Avoiding Church Splits

1
Avoiding Church Splits

• 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.

2
Avoiding Church Splits

• 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." (1 Peter 38-12)

3
Avoiding Church Splits

• Having addressed the responsibilities of saints
  in their relationship to civil government
  (213-17), to their masters (218-25) and to
  their spouses (31-7), the apostle now addresses
  the responsibilities of saints in their
  relationships to one another.
• If we want to experience spiritual and numerical
  growth, we must know how to get along with other
  saints, particularly those with whom we regularly
  worship God.

4
Things Necessary

1. Proper Attitude
2. Proper Reaction
3. Proper Speech
4. Proper Pursuit
5. Proper Motive

5
Proper Attitude

• A. "Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We
  are all to manifest this attitude.
• For those who live according to the flesh set
  their minds on the things of the flesh, but those
  who live according to the Spirit, the things of
  the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death,
  but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God
  for it is not subject to the law of God, nor
  indeed can be. So then, those who are in the
  flesh cannot please God. (Rom. 85-8)

A. "Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We
are all to manifest this attitude. B. "Compassion
for one another" - "A fellow-feeling" to share
the feelings of others whether these are joyful
or painful to be sympathetic Rejoice with
those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
(Rom. 1215)
6
Proper Attitude

• A. "Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We
  are all to manifest this attitude.
• B. "Compassion for one another" - "A
  fellow-feeling" to share the feelings of others
  whether these are joyful or painful to be
  sympathetic
• C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling
  which those of a common parentage have for each
  other" "human affection and fondness" "loving
  one another because we are now related as
  fellow-members of God's family"

7
Proper Attitude

• A. "Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We
  are all to manifest this attitude
• B. "Compassion for one another" - "A
  fellow-feeling" to share the feelings of others
  whether these are joyful or painful to be
  sympathetic
• C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling
  which those of a common parentage have for each
  other" "human affection and fondness" "loving
  one another because we are now related as
  fellow-members of Gods family"
• D. "Tenderhearted" - "Full of pity toward others"

8
Proper Attitude

• A. "Of one mind" - "Minding the same things" - We
  are all to manifest this attitude
• B. "Compassion for one another" - "A
  fellow-feeling" to share the feelings of others
  whether these are joyful or painful to be
  sympathetic
• C. "Love as brothers" - "The special feeling
  which those of a common parentage have for each
  other" "human affection and fondness" "loving
  one another because we are now related as
  fellow-members of Gods family"
• D. "Tenderhearted" - "Full of pity toward others"
• E. Courteous. Humble-minded, having a modest
  opinion of oneself the opposite of arrogance
  and pride.

9
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil can
  refer to physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• For to this you were called, because Christ
  also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
  you should follow His steps
• "Who committed no sin,
• Nor was deceit found in His mouth"

10
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• who, when He was reviled, did not revile in
  return when He suffered, He did not threaten,
  but committed Himself to Him who judges
  righteously who Himself bore our sins in His own
  body on the tree, that we, having died to sins,
  might live for righteousness--by whose stripes
  you were healed. (1 Peter 221-23)

11
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the
  governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of
  the Jews?" So Jesus said to him, "It is as you
  say."

12
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• And while He was being accused by the chief
  priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then
  Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many
  things they testify against You?" But He answered
  him not one word, so that the governor marveled
  greatly. (Matt. 2711-14)

13
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• B. On the contrary blessing. Speaking well of
  those who speak ill of us, showing them active
  kindness ... and praying Gods blessing upon
  them.
• "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless
  those who curse you, do good to those who hate
  you, and pray for those who spitefully use you
  and persecute you" (Matt. 544).

14
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• B. On the contrary blessing. Speaking well of
  those who speak ill of us, showing them active
  kindness...and praying Gods blessing upon them.
• And we labor, working with our own hands. Being
  reviled, we bless being persecuted, we endure (1
  Cor. 412)

15
Proper Reaction

• A. Not returning (not giving back)
• Evil for evil. A base or mean thing for a base
  or mean thing. Not necessarily moral evil, but
  also physical evil.
• Or reviling for reviling. Verbal abuse for
  verbal abuse
• B. On the contrary blessing. Speaking well of
  those who speak ill of us, showing them active
  kindness...and praying Gods blessing upon them.
• C. Knowing that you were called to this, that you
  may inherit a blessing.

16
Proper Reaction

• Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also
  is merciful.
• "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn
  not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and
  you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given
  to you good measure, pressed down, shaken
  together, and running over will be put into your
  bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it
  will be measured back to you." (Luke 636-38)

17
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• These six things the Lord hates,
• Yes, seven are an abomination to Him
• A proud look,
• A lying tongue,
• Hands that shed innocent blood,

18
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• A heart that devises wicked plans,
• Feet that are swift in running to evil,
• A false witness who speaks lies,
• And one who sows discord among brethren.
• (Prov. 616-19)

19
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord,
  that you should no longer walk as the rest of the
  Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
  having their understanding darkened, being
  alienated from the life of God, because of the
  ignorance that is in them, because of the
  blindness of their heart who, being past
  feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness,
  to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Eph.
  417-19)

