Difference Between Holy and Unholy

Difference Between Holy and Unholy

Scriptures: Leviticus 10:10; Isaiah 5:20; Romans 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Matthew 12:24

The kingdom of satan and of God, of sin and of righteousness, are opposite and separate. People of those kingdoms are separate. We are to keep things of those kingdoms separate, not to attempt to mix them. Where is the line of separation from unbelievers to be? At what point does cooperation become agreeing? What is the standard? We are not to withdraw ourselves from all contacts with the unsaved, thus shutting them out completely. We are responsible to know the spiritual state of those with whom we are involved.

We find the Israelite nations had gotten so far from God, that they were calling evil good and good evil. It was the result of continual disobedience to God. They daily rejected His Prophets and His Word until they could no longer discern between good and evil.

Today we learn about God's attitude toward mixing holy and unholy under both the old Law and the new.

"But strong meat belongeth to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

For Our Examples

Leviticus 10:10. Here we find recorded the death of two men as punishment for sin. God had forbidden some things concerning the anointed priests. These restrictions were for the purpose of putting difference between holy and unholy. The deaths had come to them because they tried to mix unholy with holy. Holy things must not be handled like unholy ones. Holy and clean things must be kept separate from the unholy and unclean. Priests were to observe this and teach the people to do so. The whole program of God must be kept holy and unmixed. (Deuteronomy 22:5, 9).  These Old Testament events and rules are types in the natural realm meant to show us what God wants now in the spiritual realm (the New Dispensation). Paul wrote about this in 1 Corinthians 10:11).

Must Not Call Evil Good

Isaiah 5:20: "Woe unto them that call evil good." This is an expression pointing forward to an unhappy result. What sadness is coming to those who twist the things of life around and replace them with the opposite! They make a lie truth and truth a lie. Their end will be the same as that of all liars. God's way is truth. Many lead the innocent, the ignorant, and the weak into the devil's servitude, still telling them this is the good way. We are seeing much of this falseness in our day and are reaping many sad results (Matthew 5:19).

One mark of the degeneracy of our times is distortion. Much entertainment has the weird, twisted, horrid, and unnatural. Many children are familiar with "monsters" or so-called good fiction characters, but they are seldom taught about Bible characters. What ideal does this place before them to strive toward? What level of culture does this promise for the future? When art is ridiculous, dress immodest, literature fantastic, TV horrible, movies obscene, ethics dishonest, religion sacrilegious, motherhood profaned and the family neglected, and all in the name of freedom and progress, what will be the outcome? This is that on which God pronounces woe.

Values are twisted. A teacher is hauled into court for teaching the Ten Commandments in school. At the same time, a movie is advertised as a "new low in obscenity" and praised as a breakthrough for realism. Communists are brought into the country to teach in our schools. The Council of Churches circulates literature advocating premarital sex relations. The same Council moves to federate all so-called Christian religious along with all heathen ones into a one world church. This is calling evil good and putting darkness for light. Evil always seems to have a louder voice than good. We must remain true to the Lord, spreading light, sweetness, and truth.

God's Children Are a Separated People

Romans 6:18-20 - Those in sin are all the way in, the servants of sin - under its power. It is impossible to serve God and sin at the same time. Everyone has a master, either God or satan. As one serves righteousness, the fruit is holiness. The change from sin to righteousness must be complete, for they are so widely separated, so opposite in nature, that there is no room for coexistence. What about positions in the church? Who should be used when the choice lies between ignorant believer and an educated unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 - As God told the priests of Israel to put difference between holy and unholy, between unclean and clean, so He tells His people now (who are spiritual priests) to keep free from yoking with  unbelievers. Joining unequally with the unsaved is forbidden. This concerns: 1. Any relationship in which the Christian witness or work of the saint is hampered. 2. Any relationship in which the saint is committed to action or sanction to be by the non-Christian. We must respect the wall God placed between His kingdom and satan's. There is no fellowship or communion between the two. Any attempt to mix them is sin. "Be ye separate, saith the Lord." Read more about this separation in Matthew 3:12; Matthew 13:30; John 17:14-16; James 4:4; and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

By Spiritual Discernment

Matthew 12:24 - God sent Jesus to the Israelites; they rejected Him. We find that they had drifted so far from God, they were calling evil good and good evil. It was the result of continual disobedience to God. They built upon their own traditions until they could no longer discern between good and evil. Of all the good that Jesus did before them, many of the Jews said He cast out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils. They lost all sense of judgment - all spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment becomes keen through daily prayer and Bible study and allowing one's mind to meditate on spiritual things. When spiritual discernment is lost, there is no indicator to judge holy from unholy.

Just A Thought

We must choose between being strangers to the world or strangers to Heaven.

~Adapted from a lesson by Mary Lehmann~