WORKS THAT CAUSE DIVISION (3)

TEXT: Galatians 5:19-21

INTRODUCTION--- This is the third lesson on works of the flesh that cause division, showing that Paul concentrated most of his list on these problems. These, along with many other passages, protest the things that drive brethren apart.

1. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-11, Paul writes, "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you."
   
2. Later, to the same people, he wrote, "For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;" (2 Corinthians 12:20)

LESSON-- We consider here the traits of dicostasia (DICHOSTASIA), translated "dissensions," and 'airesiv (HAIRESIS), meaning "heresies."

1. Paul only uses the DICHOSTASIA twice in his writings in the New Testament, here in Galatians 5, and in Romans 16:17--- "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them."
   
   1. DICHOSTASIA literally means "a standing apart," and is translated by such words as "sedition, dissension, factions, party spirit, and quarrels." (Barclay says, "It is perfectly true that often a Christian has to stand alone, but a man will do well to examine himself when he finds that the opinions he holds are separating him from the community of which he forms a part. He may be right, but it is a grave responsibility to be a cause of division in any church." (Flesh and Spirit, p. 58)
      
   2. It implies that which leads to division, rather than "de facto" division.
      
   3. It stands in contrast to such principles as are found in...
      
      1. Colossians 2:1-2--- "For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love...."
         
      2. Colossians 2:19---- "....hold fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God."
         
      3. Ephesians 4:16--- "....the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
         
   4. So, Paul commands us to "mark" or "note" such makers of dissension in the church. The Greek for the word "mark" is skopew(SKOPEO), meaning "to look at, behold, watch." Marking can also be to note a GOOD example (Philippians 3:17--- "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.")
      
   5. Since Paul uses the word DICHOSTASIA in teaching the Galatians, he probably had in mind the fact that they had been troubled by someone teaching them to be circumcised.
      
      1. Paul and Barnabas had been caught up in dissension on this question while at Antioch of Syria. Acts 15:1-2----And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension (stasiv, STASIS, a root of DICHOSTASIA) and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
         
      2. This "dissension" had to be resolved by the subsequent meeting in Jerusalem with the Apostles and elders of the church there. The dispute reached a consensus then, but re-surfaced in Galatia.
         
   6. Denominationalism originated from the spirit of dissension, and still flourishes on that principle, but dissension in the church of the Lord is more tragic than this, because it represents the prevalence of the "flesh" in our character, rather than the "fruit of the Spirit."
      
      1. A Japanese religious leader once said, "I do not speak English very well, and sometimes when I say the word denomination people think that I have sain damnation---and to me they are the same thing."
         
      2. Instead of seeking the things which tend to divide, Christians must seek the things that bind them together.
         
         1. 1 Thessalonians 5:13b-15--- "Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all."
            
         2. 1 Peter 3:8-12--- Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."
            
2. The word HAIRESIS is the phonetic ancestor of the English word, "Heresy," but the Greek word basically means "choice."
   
   1. In the ASV the translators use the word "parties," because the common definition is SECT, "a body of people belonging to a particular school of thought and action and holding a particular kind of belief...who have all made the same CHOICE." (Barclay, p. 58)
      
      1. Various sects of the Jew are mentioned in the New Testament, Pharisees in Acts 15:5, and Sadducees in Acts 5:17. Each adherent to these sects joined by "choice."
         
      2. Though the enemies of Paul called the church "The Sect of the Nazarenes" (Acts 24:5), Paul referred to it as "The Way" (Acts 24:14).
         
         1. Every member of the church is obligated to learn whether he is a member of a "sect," or is simply following the "way."
            
         2. If the church is a "sect." or part of the whole, then those who choose it are "sectarian," as certainly as other denominational people are.
            
         3. We must remember that joining a sect is by "choice."
            
      3. The only profit that can come from sectarianism is finding out which stand is approved of God. 1 Corinthians 11:17-19--- "But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you."
         
   2. If we acts as if the church were a sect, then the world will be justified in treating us as one.
      
   3. If we truly want to be non-sectarian, we must avoid sectarian behavior.
      
      1. Paul condemned sectarian thinking in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13--- Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?
         
      2. Personality sects often start with insiders. Acts 20:29--- I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
         
      3. Factious men are to be rebuked and resisted. Titus 3:10--- A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;
         
      4. God reserves punishment for the factious. Romans 2:8-9--- but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;
         

APPLICATION--

1. The church should have the goal of matching God's purpose for the church. In Ephesians 3:8-11, Paul wrote--- Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
   
2. Unless we are constantly on guard against the sectarian spirit in the church, we cannot hope to fulfill the prayer of Jesus, in John 17:20-21--- Neither for these (apostles) only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.