Dictionary of Bible Themes: 6109 alienation

6109 alienation

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 6000 Sin and salvation » 6100 Aspects of sin » 6109 alienation

A state of being separate or apart from something or someone, often accompanied by an awareness of the separation. Human beings are alienated from God on account of sin. Alienation is also encountered in other areas of life, including relations between believers, and between believers and secular society.

Alienation from God because of sin

Sin causes separation from God

Galatians 5:4 Those seeking to justify themselves cut themselves off from Jesus Christ's saving work ; Colossians 1:21 See also Isaiah 59:1-2; Ezekiel 39:23-24

Seen in discomfort in God's presence

Genesis 3:8-10 See also Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8

Seen in defeat in battle

Deuteronomy 1:42 See also Numbers 14:41-45; Joshua 7:11-12; Judges 2:11-15

Seen in unanswered prayer

Isaiah 59:1-2 See also Deuteronomy 1:45; Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 1:28-30; Isaiah 1:15

Seen in unaccepted worship

Isaiah 1:11-14; Amos 5:21-23; Malachi 1:10

Seen in lost closeness with God

Genesis 3:23-24; Exodus 33:3; Isaiah 64:7; Ezekiel 8:6; Hosea 5:6; Jonah 1:3

A sense of alienation from God

Feelings of alienation

Psalm 22:1; Isaiah 49:14 See also Psalm 39:12; Psalm 42:3-4,9-10; Psalm 44:23-24; Isaiah 40:27; Lamentations 2:1; Matthew 27:46 pp Mark 15:34 Jesus Christ's alienation from God as he bore the consequences of human sin was felt and actual.

The reassurance of God's concern

Isaiah 49:15-16 See also Isaiah 43:1-5; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 54:7; Jeremiah 31:20

Alienation from others

Alienation caused by a third party

Proverbs 16:28 See also Proverbs 17:9; Galatians 4:17 False teachers in Galatia tried to drive a wedge between Paul and the church.

Examples of alienation

Genesis 3:7 Man and woman; Genesis 4:3-8 Cain and Abel; Genesis 27:41 Jacob and Esau; 1 Samuel 18:8-9 Saul and David; Job 19:13-19 Job and his family and friends; Psalm 69:8 the psalmist and his family; Jeremiah 12:6 Jeremiah and his family; Acts 15:39 Paul and Barnabas; Ephesians 2:12 Jew and Gentile

Overcoming alienation

Being reconciled to God

Colossians 1:22 See also Romans 5:11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Peter 2:25

Reconciliation with others

Colossians 3:13 See also Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:23-24

Examples of reconciliation

Genesis 33:4 Jacob and Esau; Genesis 50:19-21 Joseph and his brothers; Ephesians 2:14-16 Jew and Gentile

God's people are aliens in the world

John 15:18-19 See also John 17:16; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 2:11

Responsibility to the alien

God's concern for the outsider

Psalm 146:9 See also Deuteronomy 10:18; Jeremiah 30:17

The example of Jesus Christ

Matthew 9:10-11 pp Mark 2:15-16 pp Luke 5:29-30 Jesus Christ welcomed those who had been alienated by the rest of society. See also Matthew 8:2-3 pp Mark 1:40-42 pp Luke 5:12-13 Jesus Christ touched the “untouchable” man with leprosy; Matthew 11:19 pp Luke 7:34

Equal treatment for the alien

Leviticus 19:34 See also Exodus 12:48-49; Leviticus 24:22

Ensuring justice for the alien

Deuteronomy 24:17 The weaker members of Israelite society are of special concern. See also Exodus 22:21; Jeremiah 22:3; Zechariah 7:9-10

Special provision for the alien

Leviticus 23:22 God makes special provision for the poor so that they will have a share in the blessings of the land. See also Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 24:20; Deuteronomy 14:28-29 The third year's tithe is shared with those without inheritance in the land.