Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  2 Corinthians 6:14-15

When it comes to the “Rainbow flag” issue in the Churches, these scriptures provide alot of context and clarity. Many Churches have become divided over this topic, many Christians have left their denominations or home Church. While others will ask “Whats the big deal”?  

Are we not supposed to invite everyone to come to Church? I actually had this argument with a co-worker several years ago. A member of his Church got up on the podium and said “We believe in Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve”  While I probably wouldn’t use this line in a Church, I think we all understood his point. My co-worker thought it was a bad statement because we should invite “everyone” to Church, and I agreed with him at that. However I asked him what is the Church? I think the problem is most Churches use their service as an opportunity for evangelism, however I don’t believe that’s the point of a Sunday service. 

Church is a family, we are the body of Christ, we are brothers and sisters in The Lord. Going to Church, belonging to a Church is being yoked with these brothers and sisters. That’s why Paul says “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” Yes we invite everyone to Church, however that doesn’t make someone a Christian because they sit in a Church  building

This is the core of the whole argument I have against the “Rainbow Churches”, these people are obviously unregenerated, not Born Again (John 3) as Paul stated unbelievers! Until you become Born Again and put your true faith in Jesus Christ, you are not a Christian. You can label yourself a Christian, but without the Holy Spirit, we are still dead in our sins. The idea of having unregenerated people leading a Church is simply blasphemy!

The Apostle Paul makes a very interesting statement here “And what accord or harmony does Christ have with Belial” If you look up this word Belial, the original Greek actually says this is a name for Satan or a demon! Paul is getting right to the point, you are either in Christ or your in Satan, there is no in between. And if someone is not regenerated by the Holy Spirit, they should not be yoked together. For what fellowship does righteous (Born Again) with unrighteous (unregenerated) ? There is a dividing line, yes Jesus ate with the sinners , but Jesus didn’t conform to their sin, No they needed to repent and conform to Jesus Christ!

I’m going to end with a question by Paul “What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” What does the light have to do with the darkness? Don’t be yoked to those who are not yoked to Jesus Christ, Amen!

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Do you think the Apostle Paul was preaching a prosperity gospel here? The obvious answer is NO, but it amazes me today the amount of “Christianity” today that is carnal and self absorbed. Do the majority of Christians read the Bible at all? This is an honest question, because I don’t see how you can read a text, like today, and get a prosperity gospel out of it? 

Paul starts out by saying “But In ALL things, approving or commending ourselves as the ministers/servants of God” In ALL things in life we prove if we are truly Born Again by the Holy Spirit. If you’re alive long enough, you know life is full of hardships and pain and trials. How do you respond to these things? How do you endure these times of trouble?

The fake gospel is if your a Christian then your blessed with wealth and health. This could be nothing farther from the truth, because as a Christian your probably going to be poorer than you have ever been, your probably going to be persecuted more than you have ever been, your going to feel sorrow more than you have ever did, but it’s how do you respond to these things? When you have the peace of God by the Holy Spirit, you are able to endure to the end! Notice Paul says here “In much affliction, in much distress, in much imprisonment, in much hunger and fasting, yeah this is not a pretty list!

But we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13) This is not just a bumper stick, cliche, this is a way of life! This is the battle cry, as Jesus said “Don’t fear the One who can kill the body, Fear Him who can destroy both the body and soul in Hell” (Matthew 10:28) In Christ we have spiritual victory over sin, death, and Satan! Amen!

 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:6-10

Now the question is how? How can we as Christians endure all these sufferings and pain, well lets look at Paul’s next list. It’s by knowledge, it’s by pureness, its by patience, By The Holy Spirit! There’s an ex factor nobody is talking about, you have been Born Again by the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that raise Jesus Christ from the dead is living inside of You! (Romans 8:11)

When you are In Christ, Christ lives in You, nothing can separate you from the love of God, Amen!

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:  2 Corinthians 6:1-3

Jesus said “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37) Notice Jesus said The Workers are Few, being a Christian is a calling, it’s a way of life, it’s not just a title you give yourself or another religion, it’s a relationship with God. 

