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- Oct 26, 2007
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And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people's faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. Romans 16:17-18 NLT
Paul frequently addressed divisions in the churches, knowing that worldly competition could tear a congregation apart. He included “rivalries, dissensions, divisions” in his list of the “works of the flesh” that should be “evident” to all believers (Galatians 5:19-20). Evident maybe but still common. The Corinthians were rife with factions and received this rebuke: “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human? (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). We’re to be beyond human in Christ’s church!
The apostle had no tolerance for self-serving leaders who were “puffed up with conceit…imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4-5). His warning echoes that of Jesus: “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” who twisted and added to the scripture (Matthew 16:6).
Stay grounded in God’s Word, avoiding worldly factions and protecting your “dear brothers and sisters.”
Prayer: Lord of peace, guard me and my brothers and sisters by Your Word of truth.
Paul frequently addressed divisions in the churches, knowing that worldly competition could tear a congregation apart. He included “rivalries, dissensions, divisions” in his list of the “works of the flesh” that should be “evident” to all believers (Galatians 5:19-20). Evident maybe but still common. The Corinthians were rife with factions and received this rebuke: “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human? (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). We’re to be beyond human in Christ’s church!
The apostle had no tolerance for self-serving leaders who were “puffed up with conceit…imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4-5). His warning echoes that of Jesus: “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” who twisted and added to the scripture (Matthew 16:6).
Stay grounded in God’s Word, avoiding worldly factions and protecting your “dear brothers and sisters.”
Prayer: Lord of peace, guard me and my brothers and sisters by Your Word of truth.
