LESSON FIVE – KNOWING THE SECTS

Gal. 5:19-20 — The works of the flesh are manifest, which are such things as fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery,…factions, divisions, sects.

1 Cor. 1:10, 12-13 — I beseech you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.…Each of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?

“IS CHRIST DIVIDED?”

In the church in Corinth, there were factions. One party said that they were of Paul, and another said that they were of Apollos. Another party said that they were of Cephas (Peter), and still another party, who considered themselves superior to all the previous parties, said that they were of Christ. Therefore, they were severely rebuked by the apostle Paul, who had led them to salvation and who had established them as the church.

Paul called them to account, asking them whether Christ had been divided (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Obviously Christ has not been and cannot be divided. However, these who had believed and had been baptized into Christ were divided one from another. This offended Christ, dividing His Body, separating the unique church, which He redeemed by shedding His blood, into many different sects.

SECTS BEING OF THE  FLESH

In Greek, the word for party or sect (hairesis) is the same as the word for heresy (hairesis anglicized), which means to label something new in order to be different, resulting in a distinctive party—a sect. [Galatians 5:19-20 tells] us clearly that sects come from men’s flesh. They also show us that there are always factions and divisions before the formation of a sect, and envyings after its establishment. What a shame!

THE FACTORS CONSTITUTING SECTS

Special Creeds

The common faith of true Christians is unique. It includes the Triune God, the person and work of Christ, that is, the being of Christ and the doings of Christ, and the divine authority of the Bible. Besides these truths of our fundamental faith, to consider other matters to be the Christian faith (such as the method of baptism of the Baptist denomination, the system of church administration of the Presbyterian denomination, the tongue-speaking of the Pentecostal denomination, the head covering and foot-washing of other groups, or general doctrines such as the time and number of raptures, the interpretation of prophecies, and the understanding of certain parts of the Scriptures) and to make them special creeds is to label something new in order to be different and will result in sects.

Special Fellowships

With the existence of special creeds, Christians will be divided into different groups, having special fellowships in their different circles outside of the believers’ common fellowship. Such special fellowships cause those believers who practice them to be constituted as sects separate from the believers in general.

Special Names

Special creeds not only lead to special fellowships, but they also produce special names, such as the name of a certain denomination or a certain church. These special names, in a more tangible way, cause those who so label themselves to be constituted into named sects, resulting in denominations. A denomination is a named sect. Therefore, those who know the Body of Christ must never bear such special names.

God’s calling is that we would be members of the Body of Christ. If our walk damages and hurts the oneness of the Body of Christ, it is not worthy of God’s calling. Therefore, we must endeavor to live in the Body of Christ to keep the oneness of the Body, not participating in any divisions, sects, or denominations. (Life Lessons, vol. 2, pp. 7, 9-11)

Reference: Life Lessons, vol. 2, lsn. 13

THE UNITY OF CHURCH IS BUT THE SAINTS IN ONENESS LIVING

The Church—Her Unity

The unity of Church is but
The saints in oneness living;
The Spirit which indwelleth them
This oneness ever giving.
Thus it is realized and called
The unity of Spirit;
’Tis based upon the common faith
Which all the saints inherit.

This precious faith of all the saints,
Is constituted solely
Of Christ and His redemptive work,
Which are unique and holy.
In this the saints are truly one,
Together all agreeing,
And it is from this common faith
The Church came into being.

The Church within the universe
Is one as Christ’s possession;
The Church must therefore locally
Be one in her expression;
For all her elements are one-
One God, one Lord, one Spirit,
One faith, baptism, Body too,
One hope all saints inherit.

This oneness is the Church’s ground,
The ground of common standing,
The only ground of unity
The Spirit is demanding.
The Church in actual practise thus
May keep her vital union,
And her expressions locally
Be built up in communion.

Lord, help us ever strive to keep
This unity by taking
The Church’s ground of unity,
The Body-life partaking,
That all Thy heart’s profound desire
May fully be effected,
And God’s eternal purpose may
Completely be perfected.