6:15
Belial originally meant worthlessness, but had come to be a term used for Satan. We need to be aware of the sharp distinction there is between Christ and the world. This is a distinction that all of the New Testament writers were acutely aware of. “What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” We need to appreciate the fundamental change that takes place when we truly believe. It is not just a matter of a person choosing to follow one path as opposed to another. The person is born again, it is a matter of ending the rebellion against God.
6:16
The Corinthians needed to have a clear idea of the distinction between God and idols, and also of the importance of our bodies. We are temples of God, temples of the Holy Spirit! The purpose of God is that He makes His dwelling with us. Revelation 21:3 declares that the dwelling of God is with man. We are holy, our lives and bodies are to be holy places. Therefore we cannot mix ourselves with unholy things.
6:17,18
The material in 16-18 is an amalgamation of several scriptures, probably using the following as the basis for Paul’s words here: Lev 26:11,12; Is 52:11; Ezek 20:34; 37:27 and 2 Sam 7:14. There is a sense in which we are to be seperate from the world. This does not mean we become hermits, but does mean that we do not have the same values or approaches as the world, we live as God’s holy people. In human terms this can be lonely or difficult, but God has promised to be a father to us. If we follow His ways we will find that God comes increasingly close and real to us.
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