BELIAL, The Wicked Ruler

The Mind of Belial: Lawlessness and Rebellion

that will be an enemy of the Church. We are to separate ourselves from all uncleanness and filthiness that is associated with this ruling spirit. The church at Corinth also had a problem with carnality. There was strife, envy, contention, sexual impurity, and even drunkenness taking place within the church. The apostle Paul wrote the letter to Corinth to correct these problems and to set things in order. T OUCH N OT THE U NCLEAN T HING Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2 Corinthians 6:17 The Corinthians had come out of a lifestyle of idolatry. Paul admonishes them to separate themselves completely from their former lifestyle and to TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING. The Knox version says, "and do not even touch what is unclean." As believers, we are not to TOUCH what is unclean. There are unclean spirits attached to what is unclean. The word unclean is defined as that which is dirty and filthy. Idolatry is unclean. It is considered spiritual whoredom and adultery. It is departing from the Lord and breaking covenant. As the Lord's people, we are to keep ourselves away from all that is unclean. Belial is associated with uncleanness. According to Galatians 5:19, uncleanness is a work of the flesh. We are not to allow uncleanness to be named once among us as saints (Ephesians 5:3). God has not called us unto uncleanness but unto HOLINESS (1 Thessalonians 4:7). These verses tie uncleanness to fornication. Fornication is from the Greek word porneia meaning harlotry, adultery, incest, and idolatry. There was a man in Corinth that was guilty of sexual relations with his father's wife (1 Corinthians 5:11).

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