THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH THE SIN OF DIVISION GOD HATES THOSE WHO CAUSE IT One of the seven things God hates! A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. {Proverbs 6:19} FACTION AND SECTS ARE CLASSIFIED
AS WORKS OF THE FLESH 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} FACTION AND SECTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS WORKS OF THE FLESH
Product of following unrighteousne ss. But to those who are selfseeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath. {Romans 2:8} FACTION AND SECTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS WORKS OF THE FLESH 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} FACTION AND SECTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS WORKS OF THE FLESH
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} FACTION AND SECTS ARE CLASSIFIED AS WORKS OF THE FLESH Corinthians coming together for the worsenot 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} CHURCH COMMANDED TO MARK AND AVOID THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISION 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} CHURCH COMMANDED TO MARK AND AVOID THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISION Dont 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} CHURCH COMMANDED TO MARK AND AVOID THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISION
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} DIVISION DESTROYS AND DEFEATS THE CHURCH Divided against But He, knowing
itself it cant their thoughts, stand. said to them: Every kingdom Denominationalis divided against m does not itself is brought represent the to desolation, church and a house divided against a house falls. {Luke 11:17} DIVISION DESTROYS AND DEFEATS THE CHURCH Church of the Lord is the Kingdomthat
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} UNITY AN INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION TO THE CHRISTIAN 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} UNITY AN INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION TO THE
CHRISTIAN 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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 selfcondemned. {Titus 3:9,11} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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} HOW DIVISION MAY BE AVOIDED 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}
