Christ's sufficiency covers even our reason for remaining united. We can express different opinions without tearing each other apart.
The Word of the Lord says,
¹⁷I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. ²⁰The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:17-20 NIV
I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Colossians 2:4 NIV
If you think about it, there has always been attempts to twist the truthfulness of God's Word.
What can possibly protect us from division?
Fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 NIV
People who love the Lord, but do not fear Him fall into temptation. Those who have experienced backsliding, as they gave in to temptation, they still love the Lord. What they lost was fear of the Lord.
Let us look at this event that happened in the first century.
¹Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ²With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:1-2 NIV
What Ananias and Sapphira lost was not their love for God, but the fear of the Lord. They thought that giving only a portion of what they promised was enough. They must have thought the Lord would not mind. Yet, it was about love of money, which kills one's fear of the Lord.
Consider this. Married men or married women who commit adultery did not necessarily lose their love for their spouse, but the fear of it's effect on their relationship. They may even express their love for their legal spouse, but still commit things that endangers their relationship. That is how love and fear differ in function to a relationship.
Those who rebel against God and His church did not lose their love for God, they even put up their own church as a proof of that love. What they lost is the fear of the Lord whose Word teaches us to keep away from those who cause division.
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Romans 16:18 NIV
Sure, we love the Lord because He first loved us, but that does not mean we should not fear the Lord. Our fear of Him keeps us grounded to Him as the One who deserves reverence and worship, helping us stay away from division, and loving unity with our fellow believers.
As the verse says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Therefore, we need wisdom from the spirit.
Wisdom from the Spirit.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV
The Holy Spirit gives wisdom.
The Apostle Paul instructs the believers in Rome to be wise of what is good.
¹⁹Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:19 NIV
Obedience is good. No doubt about it. God desires it from His people. But be obedient and wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. This means do good things, not evil.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
Identify them but know what to do and what not to.
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 NIV
One of the proofs that our wisdom is from the Holy Spirit is that we desire to gain knowledge of the Word.
3. Knowledge of the Word.
¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
This we know about the main source of division:
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:17-20 NIV
It is the Bible that tells us that. Spend time studying God's Word.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Ephesians 5:6 NIV
Here is the thing though:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIV
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19 NIV
A person who has a genuine knowledge of the Word knows how to live by the Word. It is our guide as we live.
God's Word teaches us to be united, not divided.
As believers of Jesus, we choose to remain united through His Word, abhorring division.
²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 NIV
³⁴“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV
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