Sriving Together For The Faith Of The Gospel

A. Phil. 1:27. In New Testament times there was only one Congregation in each
community. Each congregation was unified. No division. They were commanded by God to,
“Stand firm in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”
1. There was division in the church at Corinth, and one of the primary hindrances was the work of edification internally and evangelism outwardly. Loveless discord between brethren hindered spiritual growth inwardly and destroyed growth in the community of unbelievers.
1. 1 Cor. 1:11-13.
(1) What caused the division? Listen to the Holy Spirit’s assessment of the problem, 1 Cor. 3:3-4. Become like selfish, loveless, hateful, worldly non-Christian people.
(1) For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not CARNAL? = SARKIKOS. Animal nature, Ruled by the Flesh. “Lie carnally with your neighbors wife.” Division causes the world to look at Christians as a pack of immature, snarling, animals chewing each other to pieces. People who live only for their own animal lusts..
(1) When people are not working together there can be little productive result.
(2) People are working at Own interests not God’s. We need to Strive for unity in the Lord’s work. Strive means to make it our priority.
(2) 2 Tim. 2:15. The Word of Truth never condones division between God’s people.
(1) We are commanded to strive together: Phil. 1:27, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, (How’s that Paul?) that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”
(2) What does that mean, and what does it require of us? Is there anyway that you can justify division in God’s Church? If division is unequivocally condemned by God, How can we condone it in any form?
(2) The meaning of striving together for the faith of the Gospel?
(1) The “together” aspect of Christianity is commanded of by God and His Word.
(1) A “horizontal relationship” with other Christians cannot be separated from a “vertical relationship” with God.
(2) And in our relationship as members of a congregation the Holy Spirit makes this demand on us, 1 Cor 1:10?11, “That there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
(2) Why would God make such a demand on us? Not just once or twice, but at least five or six time in the New testament We need to know why.
(1) One place we can begin is 1 Cor. 3:9-11. That says that God through the apostles laid the foundation for the church and we build on that foundation.
(2) Paul uses two metaphors to describe the Church and it’s work. A field and a building. Only have time to discuss one of these analogies A building.
2. 1 Pet. 2:5, “You, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” What is a spiritual house? It’s a temple, the place where you worship and offer sacrifice to God.
(1) Your purpose for being the temple of God is stated in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, (Now here’s the reason why) that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” You present a unified presence to the world so you can invite them to join the people of God to become saved and worship God acceptably.

(1) God wants them to become living stones to build His temple (The Church).
(1) 1 Cor. 3:16?17, describes the Church at Corinth as the temple of God, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.“ Who is the “you” under consideration here? The congregation in the city of Corinth.
(2) This congregation is the temple of God in Spur, Texas. Collectively, each of you are the spiritual stones of which this temple is built.
(3) What’s the context of this scripture? 1 Cor. 1:10-3:23, is a lengthy discussion of one specific topic. Division in the congregation at Corinth.
(2) Together we are spiritual stones build into the temple of God in Spur. We have one common cause, reason for existing.
(1) We have a common enemy and we must be unified against him or the temple of God in Spur will become defiled.
(2) Listen to God’s command again, “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” 1 Cor. 1:10.
(2) Jno. 17:17, 20-22; Listen to Christ’s prayer for unity, "Father sanctify them in Thy truth, Thy word is truth.....I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.”
(1) How can God sanctify anyone in truth if they ignore the teaching of truth?
(1) We are to believe in Jesus through the apostle’s word. Notice why?
(2) So there will be no division among us. “That we may be one.”
(3) Why is so important that we have no division? “So the world will believe that Jesus was sent by God.” Division causes unbelief.
(2) Division causes unbelief and souls to be lost.
(1) God’s command is to grow up into spiritual maturity ? Eph. 4:11?16.
(2) You don’t grab up your toys like some spoiled brat and say, “I’m not going to love you, I’m going to go somewhere else.” That will cost you your soul.
(3) Why? You are causing grievous harm to the body of Christ.
(4) May we work toward having a conduct “worthy of the gospel of Christ” — and may we thereby “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27.
(5) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 8/19/2001 pm