(1 Corinthians 1:10-13)
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”
INTRODUCTION
1. The picture the world sees of "Christianity" is one with much
religious division...
a. Between Catholics and Protestants
b. Between various Protestant denominations
c. Between liberal and conservative factions of any denomination
d. Between members of the same congregation
[Yet in the early church, "The Problem Of Religious Division" was not
taken lightly. As we turn to our text (1Co 1:10-13), we are
immediately struck with...]
I. THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM
A. IN THE WORDS OF PAUL...
1. Prompting the apostle to beg ("I plead with you, brethren...")
2. Appealing to the authority of Christ
3. For the contention division creates
4. For the impression such division gives
a. That Christ is somehow divided
b. That their allegiance is to some man rather than to Christ
5. For such division is indicative of carnality and spiritual
immaturity
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while on saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?”
-- Paul certainly took the problem of religious division
seriously!
B. IN THE WORDS AND DEEDS OF JESUS...
1. Jesus prayed for unity among those who would believe in Him
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
a. Unity akin to that between the Father and the Son
b. Participating in the unity between the Father and the Son
“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
2. For two reasons Jesus prays for unity among believers
a. "that the world may believe that you sent Me"
b. "that the world may know that you sent Me, and have loved
them as You have loved Me"
3. He even passed along glory from the Father to make unity
possible!
4. He also died to bring about unity between Jew and Gentile
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”
-- Jesus prayed and died for unity...He certainly took religious
division seriously!
[How can we who profess to be Christians today take "The Problem Of
Religious Division" lightly? If we appreciate the concern of both Jesus and Paul, what can we do about it? In our text, we find...]
II. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
A. SPEAK THE SAME THING...
1. So the apostle enjoins in our text
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.”
a. Of course, it is easier said than done
b. But this is the goal to which we are to strive
2. The goal is more likely if we heed the words of Peter
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
a. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God..."
b. Let those who teach or preach do so in accordance with the
Word of God
c. Too many teach or preach their opinions, rather than the
Word of God
-- I.e., "Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the
Bible is silent"
B. HAVE THE SAME MIND...
1. Again the apostle so enjoins in our text *1Corinthian 1:10
a. Those of the same mind will more likely speak the same thing
b. Striving to be of the same mind) will help us speak the same
thing
2. The "same mind" we should have is the "mind of Christ"
Philippians 2:1-5
“If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
a. Which results in consolation, comfort, fellowship, affection
and mercy
b. Which requires lowliness of mind, thinking highly of others,
concern for others
-- As we develop the mind of Christ, the more likely we will be of
one mind
**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:
'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'
If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **
I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!
http://www.fghconline.com/
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