8341 separation

A setting apart. Separation is at the heart of the biblical idea of holiness. God is separate from his creation and has set apart his people from the world. Sin causes alienation between God and humanity, making necessary the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. The end of the age will bring the final separation between the righteous and the wicked.

God is without equal Ex 15:11 See also Ps 89:6; Isa 40:25-26

God is separate from his creation Isa 40:22 See also Ge 1:1; Isa 29:16; Isa 45:11-12; Ro 1:25

The separateness of God’s people

Dt 7:6 See also Ex 19:5-6; Dt 14:2; Ps 135:4
1Pe 2:9 See also 1Co 6:19-20; Tit 2:14

Separation from the world Lev 20:26 See also Nu 23:9; Ne 9:2; Ne 10:28
Jn 15:18-19 See also Jn 17:16; Php 3:20; 1Pe 2:11

Separation from sin 2Co 6:17 See also Isa 52:11; Lev 15:31; Ezr 6:21; 1Co 6:18; 1Co 15:34; 2Co 7:1

Avoidance of evil association 1Co 15:33 See also Pr 13:20 Isarel forbidden to associate and intermarry with Canaanite peoples: Dt 7:2-3; Jos 23:7
Ezr 4:3; Ezr 10:11; Ps 119:115; 2Co 6:14

Excommunication Israelites refusing to follow God’s commands to be cut off from God’s people: Lev 18:29; Nu 15:30; Nu 19:20; Mt 18:15-17 separation from unrepentant believers; Ro 16:17 separation from false teachers; 1Co 5:9-13 separation from wilfully sinful believers; 2Th 3:6 separation from wilfully disobedient believers; Tit 3:9-11 separation from divisive people

Separation for service to God Nu 6:2-3 the Nazirites; Nu 16:9 the Levites; 1Ch 23:13 Aaron and his descendants; 1Ch 25:1 prophets; Jer 1:5 Jeremiah Paul: Ro 1:1; Gal 1:15

Separation of holy places Ex 26:33 the Most Holy Place separated by a curtain; Ex 33:7 the Tent of Meeting placed outside the camp; Eze 42:20 Ezekiel’s temple separated by a wall

Separation caused by sin

Separation from God Isa 59:2 See also Hab 1:13; Eph 4:18; Col 1:21

Separation at the final judgment Mt 25:32-33 See also Mt 13:40-42,47-50

Separation of people from one another

Ru 1:16-17 Ruth will not be separated from Naomi; 2Ki 2:11 Elisha separated from Elijah; Phm 15 Philemon separated from Onesimus; Jn 4:9 separation between Jews and Samaritans; Eph 2:11-12 separation between Jews and Gentiles

The pain of separation Ac 20:37-38 See also 1Sa 20:41; Jn 16:20 Jesus Christ foretells his death and resurrection; 2Ti 1:4

The pain of separation through death Ac 8:2 See also Ge 37:33-35; Jer 31:15; Mt 2:18

Husband and wife not to be separated Mt 19:5-6 pp Mk 10:7-9 See also Ge 2:24; 1Co 7:10-13

Reconciliation through Jesus Christ ends the separation from God

2Co 5:18-20 See also Mt 27:46 pp Mk 15:34; Ps 22:1 Reconciliation with God is possible because Jesus Christ bore the punishment of separation from God that human sin deserves; Mt 27:51 pp Mk 15:38 pp Lk 23:45; Ro 8:35-39 Nothing can separate believers from God’s love shown in Christ; Eph 2:14-15 Jew and Gentile reconciled through mutual reconciliation to God

See also