There are many Christians who have this attitude, they are entitled by Gods grace. Now that they are saved, they don’t have to do anything, just sit on the couch and wait to be raptured. This is not at all what Jesus and the Apostles taught, in fact when Christ does come back, he going to check to see what works you have done while he was away (Matthew 25:14-30)

Notice what the Apostle Paul says here “We (Church) then, as workers together with Him (Christ)” We as the Church are workers together in Christ, even though nobody ever knew when Christ would return, this never stopped the urgency of the work of the Church. In fact, we should live everyday like Jesus is going to return, if we knew Christ would return immediately, there probably would be more urgency. However we have fallen asleep, allowing the world to perish, allowing our lamps to run out of oil, allowing our hearts to grow colder, this is not the Great Commision Christ commanded us to do!

When Jesus told us “Go and preach the gospel to everyone” (Matthew 28:19) That’s alot of work to do, as everyone is everyone! That means every human on the planet needs to hear the gospel! If you don’t know where to begin with your ministry, start there with 8 billion people who need to hear about Jesus! As Christ said The Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!

Paul goes on to say “We beseech or urge You not to receive God’s grace in vain” The reality is alot of Christians have abused Gods grace, alot of Christians have abused the blood of Christ, alot of Christans have abused the Holy Spirit, many Christians want to continue living for themselves except dying on their cross! 

Don’t receive Gods grace in vain! You were bought with a price, your life is not your own! (1 Cor. 6:20) If you are a Christian, then you are a worker in Christ! It’s time for the Church to get back to work, be the hands and feet of Christ, be the Salt and Light in Jesus name Amen!

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:19-21

The Apostle Paul talks about being reconciled back to God, how is this possible? How can a wretched sinner like me, be reconciled back to a Holy God? That is the core of the gospel message, and it’s only possible through Jesus Christ! This is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) This is why Christianity is the only true religion, no other religion or anyone else provides a way for you to be reconciled back to God!

To understand this first we need to understand we are all sinners! (Romans 3:23) And because of our sin, we have become separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)A sign of a false religion is people who believe they can earn their salvation or earn the favor of God, as the wages of our sin is eternal death! (Romans 6:23)

So how did God make a salvation plan for us, notice what Paul says here “For He (Father) has made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who (Christ), knew no sin, that we (Christians) might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Christ) Wow , what an amazing revelation made by the Holy Spirit through Paul

Why did Jesus die on the cross for us? Because Christ became the Lamb of God who paid the penalty for our sin, so we can be declared righteous before God. It’s only by the blood of Jesus, that you can be washed clean of your sin and be reconciled back to God

The world will tell you , there are many ways or paths to God or Heaven, this is a lie from Satan. It’s only through Jesus Christ that you can be saved, because your sins have separated you from God. Once you understand this, you understand the beauty of the gospel message, you understand the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!

Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Corinthians 5:16-18

One of the foundational teachings that I think is sorely missing in Christianity today, is regeneration from the Holy Spirit. I hardly hear any preachers or Churches teaching this today, yet this is essential for our salvation, why? Because as Paul taught us previously, “Nobody can say Jesus is Lord, with the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3) You are spiritually dead without the Holy Spirit, you are dead in your sins (Ephesians 2) 

Look at Paul’s teaching today “If anyone be in Christ, You are a New Creature” boom! This runs parallel with Jesus’ teaching on becoming Born Again, regenerated (John 3) If you call yourself a Christian, if you confess Jesus Christ is your Lord, you must be Born Again by the Holy Spirit, there is no debate about this. 

