A Divisive Person
The strategy of the devil is to divide and conquer. He knows if he can divide people, he can pick them off one by one, because they have no support from others. God's strategy is unity and interdependence. God knows that people are stronger when they live in strong relationships with others, The apostle Paul knew this truth, so he gave instructions to Titus as to how to handle divisive people. (Titus 3:10,11) Unfortunately, we still have divisive believers, so we need to heed this command.
Reject divisive believers after admonishing them two separate times. That sounds severe, but it is necessary, as Paul explains. Any believer who wants to be divisive is doing the work of the devil, instead of the work of the Lord. They are warped, and they are sinning. Their own activities and attitudes condemn them. If we allow them to stay in the fellowship of other believers the leaven of their sin will spread to others. Then, God's work is damaged. Consequently, people do not hear the gospel so that they can be saved, because God's people are more concerned about disagreeing and fighting than doing the work of the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philemon and Hebrews 1-3.
Reject divisive believers after admonishing them two separate times. That sounds severe, but it is necessary, as Paul explains. Any believer who wants to be divisive is doing the work of the devil, instead of the work of the Lord. They are warped, and they are sinning. Their own activities and attitudes condemn them. If we allow them to stay in the fellowship of other believers the leaven of their sin will spread to others. Then, God's work is damaged. Consequently, people do not hear the gospel so that they can be saved, because God's people are more concerned about disagreeing and fighting than doing the work of the Lord.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philemon and Hebrews 1-3.