"Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, and ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18, R. V.
The Commandment is not “come out from the church.”
It was coming out from unbelievers and idolaters that Paul was talking about. Read vs. 14:18. Nothing was further from Paul's thought than telling people to come out of the church. True separation is not merely separation from but separation to. Our separation is from all uncleanness unto Christ.
True separation will not only be a separation unto Christ but also a separation unto all those who belong to Christ.
1. Separation unto Christ
At the heart of the Christian life, separation means belonging fully to Jesus Christ.
It's not just about avoiding sin or worldly influences—it's about being set apart for Christ, giving Him our loyalty, obedience, and love.
Like Paul says, “You are not your own; you were bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:19–20). So separation is first and foremost a matter of being devoted to Christ above all else.
2. Separation unto all those who belong to Christ
If we truly belong to Christ, then we also belong to His people—the Church.
True separation doesn't make us isolated or superior; instead, it binds us together with all who are united to Christ.
That means we are separated from the world's ways, but at the same time we are united to the family of God.
This involves fellowship, love, humility, and commitment to other believers, even when they are different from us in culture, background, or denominational label.
Separation is not just “from something” (sin, worldliness) but also “unto Someone and His people.”
It means being set apart for Christ and for His Body, the Church.
R. A. Torrey, How to Work for Christ a Compendium of Effective Methods. (Chicago; New York: James Nisbet & Company, 1901), 379.
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