Reading: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42

It has often been said, “Socialism will put a new coat on a man, but salvation puts a new man in the coat.” I like that phrase because it summarizes the radical transformation that takes place at the moment of conversion. Things are never the same again. Christianity makes a dramatic and definite change, and one of those changes involves personal separation. When Acts 2 speaks of those who repented and believed on the day of Pentecost being “added unto the church” and “continuing steadfastly,” the obvious thought is that they were separated from the unbelievers and were added to the believers—to the church.

They were separated from their old ways unto Christ. Separation is an important part of the Christian life. Salvation is not a salvation in sin or a salvation to sin, it is a salvation from sin. This truth of personal separation from the world is being blurred. There are professing Christians who claim on one hand that they want to please God, but on the other hand they are reluctant to give up the sins and desires of the world.

They profess Christ but seem to be happy with the profanity, impurity, and immorality that prevails in this age. There is something wrong with that way of thinking. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “An admixture of the world and Christianity is fatal to true Christianity.” The old doctor was right.

Paul put it this way: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; … wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:14–17). What was his message? Simply this: true Christianity involves separation from the world and separation unto Christ. That is what happened in Acts 2. Is this what has happened in your life?