And we are to have no divisions, yet there are many that is why it is very important to let others believe as they are convinced and do not dispute over doubtful things. 1 Cor. 3 and Romans 14 come to mind.
No, brother. To remove all doubt, we should go to the scripture for reproof. We are to have answer in those things pertaining to faith and tongues without interpretation can be tested, discerned, and reproved to be shunned.
Jesus taught to excommunicate an unrepentant brother that was caught in a trespass that had gone astray in Matthew 18:10-17
Paul taught to excommunicate an unrepentant believer so that fellowship may be held in sincerity and in truth in 1 Corinthians 5th chapter.
Paul spoke of the apostasy in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 of seeking to receive the "Spirit" again after a sign wherein Paul reminded them when they had received the Spirit at their salvation afterwards in verses 13-15, and went on to the third chapter ( do know that the NT nor the OT were not originally in numbered chapters nor verses ) speaking of those wicked & unreasonable men as not having faith that walk not after the traditions taught of us and were disorderly, giving the commandment to admonish them not as an enemy, but as a brother by withdrawing from them in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-7,14-15 so that they may repent.
Here is more proof that one should not ignore things that oppose the faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:
16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Yes, we are to be condescending to men of low estate, but that was in regards to the poor.
1 Corinthians 1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, t
hat ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Philippians 2:2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the
same love,
being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 3:16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,
let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Philippians 4:2I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the
same mind in the Lord.
That is towards even individual believers and those that do not attend the assembly.
Paulin writing to the Corinthians was looking to get them to maturity, (the meat of the word) but they were still carnal as many of us are,
Paul was still reproving the believers at the same time for identifying themselves by certain individual christian men when it is God that supplied the seed to the sower & water to the waterer as God is the One that caused the increase.
There are some carnility that we are to bear towards the babes in Christ as a shortcoming as they are to be growing out of that carnality, but there are some carnality that we are not to bear when they are living in sin like fornication and not repenting from it.
this scripture comes to mind Hebrews 5:11-6:6 Let us move on to maturity if God permits,
Hebrews 6th chapter was explaining that no believer need again to lay down that foundation in Christ Jesus. There is no more need to come forward or asked to be saved again as if one can lose their salvation. But what we build on that foundation is key as 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 warns and applied to the briers & thorns that grew with the good things after the earth has received the rain and gave growth to the plants & trees. That means salvation cannot be undone because it is impossible to take back the water from the rain that has been received in the earth that gave life & growth to plants & tress. It is the thorns & the briers that will be burned away...and because there is that fire coming, we should take heed on what we build on that foundation.
Colossians 1:[SUP]
27 [/SUP]To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory: [SUP]
28 [/SUP]Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
It is because Christ is in us, this warning is given and should not be ignored when it comes to a trespass or an iniquity.
so let us each ask God for the maturity needed, and put away our disputes and trust God to get each of us to stand in God's truth following no one else except God himself through Christ's finished work unto the ressurrection
Being submissive to the Word of God as Christ is the head of the church and thus the head of every believer is the only way one can mature which is by abiding in Him & His words to bear fruit so that our joy may be full.
To ignore that which is a lie, is to permit a lie to cause someone else in that congregation to go astray as well. Example, believers testifying to the Spirit of Christ being in the worship place
presently, instead of in according to our faith as dwelling within us. That is not abiding in the doctrine of Christ.
2 John 1:[SUP]
7 [/SUP]For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ
is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. [SUP]
8 [/SUP]Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. [SUP]
9 [/SUP]Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. [SUP]
10 [/SUP]If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: [SUP]
11 [/SUP]For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
This is the same thing warned about when John gave instructions on how to test the spirits. It is blindness that believers do not see verses 2 & 3 as not talking about doubting that Jesus had ever come in the flesh, but testifying of the Spirit of Christ "presently" as in "is come" in being outside of us in the worship place, drawing that line distinctly in verse 4 below.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. [SUP]2 [/SUP]Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [SUP]3 [/SUP]And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. [SUP]4 [/SUP]Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [SUP]
5 [/SUP]They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [SUP]
6 [/SUP]We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. [SUP]
7 [/SUP]Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
So if we ignore that testimony when believers say that in church, then the church would be allowing that to draw attention more & more in seeking that presence and then comes signs & lying wonders in a more worship stealing result, and so how can a church stop them from chasing after them when they allowed seducing spirits foot to be in the door?
That is why the holy laughter movement was nationwide and across the denomenations as happening in Catholics and Protestant churches as it was no longer a streamlined Pentecostal/Charismatic event in 1994 as reported by the 700 Club which was endorsing that movement as being of God. I point out the fruit of teh false prophet of gathering grapes of thorns & figs of thistles as being ecumenical in nature.
So there is cause for division as there is cause for reproof and excommunication when there is no repentance because allowing that iniquity to remain is to cause one of the little ones to go astray which is why there is necessity to correct as Jesus has taught in Matthew 18:10-17 in regards to those that have gone astray, and excommunicate if unrepentant.
1 Corinthians 11:[SUP]
17 [/SUP]Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. [SUP]
18 [/SUP]For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. [SUP]
19 [/SUP]
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Titus 1:[SUP]
13 [/SUP]This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; [SUP]
14 [/SUP]Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. [SUP]
15 [/SUP]Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [SUP]
16 [/SUP]They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Matthew 10:[SUP]
33 [/SUP]But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. [SUP]
34 [/SUP]Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. [SUP]
35 [/SUP]For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. [SUP]
36 [/SUP]And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
2 Corinthians 13:[SUP]
5 [/SUP]Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
There are babes in Christ and then there are workers of iniquity. They are not one & the same to be dealing with workers of iniquity as you would deal with babes in Christ. We are to put out those that walk not after the tradition taught of us & are disorderly, but treat them not as an enemy, but admonsih them as a brother in the hopes they will repent.
