come out from among them
Separation, Summary:
(1) Separation in Scripture is twofold:
"from" whatever is contrary to the mind of God; and
"unto" God Himself.
The underlying principle is that in a moral universe it is impossible for God to fully bless and use His children who are in compromise or complicity with evil. The unequal yoke is anything which unites a child of God and an unbeliever in a common purpose. (Deuteronomy 22:10).
(2) Separation from evil implies
(a) separation in desire, motive, and act, from the world, in the ethically bad sense of this present world-system.
( See Scofield) - (Revelation 13:8); and
(b) separation from believers, especially false teachers, who are "vessels unto dishonour". (2 Timothy 2:20); (2 Timothy 2:21); (2 John 1:9-11).
(3) Separation is not from contact with evil in the world or the church, but from complicity with and conformity to. (John 17:15); (2 Corinthians 6:14-18); (Galatians 6:1).
(4) The reward of separation is the full manifestation of the divine fatherhood, (2 Corinthians 6:17); (2 Corinthians 6:18), unhindered communion and worship, (Hebrews 13:13-15), and fruitful service, (2 Timothy 2:21), as world-conformity involves the loss of these, though not of salvation. Here, as in all else, Christ is the model. He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners", (Hebrews 7:26), and yet in such contact with them for their salvation that the Pharisees, who illustrate the mechanical and ascetic conception of separation,
( See Scofield) - (Matthew 3:7),
judged Him as having lost His Nazarite character. (Luke 7:39) Cf; (1 Corinthians 9:19-23); (1 Corinthians 10:27).