Ralph Nadar is credited with saying, “I don’t think meals have any business being deductible. I’m for separation of calories and corporations.” In a humorous way Mr. Nadar captured the essence of this word “separation.” Unfortunately, were someone to declare, “I’m separated,” most folks, were the person married, would immediately think of being separated from one’s spouse. It may be that our culture of easy marriage and divorce has contributed to this being the most common use of the word “separated.”
The “on line Bing dictionary” defines “separated” as: “(1) living apart while married: no longer living together as a couple but still legally married; (2) positioned apart: moved apart so as not to be touching or connected, not together, or not in the same place; (3) divided: split into component parts.” It is the second of these definitions that best represents the subject matter of this week’s article. The Bible enjoins upon every child of God the sacred responsibility to “come out from among them, and be ye separate” (2 Cor. 6:17a). That obligation is expressed in a number of ways throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments alike. “Put away,” “put to death,” “repent,” and “be converted” are but a few of the expressions used by inspired writers to communicate this sacred obligation. In addition words such as “holy,” “saint,” “sanctified” all express the state or status of being separated. Using 1 Peter 2 as a backdrop, let me suggest to you some truths relative to our being “separated” from the world.
First, our separation from the world is one of sacred duty. “Put away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking” (2:1). Peter does not set forth an exhaustive list of all that is involved in our separation from the world. In much the same way Paul lists the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. Both of these passages are representative of those things from which we are to separate ourselves. But in both cases, the responsibility lies with the individual. Sin will not be eradicated by some divine infusion of strength and resistance to temptation, but by a self determination to do the will of God.
Second, we enjoy a special status with God. We are “newborn babes” and as such are expected to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Spiritual growth is the product of time, opportunity, and effort all combined to produce the desired result. While Peter does not address the time aspect here, the writer to the Hebrews did: “For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teacher” (Heb. 5:12). Moses is a good example of groth and maturity over a long span of time. When Moses fled Egypt and came to the land of Midian you recall he encountered some ruffians at the well where the daughters of the priest of Midian had come to draw water. After Moses drove off this gang of shepherds and watered the flocks of the women, the young women told their father that Moses was an “Egyptian” (Ex. 2:19). But forty years later, when Moses returned to Egypt to deliver God’s people he was no longer looked upon as an Egyptian, but a Hebrew.
Third, we feed upon spiritual milk in order to grow thereby. That spiritual milk is “without guile” and provides the means by which we “grow thereby unto salvation.” Paul rebuked the Corinthians for needing to be fed with “milk” and not “meat” (1 Cor. 3:1-3). Were Paul and Peter contradicting one another? There is no disagreement between the two apostles. One of the key words throughout the epistles of Peter is that of growth. In the passage before us he was evidently looking at the Christian journey of his audience from the standpoint of the beginning of that journey; as babes, rather than full grown men. Whereas Paul was looking at the church at Corinth as those acting like babes when they should have been mature.
Fourth, we enjoy a solid foundation. The church was built upon the Christ, not men; a rock, not a pebble (Matt. 16:16-18). In 1 Peter 2:4-8 we see the stone described and the stone discarded. The description of our Rock of Ages is set forth in words that exude strength and power. Our Lord is a “living stone,” pointing no doubt to His resurrection and reign. But He is also “precious.” The word “precious” translates the Greek word ‘entimos’ which means “honored” or “prized.” Peter sets forth a contrast between what men might do with Christ, and what God has done through Him. God contradicted man’s verdict, declared Jesus as the Christ by raising Him from the dead and exalting Him. We sometimes say, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” While the world may say there is “no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2), our Father pronounced Him as “precious” and “chosen.” The story is told that Michelangelo came across a discarded piece of marble. It had been ruined by some other sculptor and thrown into the scrap heap for some other use. But Michelangelo looked it over, and saw in it his David. He purchased it and turned it into one of his masterpieces.
Fifth, we are a part of a spiritual house. In fact, we are “living stones.” Here Peter identifies the church as something other than the physical edifice which might appear on some street corner. The church is made up of the people. As a house (2 Tim. 3:15), we are the dwelling place of God Himself, and Peter’s words suggest the wonderful fellowship we have with the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Sixth, we are described by special terms. “An elect race,” “royal priesthood,” “holy nation,” and “a people for God’s own possession” all suggest distinction from the world. In this wonderful description of God’s people we catch a glimpse of what we are (vs. 9), what we do (“show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”), and what we receive (“who in times past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”).
Separation! We are separated from the world, separated unto God, and we look forward to an eternal separation from the physical to the spiritual. That, beloved, will be a wonderful day!