God views believers as in the world but not of it—His own people, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and called to be separate from the world's ungodly ways.
Les Feldick teaches that believers are not isolated from the world, but they are not to belong to it either. God's call to come out and be separate is an invitation under grace, not a condition of salvation. Because the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, God sees believers as His temple and His own possession.
2 Corinthians 6:17 — God explicitly calls His people to come out from the world and be separate.
1 Corinthians 3:16 — It reveals that every believer is the temple of God because the Spirit dwells in them.
Romans 8:9 — It distinguishes believers from those who do not belong to Christ by the indwelling Spirit.
Scripture teaches that God's people are to live in the world without being part of its ungodliness. The Lord says, "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). Believers are also forbidden to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14). The Scriptures further describe believers as the temple of God: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). And the presence of the Spirit is the defining mark of belonging to Christ: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9).
Les Feldick emphasizes that believers are "in the world, but not of it." We have to deal with and rub elbows with even the grossest immoral people, because that is what the world is, but we are not to be of it (Clip 0). He ties this to God's call in both Revelation and 2 Corinthians: "Come out of her, My people" and "come out from among them, and be ye separate." Les is careful to say this is not a condition on our salvation; under grace, God never says "you will or else." It is an invitation, an appeal left up to us (Clip 0). Using Israel's separation from Egypt as the Old Testament pattern, Les says Christians are to be visibly different—not oddballs, not long-faced—but joyful people whose lifestyle is distinct from the world's (Clips 1, 2). He laments that most people can't tell the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever anymore. In addition, Les teaches that every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment of belief, making the body the temple of God; therefore a believer can't "check God at the door" when going to ungodly places (Clip 3). The Spirit places each believer into the body of Christ, and each member has a unique function (Clips 4, 5). Finally, the proof of belonging to Christ is the indwelling Spirit: "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Clips 6, 7).
No. Les Feldick says, "We are in the world, but we're not of it." There is no way to avoid dealing with and rubbing elbows with even the grossest immoral people because that's what the world is. We are not isolated, but we are not to be of it (Clip 0). He also stresses that Christians are not to be "complete oddballs" or walk with a long face; believers have every reason to be joyful (Clip 1).
Every believer, the moment he believes, receives the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's Spirit comes and dwells in the believer, making the body the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16). Les applies this practically: when you go to an ungodly place, you are not going to check God at the door—you take Him wherever you go, so you should be careful where you go (Clip 3).
Les says God never intended there to be no difference between a Christian and an unbeliever. As God separated Israel from Egypt, He wants to separate believers from the world. This doesn't mean being oddballs or provoking persecution, but the world should know where we stand. In practice, believers are to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, and all the way through Scripture we are to be separate (Clips 1, 2).
Come Out from the World
God calls His people to come out of the world and be separate, but this is an invitation under grace—not a threat or condition for salvation.
Israel's Separation as a Pattern
Just as God separated Israel from Egypt, He intends believers to be different from the world—recognizable by lifestyle, yet joyful, not oddballs.
Visible Distinction from the World
Christians are to be separated from the world and not unequally yoked with unbelievers, not as oddballs, but so the world knows where we stand.
The Body as God's Temple
The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at salvation, so the body is God's temple—meaning you take God with you wherever you go.
Placed into the Body of Christ
The Holy Spirit places every believer into the body of Christ at salvation, giving each one a unique function in that body.
Oneness Among Believers
While believers keep their individuality, there is a oneness in the body of Christ that any other group can never experience.
Spirit's Presence as Proof
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the proof that a person belongs to God; no one without the Spirit of Christ belongs to Him.
Not in the Flesh but in the Spirit
Believers are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells in them, unlike the carnal mind which cannot please God.
2 Corinthians 6:17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
This is the direct command and promise related to separation from the world.
2 Corinthians 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Believers are not to be bound together with those who do not share their faith.
1 Corinthians 3:16: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
It identifies the believer's body as God's dwelling place.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
It marks the decisive difference between a believer and an unbeliever.
Revelation 18:4: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
God's call to His people to separate from the world system.
No. Les Feldick says we are in the world but not of it. There is no way to avoid dealing with and rubbing elbows with even the grossest immoral people, because that is what the world is. Believers are not isolated, but they are not to be of it.
No. Les Feldick is clear that 2 Corinthians 6:17 is not putting a condition on salvation. Under grace, God never says 'you will or else.' It is an invitation left up to the believer.
According to Scripture, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer at the moment of belief, making the body the temple of God.
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