.

5. When Elijah rebuked Ahab for his sins, in what two ways did he declare that this wicked king had troubled Israel? 1 Kings 18:17, 18

Ahab’s worship of Baalim was a direct result of his having forsaken the Commandments of the Lord, which prohibit worship of other gods.

6. When God pleaded with Israel to turn from their idolatry, what did He ask them to keep? 2 Kings 17:7-13

7. What was the Israelites’ response to God’s merciful pleading? How many of His Commandments did they leave off to obey? 2 Kings 17:14-19

Israel failed to keep God’s Commandments, but persisted in idolatry. “They left all the commandments of the Lord.” Judah also broke God’s Commandments, following in the wicked example of Israel.

8. The child king of Judah, Joash, had been faithful to God during the lifetime of his mentor, Jehoiada. When Joash was grown and Jehoiada died, Joash was persuaded to forsake the Lord and turn to idolatry. God sent a prophet to warn the people of their sin. What did he say they had transgressed? 2 Chronicles 24:17-20

9. How did King Joash respond to the message of this prophet, who was the son of his deceased mentor, Jehoiada? 2 Chronicles 24:21, 22

10. Many years later, when some of the people returned from their captivity in Medo-Persia to dwell in Jerusalem once more, they had not fully learned their lesson. What sin of their ancestors did they repeat? Ezra 9:1, 2

They did not separate from the world, but conformed to their evil practices. They also intermarried with the ungodly.

11. What had they broken by joining in affinity with the world? Ezra 9:10-14

By marrying people who had other gods before Jehovah, Israel became a partner to the sin.

12. God specifically cited one of His Commandments, which if transgressed, would lead to punishment for Judah. Which Commandment was it? Jeremiah 17:21-27; Exodus 20:8-11

13. After the captivity took place, and some of the exiles had returned, what were some of them found to be doing on the Sabbath? Nehemiah 13:15, 16

14. In his rebuke of the people’s actions, what did Nehemiah imply had been a cause of Jerusalem’s punishment? Nehemiah 13:17, 18

Think about it: If God’s Ten Commandments, including the fourth, had been consistently obeyed, the Jews would never have gone into captivity. Indeed, they would still be God’s peculiar people today, a light on a hill, spreading God’s truth to every nation on earth. Sadly, their actual history was a very different one.

Personal Decision: I want to keep God’s Commandments, by His grace, because they are specifically designed to keep me pure and separate from the ways of this sinful world. I realize that whenever they have been broken, conformity to the world has resulted. I want to be one of God’s peculiar people, through obedience to His Commandments.

1. What did God do on the last day of the Creation week? Genesis 2:1-3

He rested from His work of Creation. He blessed and sanctified the seventh day as a holy day of rest for all time to come.

2. For whom did God create the Sabbath? Mark 2:27

The Sabbath was made for man, all mankind.

3. Was Sabbath observance obligatory before the Ten Commandments were proclaimed to Israel from Mt. Sinai? Exodus 16:4, 5, 14-30

Verses 4 and 28 make plain that God’s Law of Ten Commandments was already in effect, even before He gave it written on tables of stone. Obedience to the Sabbath command-ment was required. The Sabbath was not something new instituted at Sinai. Rather, it had existed since the world’s Creation.

4. What does the Fourth Commandment tell us to do? Exodus 20:8-11

On the seventh day we are to do no work, but to keep the day holy. Caring for the sick and other similar duties are of course in harmony with the Sabbath.

5. On what day did Jesus worship? Luke 4:16

6. Did Jesus come to do away with the Fourth Commandment of God’s Law? Matthew 5:17-19

Far from it. Jesus condemned those who would break even one of the Commandments.

7. Was Sabbath observance according to the Fourth Commandment no longer obligatory after the death of Jesus? Matthew 28:1; Luke 23:46, 54-56; Luke 24:1

Luke says clearly that after the death of Jesus, the women rested on Sabbath according to the commandment, and began their work early Sunday morning.

8. Are the Ten Commandments still binding on Christians after the death of Jesus? Romans 3:31

9. To whom does the Sabbath belong? Isaiah 58:13, 14

No other day in Scripture does God call “My holy day.”

10. What day, according to Scripture, is the Lord’s Day? Revelation 1:10; Mark 2:28

11. What day did Jesus expect His followers would be keeping holy, many years after His resurrection? Matthew 24:15-21

In prophesying of the destruction of Jerusalem (which took place in A.D. 70), as well as of end-time events, Jesus counseled His followers to pray that they would not need to make their escape on the Sabbath.

12. On what day each week will we meet for worship in the New Earth? Isaiah 66:22, 23

God’s people will continue to worship on God’s holy day, the seventh-day Sabbath.

13. What will God’s last day people be keeping before Jesus comes? Revelation 14:12; 22:14

They will be keeping God’s Commandments, including the Fourth Commandment.

Decision: I want to obey God’s Commandments and keep His Sabbath, the seventh day, holy, out of love for Him.