A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a substrate and a heat-resistant porous layer on at least one side of the substrate. The heat-resistant porous layer includes a crosslinked binder. The crosslinked binder has a cross-linked structure of a crosslinkable compound including a siloxane compound. The siloxane compound includes a siloxane resin including a unit represented by the chemical formula R1SiO3/2, where R1 is a curable reactive group, or an organic group having a curable reactive group.