I often hear “Christians” try to use the grace card,  they say I can still do this sin and that sin because I’m covered by the blood of Jesus. First off, anyone with this thought mentality , does not have the Holy Spirit inside them, because this is blasphemy! You believe your going to trick God in covering for your sins? People with this mentality have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ, as Christ said “You will be known by your fruits” (Matthew 7:16)

Paul goes on to teach “Old things are passed away, behold , ALL things become NEW” This is why Jesus said “You must become Born Again to see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) The old things have passed away, your old man has been crucified on the cross with Christ, your old man is dead! (Romans 6) And your New Self, the regenerated self by the Holy Spirit, is raised with Christ! You are a New Person, you are not the same person as when you came to Christ, this is the baptism of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5) this is the regeneration of the Holy Spirit

All things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ! Why do you need to be Born Again, to be reconciled back to our Heavenly Father. Without regeneration, you have been separated from God by your sin! That’s why Jesus said “Nobody comes to the Father (God) except through me (Christ)” (John 14:6) Until you are regenerated you are an enemy of God, when you understand this, then you understand why there are so many false religions and false converts, because they have never been regenerated!

But the Good News (Gospel) is , In Christ we are Born Again, a New Creation, reconciled back to our Father in Heaven filled with the Holy Spirit, Amen!

For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:13-15

Why do we do anything that we do? When we wake up in the morning, why did we pray immediately? Or why do we read the Word of God daily? Or why do we tell everyone we know about Jesus? As the Apostle Paul says “For the Love of Christ compels or constrains us” It’s the Love of Christ and the Love for Christ that drives everything we do in life

Remember what Paul said “But God demonstrated his love towards us, why we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) Think about that, even at our worst, even when we were enemies of God, He always loved us and even died for our sins. Can we even begin to fathom this amazing grace and love our God has towards us!

So when we serve The Lord, we are not doing this because we are trying to “earn our salvation” or we are not doing this to be “religious” No we serve The Lord because we love The Lord and He loves us! It’s a relationship with your Creator not a dictatorship. We gladly serve Jesus Christ because He is our Lord, and because Christ has loved us first!

As Paul continues to say “And that He (Christ) died for all, that they (us) which live should not live for themselves” Our lives belong to Jesus, because our lives were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20) You were bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, your life is not your own anymore! We live for Jesus, because Jesus died for us! Think about that!

For Him (Christ) who died for them (Us) and rose again! (v15) Because Jesus rose again we can have eternal life! Everything we do is for and because of the Love of Christ, who loved us first, Amen!

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 2 Corinthians 5:11-12

Often in Christianity today we hear a watered down , sugar coated gospel. We hear about a Jesus who only loves, yeah doesn’t require repentance or obedience. This is why we have so many false converts throughout the Church, there is no fear of The Lord. 

The Bible tells us “The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding” (Proverbs 9:10) So what does this mean? How can “fear” bring us to wisdom or understanding? Well first if you dive into the original Hebrew word translated as Fear here its “Yirah” which also means Reverence or Awesome. 

Many people will affirm Jesus loves them, and Yes Christ loves everyone as He demonstrated his love towards you on the cross. But the real question is “Do you love Jesus”? If you claim to love Christ, then why don’t you demonstrate your love? Jesus said “If you love me, Keep my commandments” (John 14:15) If a child continually defies and dismisses what their parent says, do they really love them? No, true love is a respect or reverence for someone. So do you really have reverence for God? 

Back to our original question, how can fear bring wisdom? The first question is why do I need a Savior? Often people dismiss the gospel because they don’t understand the purpose of the gospel, we have all fallen short of the glory of God, we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) How can the knowledge of sin be obtained? By the Ten Commandments, Gods moral law. If you want to know if you need Jesus, just walk through the Ten Commandments and examine your life

The Bible also says “It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31) The bad news is there are consequences for your sin, as the Bible says “The Wages of Sin is death”(Romans 6:23) the second part of the verse gives us the gospel or Good News “BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23) You can’t have the good news without the bad news, right? Otherwise the good news doesn’t sound like good news!

As the Apostle Paul says “Knowing the terror of The Lord, we persuade men” How do you persuade people to need Jesus? You give them the bad news first, we are all sinners headed to Hell, the good news is Jesus Christ gave us the way to eternal life, Amen!