"I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. I was not talking about unbeliever's, who indulge in sexual sin, are greedy, or cheat people and worship idols. YOU WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THIS WORLD TO AVOID PEOPLE LIKE THAT!
Believer's know that our world is corrupt and filled with sin. We are surrounded by sexual sin, greed, people who cheat and steal and those that worship themselves or other idols. We are to avoid these people whenever possible. Our One Truth Today is even more explicit and pointed. The Lord is telling us not to associate with believer's who indulge in sexual sin. The Lord tells us that you would have to leave this world to avoid sinful people all together but that He expects us not to associate with believer's who indulge in sexual sin. In fact we are advised not to eat or associate with that kind of person. Believer's must be held to a higher standard then the carnal man. If they profess to love Jesus Christ and still commit the sins of unbeliever's they are like a little leaven that leavens the whole loaf. They corrupt and their fruit is corrupt!
Paul did not mean that we are never to associate with unbeliever's, that would be impossible in this world. We just need to remember that we are in the world, but not of it. We are to avoid the profane, impure and unchaste whenever possible. It extends further, more particularly to the believers who profess to Fear, Know, and Love God but their fruit tells us otherwise. Sin can corrupt any person as fruit is spoiled by corruption. We make choices one at a time and the Lord wants us to choose not to associate with believer's who indulge in sexual sin. Our action may prompt them to return to the Lord and repent or their sins.
Your true beliefs and feelings toward the Lord will be reflected in the time you spend with people. Do not neglect the gathering together of the brethren. Here the One Truth Today will point out an exception. If a believer is indulging in sexual sin, then they are not of like mind with God and should not be with you. If you continue to associate with people of that mind you will be affected. We avoid the actions and beliefs of the unbeliever's but it is important to not associate with those whose acts are the same, even though they confess to love the Lord. Bad acts lead to bad consequences and you can be affected also. We have to be careful who we allow into our inner circle. We need to be prudent about who we spend time with. The Word tells us to AVOID PEOPLE LIKE THAT!
