Purposes of Separation

To  Hold fast to the Lord

Joshua 23:7-8

Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear  by them. You must not serve them or bow down  to them.   But you are to hold fast to the Lord  your God, as you have until now.

To Love the Lord our God

Joshua 23:11-12

So be very careful  to love the Lord  your God.
    “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them  and associate with them,

To Follow the Lord

Deuteronomy 7:3-4

Do not intermarry with them.  Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,   for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods,  and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy  you.

To Be strong and eat the Good

Ezra 8:12

of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;

To Do His Will

Ezra 10:11

Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

To Teach and to Warn

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them,  in order that they may feel ashamed.    Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

To Escape  from sin and Plagues

Revelation 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
  “‘Come out of her, my people,’
 so that you will not share in her sins,
 so that you will not receive any of her plagues;