Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Division in the Body of Christ brings great sadness to me. It hurts me to watch one denomination come against another. This is the work of the enemy to destroy the Church.
This is a subject written much about in the New Testament. While some will argue the Bible endorses denominations, I am unable to find such Scripture. John, Peter and Paul all wrote of the importance of the Body of Christ being unified and the following Passages of Scripture are some examples.
Ephesians 4:1-6 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1 Corinthians 12:24-25 But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 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. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Philippians 2:1-2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In reading these Passages, it’s obvious God desires His Church to be unified. Unfortunately, that is not the case. We see denominations bickering between themselves and jealous of one another as they compete for people. If we are to be obedient to the Word of God and minister within the Will of God, we must not be hindered by walls of denomination or the sign over the door of a church building.
When the Body of Christ comes together in one accord, the Holy Spirit will move and operate among the people; all the people. Nowhere in the Bible do we read that we have to attend a certain church or belong to a particular denomination.
All that’s required is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Sacrifice on the Cross. That is the common ground of the Gospel where we all come together and kneel at the Foot of the Cross. Praise God for that common ground.
The Gospel of Christ will……..turn the tide
At The Cross, Doreen
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