“Satan Loves Schisms In The Body Of Christ,” on sermonaudio.com (071215)(Click here for youtube of this sermon.) 

Schism: “Division, separation, discord, disharmony. Related words: breach, rupture, estrangement, broken.” See 1 Co. 12.25-27; Ps. 133.1-3; Mt. 5.9; Ro. 12.18-21; 1 Co. 14.33; 2 Co. 13.11; Ep. 4.1-6; 1 Thes. 5.12-15; He. 13.1; Ja. 3.13-18; 1 Pe. 3.8-12.

Rom.16.17-18: “Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

“In Numbers 16 Korah enlisted others in stirring up unrest, strife, and division in the congregation of Israel. Pro. 16.12-19 (He who spreads strife is described as a worthless and wicked person who seeks to swindle others, etc.).  Pro. 10.12 (Hatred stirs up strife). 16.28 (A perverse man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends). 22.10 (Cast out a scorner and contention shall disappear—strife & reproach will end). See also, Pr. 26.20-22; 28.25; 29.22; Ga. 5.19-24; Ac. 20.28-29.  Notice how Paul warns of this wicked sin of schism—of strife and division within the church (2 Co. 2.11; 1 Co. 1.10; 3.1-3; 11.17-19; 2 Co. 11.20).

“The sin of schism & the obligations of unity: He. 10.28-29; Ja. 3.13-18; Eph. 4.3, Ep. 4.2. Mal. 2.10; Ep. 4.32, 5.21; Ph.. 2.1-5.

“The root causes of strife & division. Ep. 5.25; Ac. 20.28.  1 Jn. 1.7. 1 Thes. 5.14-15 (The word “unruly” means “not keeping the ranks” (as of soldiers), irregular in and neglectful of duty, disorderly.”  The reference here is to members of the church who were irregular in their Christian walk.  Another cause of strife and division is bitterness. He. 12.14-15.  This describes one who comes short, who fails because deep within him is a root of bitterness and poisons him and everything and everyone with whom he is associated.  This root of bitterness is like an infection that has the potential of spreading through the whole body of believers. Notice: Because one believer has unresolved bitterness, a breach, a breakdown among other believers takes place “and many are defiled.” Ep. 4.31-32.; 1 Co. 3:3; Ja. 3.16. Another cause: the attempt to divert attn. away from one’s own sins and failures.  A person may cause strife and division bc he has an autonomous spirit.  Je. 3.15; Ep. 4.11-12.

“God’s shepherd-gift to His Church. The pastor.He. 13.7, 17, 24; I Thes. 5.12-13. Pastors have no authority to make their own laws regarding God’s will.  Rather they are to lead the people in the ways of God by teaching them the  will of God according to the  scriptures.  Their only ruling authority is to proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord.” They are to watch for anything that may be hurtful to the souls of men and warn them of dangerous errors, Satan’s devices, and of approaching judgment; they are to point to every available opportunity to help us progress on the way to heaven.

Mt. 10.40 “The Lord Jesus said concerning His preachers: “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me”  Matthew Henry says of this verse: “Jesus Christ takes what is done to his faithful ministers, whether in kindness or in unkindness, as done to Himself, and reckons Himself treated as they are treated.  ‘He that receiveth you receiveth me.’ Honour or contempt put upon an ambassador reflects honour or contempt upon the prince that sends him, and ministers are ambassadors for Christ.  By entertaining Christ’s ministers, they entertain not angels unawares, but Christ, nay, and God himself.” “Even in the worst of times there is and ever will be a remnant according to the election of grace.  The labors of Christ’s ministers are never in vain. “The Lord’s Church is to mark them which cause divisions: Ro. 16.17-18. Mt. 8.7. 1 Cor. 14.33; Ja. 3.13-18. Quotes of various men of God given.”

Ro. 16.17-18 “Now I beseech you breathren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary; to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

1 Co. 1.10 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by 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 perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  They were following human leaders, thus dividing the body of Christ. V11-17.  They were exulting in human wisdom, which is foolishness in the things of God. V18-31. The Christian revelation owes nothing to human wisdom. 1 Co. 2.1-8. Spiritual verities are not discoverable by human wisdom. 9.  But God has revealed them to prepared men. 10-12.  The revealed things are taught in words given by the spirit. 13.  The revealed things are spiritually discerned. 14-16.

1. Co. 3.3 “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

Ph. 3.2 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the  concision.”

Ph. 3.17-19 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”

2 Thes. 3.6-15 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. * * * .”

1 Ti. 6.3-11 “ * * *Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. * * * .”

2 Ti. 2.24 “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.”

Tit. 3.10-11 “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”