20
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you
  have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as
  the truth is in Jesus that you put off,
  concerning your former conduct, the old man which
  grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and
  that you put on the new man which was created
  according to God, in true righteousness and
  holiness. (Eph. 420-24)

21
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of
  you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are
  members of one another. "Be angry, and do not
  sin" do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
  nor give place to the devil. (Eph. 425-27)

22
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
  but what is good for necessary edification, that
  it may impart grace to the hearers.... Let all
  bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
  speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
  (Eph. 429, 31)

23
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• But now you yourselves are to put off all these
  anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language
  out of your mouth. (Col. 38)
• Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned
  with salt, that you may know how you ought to
  answer each one. (Col. 46)

24
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be
  swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath for
  the wrath of man does not produce the
  righteousness of God.... If anyone among you
  thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his
  tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's
  religion is useless. (James 119-20, 26)

25
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• My brethren, let not many of you become teachers,
  knowing that we shall receive a stricter
  judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If
  anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect
  man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed,
  we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey
  us, and we turn their whole body. (James 31-3)

26
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• Look also at ships although they are so large
  and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned
  by a very small rudder wherever the pilot
  desires. Even so the tongue is a little member
  and boasts great things. See how great a forest a
  little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a
  world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our
  members that it defiles the whole body, and sets
  on fire the course of nature and it is set on
  fire by hell. (James 34-6)

27
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and
  creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed
  by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is
  an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we
  bless our God and Father, and with it we curse
  men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
  (James 37-9)

28
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and
  cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to
  be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and
  bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my
  brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?
  Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
  (James 310-12)

29
Proper Speech

• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  tongue from evil, i.e., all perverse speaking.
• Let him refrain, or stop the tendency of his
  lips from speaking deceit.
• "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,
  murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,
  idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in
  the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,
  which is the second death." (Rev. 218)

30
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Depart from evil, and do good
• And dwell forevermore. (Psalm 3727)
• Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands,
  having this seal "The Lord knows those who are
  His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of
  Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Tim. 219)

31
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• For the grace of God that brings salvation has
  appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying
  ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
  soberly, righteously, and godly in the present
  age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious
  appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus
  Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might
  redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
  Himself His own special people, zealous for good
  works. (Titus 211-14)

32
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• For we must all appear before the judgment seat
  of Christ, that each one may receive the things
  done in the body, according to what he has done,
  whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 510)

33
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all
  the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the
  throne of His glory. All the nations will be
  gathered before Him, and He will separate them
  one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep
  from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His
  right hand, but the goats on the left.

34
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• "Then the King will say to those on His right
  hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit
  the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
  of the world for I was hungry and you gave Me
  food I was thirsty and you gave Me drink I was
  a stranger and you took Me in I was naked and
  you clothed Me I was sick and you visited Me I
  was in prison and you came to Me.'

35
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying,
  'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You,
  or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see
  You a stranger and take You in, or naked and
  clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in
  prison, and come to You?' And the King will
  answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you,
  inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of
  these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

36
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• "Then He will also say to those on the left hand,
  'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting
  fire prepared for the devil and his angels for I
  was hungry and you gave Me no food I was thirsty
  and you gave Me no drink I was a stranger and
  you did not take Me in, naked and you did not
  clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not
  visit Me.'

37
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord,
  when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a
  stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did
  not minister to You?' Then He will answer them,
  saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you
  did not do it to one of the least of these, you
  did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into
  everlasting punishment, but the righteous into
  eternal life." (Matt. 2531-46 )

38
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Seek peace and pursue it.

39
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Seek peace and pursue it. He is to seek peace
  because it is not always apparent.

40
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Seek peace and pursue it. He is to seek peace
  because it is not always apparent. Once seen, it
  is only possessed by diligent pursuit.
• Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is
  evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly
  affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
  in honor giving preference to one another not
  lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving
  the Lord rejoicing in hope,

41
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Seek peace and pursue it. He is to seek peace
  because it is not always apparent. Once seen, it
  is only possessed by diligent pursuit.
• patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in
  prayer distributing to the needs of the saints,
  given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute
  you bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those
  who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

42
Proper Pursuit

• Let him
• turn away from evil.
• do good.
• Seek peace and pursue it. He is to seek peace
  because it is not always apparent. Once seen, it
  is only possessed by diligent pursuit.
• Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not
  set your mind on high things, but associate with
  the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
  Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good
  things in the sight of all men. If it is
  possible, as much as depends on you, live
  peaceably with all men. (Rom. 129-18)

43
Proper Motive

• A. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and
  His ears are open to their prayers.
• The eyes of the Lord are directed in a favorable
  sense for the good of those that are righteous.
• Gods ears are open to their prayers. He hangs on
  every word when a righteous person prays.
• B. The face of the Lord is against those who do
  evil.
• One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
  Even his prayer is an abomination. (Prov. 289)

44
Personal Evaluation

• Are the eyes of the Lord on you?
• Are His ears open to your prayers?
• Or is His face against you?
• Are you fulfilling your duties to your brethren?