Church Unity: The Sin of Division
I. God Hates Those Who Cause It:
Prov. 6:19 -- "A false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
II. Factions and Sects Are Classified as Works of the Flesh
1. Gal. 5:19, 20 -- "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: enmities, strife,
jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties.“
2. Rom. 2:8 -- "But unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, shall be wrath and
indignation."
3. Jas. 3: 13, 18 -- Jealousy and faction belong to the wisdom that is earthly and are followed by
every vile deed.
4. II Pet. 2:1, 2 - False teachers with destructive heresies bring swift destruction and cause the
way of truth to be evil spoken of.
5. 1 Cor. 11:17-18 --"Ye come together not for the better but for the worse - for when ye come
together in the Church, divisions exist among you."
III. The Church Commanded to "Mark" and "Avoid" Those Who Cause Division:
1. Rom. 16:17, 18 -- Tum away from them for they serve not our Lord Christ.
2. II Jn. vs. 9-11 -- To greet and receive such is to partake in his evil works.
3. Titus 3:10, 1 l -- First admonish, then refuse.
IV. Division Destroys and Defeats the Church:
1. Lk. 1 1:17 -- Divided against itself (as denominationalism would represent the Church)
it cannot stand.
2. Heb. 12:28 -- The Church of Christ is Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
V. Unity an Individual Obligation to the Christian:
1. Eph. 4:3 -- Give diligence to keep the unity of Spirit.
2. Phil. 2:3 -- Doing nothing through faction.
VI. How Division May Be Avoided:
1. Titus 2:7 -- By uncormpted doctrine and sound speech.
2. Titus 1:9 -- Elders holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, exhorting in
sound doctrine and convicting gainsayers.
3. Titus 3:9, 11 -- Shunning foolish questions and refusing factious men.
4. II Tim. 2:14, 18 -- By handling the word of God right, refusing to strive about Words to no
profit, and shunning profane babblings.
5. II Tim. 2:23, 25 -- Refusing foolish and ignorant questions yet dealing in meekness and
forbearance with all.
6. I Pet. 4:7, 11 -- By exercising love and hospitality toward each other yet speaking as the
oracles of God.
7. II Pet. 1:16 to 2:2 -- By refusing to teach private interpretations of prophecies.
8. I Cor. 1:10 -- By confining ourselves in teaching to matters of faith, thereby all can speak the
same thing.
Questions For Discussion:
l. What is the attitude of God toward discord?
2. Divisions and factions are classified with what catalogue of sins?
3. How are those that cause division to be dealt with?
4. What if they are encouraged in the work(II Jn. 8-11)?
5. How did Jesus set forth the evil effects of division?
6. To What extent is one obligated to keep the unity of the Spirit?
7. How will sound speech create unity?
8. How are foolish questions to be handled?
9. How Will private interpretations encourage division?
10. How will "speaking the same things“ maintain unity?