Mixture
Mixture is a complex topic in the Bible, it is not an obvious topic and is somewhat hidden within the scriptures, yet upon closer examination, it emerges as a critical factor underpinning most of our struggles.
Contents
Concept of Mixture in the Old Testament
…“Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory”...
The word “holy” in Hebrew is “קָדוֹשׁ” (qadosh), it means set apart, pure, separate from human infirmity, impurity, and sin. Essentially mixture is the opposite of holiness.
Concept of Separation in God's Creation
When God created everything, he set things in order by separating them according to their kinds. There is a set purpose and pattern for everything He created and it comes from His Holy nature:
-
God separated light from darkness
-
All living things and animals were separated according to their kinds
-
God created man in His image
-
God set apart the seventh day
4 And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.”
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to distinguish between the day and the night, and let them be signs to mark the seasons and days and years.
21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good.
25 God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it (set it apart), because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.
God's First Commandment
Introduction of Mixture by the Serpent
Then the Serpent came to mix God’s words with his.
-
Serpent was more crafty than any beast
-
Serpent talked to Eve (God gave commandment to Adam)
-
Serpent questioned God’s words
-
Serpent added to God’s words
-
Serpent twisted God’s words
-
Adam was with Eve when Serpent was talking to her
-
After the first sin the shame came in
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that Yahweh God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ” 2 The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5 “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. 7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.
The Great Flood
The Great Flood was a result of mixture of fallen angels, known as the "sons of God," with humans. This mixture led to a corruption of humanity followed by divine judgment.
-
The sons of God lusted after the daughters of men
-
The days of men were reduced to 120
-
Nephillim (“fallen ones”) were the offspring of sons of God and daughters of men
-
The wickedness of man was great upon the earth
-
God regretted that He made men
-
God decided to destroy all corrupted flesh
1 Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose. 3 So Yahweh said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown. 5 Then Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time. 6 And Yahweh regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So Yahweh said, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.”
God's Laws about Mixture
The Bible contains various verses that touch on the concept of mixture, though the context may differ depending on the translation and interpretation. Here are a few examples:
25 Now if you make an altar of stones for Me, you must not build it with stones shaped by tools; for if you use a chisel on it, you will defile it.
These verses are part of the laws given to the Israelites in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, emphasizing the principle of separation and purity in different aspects of life, including agriculture and clothing.
19 You are to keep My statutes. You shall not crossbreed two different kinds of livestock; you shall not sow your fields with two kinds of seed; and you shall not wear clothing made of two kinds of material.
9 Do not plant your vineyard with two types of seed; if you do, the entire harvest will be defiled —both the crop you plant and the fruit of your vineyard. 10 Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. 11 Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
The Purpose of the Laws on Purity
Even though these commands on purity may seem without a purpose to us, in numbers 15 we have a hint as to why God gave these commands, reminding us to stay away from mixture:
37 ...Later, Yahweh said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of Yahweh, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes. 40 Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy (set apart, separated) to your God.
Warnings and Consequences of Mixture
In Leviticus 10 you can see an example of the consequence of doing things your own way, especially when serving God:
1 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized (foreign, strange) fire before Yahweh, contrary to His command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of Yahweh and consumed them, and they died in the presence of Yahweh.
And a warning not to do so in Isaiah:
20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Concept of Mixture in the New Testament
So how does it all apply to us today? Let’s move on to the New Covenant and sum up the main points about mixture:
-
Jesus came to separate people based on their beliefs and actions
-
If you are not with Jesus you are against Him
-
If you follow Jesus you will have the light of life and never walk in the darkness
-
God is light without any darkness
-
If we walk in darkness (sin) we have no fellowship with God
-
If we cleanse ourselves of sin we will be sanctified and prepared for every good work
34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
12…Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
5 …God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
21 So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
John sums up for us what it means to be free of mixture:
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
And John gives us a final warning in the book of Revelation:
15 I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! 16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Being “hot or cold” here is about living your life God’s way and not your own, this scripture is often misunderstood and misused, but now that we can look at it in context it should be more clear. Also if God vomits you out there will be no place for you in His Kingdom.
Identifying Mixture in Our Lives
How do we tell if we have mixture in our lives? Paul gives us plenty of clues to tell if we walk by the Spirit or by the flesh. He also warns us that works of the flesh lead to hell, notice that he is writing to the church.
16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
Staying Free of Mixture
So how do we walk through this life without mixture?
5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
You can now see that mixture may be a topic few think or teach about. It is often unnoticed as it goes on in our minds. At the same time mixture is deadly. The only way to stay free of mixture is to remain in Christ, walk in the Spirit and be grounded in God's word.
To learn more about living in the spirit you can visit the following pages: