WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD
[No factionalism in the congregation]
The great work involved in being a member of the church of Christ is surely on the mind of each child of God continually. One of the passions of brotherhood in Christ is our concern for each other and our continued good mental [i.e. spiritual] health. We must seek to understand and encouraging one another in spiritual things as well as those things that make for healthy and maturing directions as Christians. The Word of God tells us to consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24-25, “24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” ASV
Good works may be anything authorized by God for the perfecting of the Christian in mind and body both spiritually and materially. Now, I suggest this based on the statement of Christ where he instructs disciples to be conscious of daily food and forgive us of debts as we also forgive other people of their debts, He also tells us to request help to deal with temptations [i.e. from every source – both spiritually and materially].
Matt 6:9-14, “9 After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil (one.) 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” ASV —
There is ample instruction throughout the New Testament that teaches Christians to interact together for the purpose of strengthening one another and assisting one another to keep walking in the true light of God’s perfect way.
Cf. 2 John 9-11, “9 Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into (your) house, and give him no greeting: 11 for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.” ASV
Since God knows us best, let us interact together in a spirit of love and fellowship together in Him. Christians work best when they work together, not in cliques. Let us always be mindful that we do not allow ourselves to be drawn into competing factions within the church. Nothing but division and factionalism will result from fragmentation of the congregation into competing factions for whatever good or otherwise purpose.
Cf. Heb 10:24, “24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;” ASV
1 John 4:5-11, “5 They are of the world: therefore speak they (as) of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son (to be) the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ASV
1 Peter 3:10-11, “10 For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11 And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.” ASV
James 4:11-17, “11 Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 One (only) is the lawgiver and judge, (even) he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor? 13 Come now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain: 14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that. 16 But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil. 17 To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” ASV
Exclude no one who has a cooperative heart to do the will of God. Always dwell together in the “spirit of unity in the bond of peace” {i.e. Eph 4:3} as a people of God united in a common purpose and hope.
Cf. Psalms133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down upon the skirt of his garments; 3 Like the dew of Hermon, that cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: for there Jehovah commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” ASV
Eph 4:3, “3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:13-16, “13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, (even) Christ;16 from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in (due) measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.” ASV