The 4-contrasts which Paul depicts are:
- Righteousness Vs unrighteousness or wickedness: Evil company corrupts good (1 Cor. 15:33). Yes it is true that there is no place for evil company. We must also examine whether hearts are following the Lord or the world. In (Rom 12:2) Paul says: “do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” which is clear indication that only God’s word can transform us, renew our minds. It would be better for a believer to have good fellowship with believers and be always in touch with God’s word.
- Light Vs darkness: The light will shine away the darkness. the darkness is for those who wants to things in secret and shameful ways. Darkness belongs to the sinners who are destined to hell. Those who do not acknowledge Him would be thrown into darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Light and darkness cannot live together. Believers are the children of Light and so they cannot and should not share with people belong to this dark world.
- Christ Vs Belial: Belial is a borrowed word of Hebrew which gives the meaning of worthlessness or wickedness and it is the name given to Satan. For those who have discovered God’s light they cannot go back to Satan. They cannot have fellowship with Belial and his activities. There must be a separation from sin, but this does not mean keeping ourselves aloof or isolated from this world, but at the same time we must keep ourselves from the defilement of the world.
Ex: It is fine for the ship to be in the water, but when water gets into the ship, it would sink and ruin.
- Temple of God (church) Vs idols: The attitude of many Christians today is that the church should please the world in order to try to win it. Nothing could be further from the truth! Paul cites (Lev 26:11-12) to show that God lives and walks in the believer, so that his relationship to the world affects his fellowship with God. It appears that Corinthians were still were still struggling with the idolatry problem. Their association with the idols was influencing their thinking, making it more and more worldly.
A promise for the consecration: (6:17-18):
In (1 Cor. 6:19-20) Paul says “we are the temples of God.” Here, he refers to the church as whole being, the temple. Because temples are holy places, and should be protected against things that would defile the holy place, we should protect our hearts and minds as holy places before the Lord. So because (Eze.37:26-27) tells us God is in the midst of His temple I will dwell in them and walk among them. In (Isa.52:11) it is written how we should make that temple a holy place. “Come out from among them and be separate. Do not touch what is unclean.” The promise and I will receive you reminds us that this is not only a separation from evil, but also a separation unto God. “It is not a question simply of trying to empty our heart and life of every worldly desire, it is rather opening our heart wide to the love of God in Christ, and letting that love just sweep through us and exercise its expulsive power till our heart is filled with love.” Paul quotes (Jer.31:9) to show the benefit of separating from worldly influence and a more intimate relationship with God “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters.” There is always a glorious promise for those who are willing to separate themselves from the world’s influences for the sake of godliness.