T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH T HE S IN OF D IVISION

G OD H ATES T HOSE W HO C AUSE I T One of the seven things God hates! “A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” {Proverbs 6:19}

F ACTION AND S ECTS ARE C LASSIFIED AS W ORKS OF THE F LESH Product of a carnal mind. “ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies.” {Galatians 5:19,20}

F ACTION AND S ECTS ARE C LASSIFIED AS W ORKS OF THE F LESH Product of following unrighteousness. “ But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-- indignation and wrath.” {Romans 2:8}

F ACTION AND S ECTS ARE C LASSIFIED AS W ORKS OF THE F LESH Jealousy and faction belong to the wisdom that is earthly—followed by every vile deed! “ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom... For where envy and self- seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing is there.” {James 3:13,16}

F ACTION AND S ECTS ARE C LASSIFIED AS W ORKS OF THE F LESH False teachers with destructive heresies bring swift destruction—cause way of truth to be evil spoken of. “ But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” {2 Peter 2:1,2}

F ACTION AND S ECTS ARE C LASSIFIED AS W ORKS OF THE F LESH Corinthians coming together for the worse—not the better. Because divisions existed there. “ Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.” {1 Corinthians 11:17,18}

C HURCH C OMMANDED TO “M ARK ” AND “A VOID ” T HOSE W HO C AUSE D IVISION Turn away from them for they are not serving the Lord. “ Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” {Romans 16:17,18}

C HURCH C OMMANDED TO “M ARK ” AND “A VOID ” T HOSE W HO C AUSE D IVISION Don’t partake of their evil deeds. “ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” {2 John 9-11}

C HURCH C OMMANDED TO “M ARK ” AND “A VOID ” T HOSE W HO C AUSE D IVISION First admonish— then refuse. “ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” {Titus 3:10,11}

D IVISION D ESTROYS AND D EFEATS THE C HURCH Divided against itself it can’t stand. Denominationalism does not represent the church “ But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.” {Luke 11:17}

D IVISION D ESTROYS AND D EFEATS THE C HURCH Church of the Lord is the Kingdom—that cannot be shaken. “ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” {Hebrews 12:28}

U NITY AN I NDIVIDUAL O BLIGATION TO THE C HRISTIAN Must give all diligence to “keep” the unity of the Spirit. “ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” {Ephesians 4:1-3}

U NITY AN I NDIVIDUAL O BLIGATION TO THE C HRISTIAN Doing nothing through faction. “ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” {Philippians 2:3}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Uncorrupted doctrine and sound speech. “ In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.” {Titus 2:7}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Elders holding to the faithful word. Exhorting in sound doctrine. “ Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” {Titus 1:9}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Shunning foolish questions. Refusing factious men. “ But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless... knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self- condemned.” {Titus 3:9,11}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Rightly handling the word of God. Refuse to strive about words of no profit “ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers... But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” {2 Timothy 2:14,16}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Refusing foolish and ignorant questions. Deal with meekness and forbearance. “ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife... in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” {2 Timothy 2:23,25}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED By exercising love and hospitality toward one another. “ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” {1 Peter 4:7-9}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Speaking the oracles of God. “ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.” {1 Peter 4:11}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Refusing to teach private interpretations of prophecies. “ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” {2 Peter 1:20,21}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED False teachers will bring in destructive heresies. “ But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” {2 Peter 2:1,2}

H OW D IVISION M AY B E A VOIDED Confining ourselves to teaching to only matters of faith— speaking the same thing. “ Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” {1 Corinthians 1:10}