PROBLEM AMONGST BRETHREN.

1Corinthians 1:10-13. NCBV.

¹⁰ I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with each other and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe’s family have told me quite plainly that there are quarrels among you. ¹² This is what I mean: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another says, “I follow Apollos”; another says, “I follow Peter”; and another says, “I follow Christ.” ¹³ Christ has been divided up into different groups! Did Paul die on the cross for you? No! Were you baptized in the name of Paul? No!

[United we stand and divided we fall] These has been an old saying. And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand\”. Matthew 12:25. No wonder the psalmist wrote, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” Psalm. 133:1.

I firmly believe that Christians must unite as one in these more secular times. Science and technology have advanced tremendously over a short period of time, leading many to goof in their beliefs. The result is a generation of wandering souls,who are lost without acknowledging Jesus Christ as their saviour. All devotees of Christ must stand together in this battle for earth because all of mankind\’s salvation relies on our unity and believe in that name JESUS CHRIST.

Disunity has always been a major problem with God’s people. Even the Old Testament records the civil wars and family fights among the people of Israel, and almost every local church mentioned in the New Testament had divisions to contend with. The Corinthians were divided over human leaders, and some of the members were even suing each other 1Corinthians 1:10-13 our reading for today where Apostle Paul admonished the christians to live in harmony without encouraging disunity to dislodge them.

The Galatian saints were “BackBiting and Tearing one another” according to Galatians 5:15 says \”If you go on hurting each other and tearing each other apart, be careful, or you will completely destroy each other\”. In the church at Philippi, two women were at odds with each other and, as a result, were splitting the church. It gives Paul a great concern then he spoke out \”I ask Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 And I ask you, my faithful friend, to help these women. They served with me in telling the Good News together with Clement and others who worked with me, whose names are written in the book of life. Philippines 4:2-3.

Remember Paul did not warn the Church for doctrinal errors rather for relational problems. Euodia and Syntyche, these two women are followers of Christ and have worked fervently in the church that they must have converted many to Christ and must have influences in the church too yet their broken relationship must have affected the church in a bad light which was of great concern yet they did not see the need to mend fence and come together for the growth and good of the church.

Go all over the places what normally brings mistrust and disaffection amongst people is likely a relational errors. It is possible to believe in Christ, Work hard for His kingdom and yet have broken relationship with the people who are also committed to the same cause. That\’s why you see churches scattered all over the places yet Christians have not see the need to come together and present a common goal for the global benefits.

Some of these problems stemmed from the backgrounds of the believers in the churches. The Jews, for example, were saved out of a strict legalistic background that would be difficult to forget. The Gentiles never had to worry about diets and days. The first church council in history debated the issue of the relationship of the Christian to the law; when you read the book of Acts 15:1-39 you will see different arguments emerged amongst the believers based on their different background and personalities and the same were brought into the churches without allowing the words of God to go through and refined them like Gold.

The believers in Rome were divided over special diets and special days. Some of the members thought it was a sin to eat meat, so they ate only vegetables. Other members thought it a sin not to observe the Jewish holy days. If each Christian had kept his convictions to himself, there would have been no problem, but they began to criticize and judge one another.

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.³³ They answered him, We be Abraham\’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.³⁵ And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:32-36). KJV.

We must abide with the truth which is in Christ, we must fixe our eyes on Him, is not about our person is all about what Christ has done on the Cross of Calvary for Us. Staying in truth means steadfastly rejecting the works of the devil and resisting the negative influences of temptation to bringing disunity amongst brethren.

A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren is an abomination to God so we should avoid them.

May you be Blessed as you read Amen ✍️Mrs Blessing I N Onugha ❤️