[Biblemat] Article - How is Unity Possible? - Number 12
GLClair at aol.com
GLClair at aol.com
Fri Oct 12 17:05:53 CDT 2007
HOW IS UNITY POSSIBLE – Number 12
Division and apostasy in the early church:
1. THE FIRST Congregation:
Ananias and Sapphira, his wife, fall dead at Peter's rebuke of their
hypocrisy. Acts 5:1-11 (KJV)
The apostles,
determined to neglect neither physical needs nor ministry of the word Acts 6:1-6
(KJV) [verse 1] “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was
multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because
their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”
2. PAUL AND BARNABUS FORCED TO LEAVE ICONIUM:
Acts 14:1-6 --- Apparently some of the hostile Jews influences some of the
believers to doubt Paul and Barnabus.
3. Great problems created in the Gentile churches by Jews from the
Jerusalem congregation - Acts 15:1-5
The problem about circumcision is resolved – Acts 15:6-35
4. The problems at Ephesus
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the
seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them
which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast
not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God. Rev 2:1-7 (KJV)
5. The problems at Corinth:
* Division over men – 1 Corinthians 1:10-31
* The membership generally was carnal [i.e. worldly]
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
* An incestuous person among them:
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such
fornication as is not so
much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2
And ye are
puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed
might be
taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present
in spirit, have
judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done
this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and
my spirit, with
the power of our LordJesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that
the spirit may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not
that a little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump? - 1 Cor 5:1 (KJV)
* Christians must not go to the secular courts to settle problems::
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge
the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge
the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much
more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things
pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?
no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother
goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 Now therefore
there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why
do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be
defrauded? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. - 1 Cor
6:1-8 (KJV)
* Christians and the problems associated with mixed marriages [i.e.
between
Christians and non-Christians] –1 Corinthians 7:1-40
* Problems relating to conscious and eating meats offered to Idols -
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
* Problems relating to the Biblical order of Headship - 1 Corinthians
11:1-16
* Problems relating to the Lord’s Supper – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
* Problems and misunderstanding relation to the Holy Spirit –
1 Corinthians 12-13-14.
* Questions about the resurrection, about the change from mortal to
immortal, etc. - 1 Corinthians 15:12-58
6. The problems at Pergamos
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he
which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou
dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and
hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful
martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few
things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of
Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to
eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou
also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name
written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev 2:12-17 (KJV)
7. The problems at Thyatira
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith
the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are
like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith,
and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that
woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my
servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And
I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into
great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her
children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which
searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to
your works. Rev 2:18-23 (KJV)
8. The problems at Sardis
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he
that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that
thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy
works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and
heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their
garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that
overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his
name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches. Rev 3:1-6 (KJV)
9. The problems at Laodicea
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things
saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of
God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou
art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee
to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not
appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the
door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:14-20
(KJV)
_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)
considermagazine.com
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