Guarding Church Unity

Unity

The Bible gives us two clear pictures that help us understand the nature of the Church:

A Body — We need each other and we are all important even though our functions and they way we do things differ.

A Family — We relate to each other as brothers and sister, mother’s and father’s. Just as parents train up children, so mature believer’s train up those younger in their faith. Just as brother’s and sisters grow close and defend one another, we stand together in good times and bad, showing the world what love looks like.

Over the past few weeks we have talked about the importance of growing the church in godliness and good works. We are unified in this calling and we count on each other for encouragement. Today’s passage is about the opposite of unity. It is a warning to those who would do harm to the Church of Jesus Christ and it calls us to stand firm in the defense of our unity.

Division

Paul writes this warning to Titus:

Titus 3:10–11 ESV

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Paul wrote similarly to the Roman church:

Romans 16:17–18 ESV

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Why such strong condemnation?

Not only are we to avoid these people, but they are described as sinful, and self-condemned. They don’t serve Jesus but themselves and deceive others.

Have nothing to do with them.

Avoid them.

They are warped and sinful.

They don’t serve Jesus.

They serve only themselves.

They deceive the hearts of the naive.

They are self-condemned

God takes a very strong stance against those that cause division. and here is why.

Division denies the will of Jesus for the Church.

John 17:20–26 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Earlier that same evening he had given the disciples this new command.

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Division denies the way God designed the Church

Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

We are all to mature. We build each other up. so that . . . we won’t be led astray.

Division denies the headship of Christ.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

If Jesus, our head, desires unity and someone brings division, they are denying the lordship, the headship of Jesus over themselves and over His Church. To seek to divide the church is to strike against Jesus himself.

The warning for false teachers

2 John 10–11 ESV

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Colossians 2:8 ESV

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 ESV

13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Luke 17:1–2 ESV

1 And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

The warning for us

James 4:1–10 ESV

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

What mus we avoid:

Passions cause fights and quarrels

Covet to the point of hatred and fighting

You ask with wrong motives

Friendship with the world is hatred of God

What must we do:

Be humble and receive grace

Submit to God

Resist the Devil

Draw near to God

Cleanse your hands

Mourn because of your sin

Refuse the pleasure of the world

Put God first

Trust him to lift you up.

Where does this receiving of grace begin. It begins in repentance. It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. That is what communion is all about. It is the greatest expression of God’s love towards us.