Text: Psalm 133:1-3
Psalms 133 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
I. Two Types of Unity
There can be no unity outside the Word of God
Psalms 133 looked ahead to Israel's breach that divided it into two nations - Israel and Judah
This will not be fully healed unto the Second Coming of Christ
There are two types of unity - man made unity and that which is produced by God through the Holy Spirit
The great push for unity in the apostate system began with the National Counsel of Churches and the Word Counsel of Churches
It is satanic because it is not Scriptural
The Catholic Church has tried to "unify" with the Protestants in recent decades without renouncing its unscriptural practices
Unscriptural unity is one of the greatest dangers facing the modern Church.
Man made unity can only be done if Scripture and the Gospel is compromised
There is a division between the Apostate and the True Church with the Cross being that dividing line!
The Apostate Church will have its unity with Satan at its foundation, the true church will be unified around the Word of God
This fake unity will always be discernable by those who truly know the Lord - the Holy Spirit vs. the Spirit of Antichrist!
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 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. 11 for it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 12 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name Paul?
IV. The Church at Corinth
False unity is man-centered
The issues at Corinth relating to division were doctrinally related
Men in Corinth were attempting to divide and conquer with false unity as men do today under various banners
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN UNIFY THE CHURCH!
There were contentions at Corinth
There was a party spirit at Corinth which had divided the TRUE church of Jesus; it was over personalities and what gospel they were preaching!
Paul says three things to Corinth: That you speak the same things (ONE GOSPEL), that there be NO DIVISION (the MESSAGE), that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement
These contentions were about the cross! 1 Cor. 1:11
Paul asks the church IS CHRIST DIVIDED? 1 Cor. 1:13 - The answer is a SOLID NO!
The Holy Spirit REBUKES this false UNITY!
Baptism issues - if water baptism was essential for Salvation as some claim - Paul wouldn't have mentioned he baptized only a few!
THE POINT OF ALL TRUE UNITY IS CHRIST!
V. Christ has come to DIVIDE, not bring peace to the Apostate System!
The true from the false
The apostate from the true church
The holy spirit from other spirits
The word of God form other words
True salvation from false salvation
Grace from Legalism (works)
Those who make false unity to those who are UNIFIED IN CHRIST!
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