Preached by E. Jardinel @Prayer Meeting, 12-03-25

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. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

The church of Corinth, now lying bleeding in the wound:

• Carnality

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)

• Schism

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (1 Corinthians 3:3-4)

Apostle Paul, applying a solution to the problem as he said: (1 Cor. 1: 10).

BESEECH –  To beg for urgently or anxiously; to request earnestly

BRETHREN – One family in the Lord, expresses affection and relationship. 

And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? (Acts 7:26)

There is concern:

So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. (Genesis 45:24)

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.(Acts 16:28)

I. PAUL APPEALS FOR UNITY IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

Christ’s desire and prayer is unity in the truth (John 17; Psa. 133:1)

• The church is to be the light of the world, Matthew 5: 16.
• The church is to be a testimony to the world.
• The church is to bring the gospel to all nations, Mat. 28: 18-20.
• Church members, working together will accomplish great things.  “United we stand, divided we fall”. 
  • Eph.4: 16 – Like a body that increases its ability.
  • Phil. 1: 27 – Striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Disunity brings disadvantages and consequences to the church

• It affects the testimony and influence of the church, Matthew 5: 16
• It causes the church to suffer, discourages the brethren, especially the weak. 

1 Cor. 12:21-26

• It slows or hinders the growth and progress, (Gal. 5: 15; 19-23).

Paul urges not by his name but by the name of Christ (1 Cor. 3: 4-5)

• Christ taught love, peace, unity (John 17; 13:35).
• God’s desire, Psalm 133: 1
• God is grieved by division. (Eph.4:30). 
• By our love for Jesus. (Mark 12: 30-31; John 14:15)

II. PAUL APPEALS FOR THEM TO SPEAK THE SAME THING.

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:(Titus 2:1)

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (Titus 2:7-8)

• This requires study of God’s words, 2 Tim. 2: 15, John 5: 39.
• This requires teachability, 2 Tim. 2: 2 ; James 1: 19.
• This requires humility, Phil. 2:2-5
• This requires wisdom, James 3:13-18
• This requires love, Eph. 4: 15, 16, 29, 31-32.

III. PAUL APPEALS TO THEM THAT THEY BE PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER. 

To be perfectly joined together requires submission.

• Submission to God first of all, James 4: 7; 1:22
• Submission to the leader or pastor, Heb 13: 17; 1 Cor. 16:15-16
  • Submission to a leader if he is submissive also to biblical leadership. 
  • A good leader is a good follower.
• Submission to the husband as it is fit, Eph. 5: 22; 1 Cor. 11:3
• Obedience to Parents in the Lord, Eph. 6:1
• Subjection to government, Romans 13:1-2

To be perfectly joined together requires correction

• The Bible is to correct us, 2 Tim. 3: 16-17. 
• Correction will lead to wisdom, maturity, and development of ability. Prov. 10:17; 17:10-11; 9:7-10; 12:1;13:1.
• The duty of the pastor is to preach the word, teach, exhort, rebuke, correct through the word of God.  (2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2: 15).
• Members are also to search the Scriptures if the preaching is in the Bible (Acts 17:11; John 5: 39).

To be perfectly joined together requires spirituality

• There is always a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit, Gal. 5: 17.
• We need to walk in the Spirit and not be controlled by the flesh, Gal. 5: 16; Eph. 5: 18.

III. PAUL APPEALS TO THEM TO HAVE THE SAME MIND AND JUDGMENT.

• The Bible speaks of Judge not, Matthew 7: 1-3. 1 Cor. 4:5
• Man is always guilty of making wrong judgment.     
• Gossiping, slandering are oftentimes caused by carnality, hatred, envy, jealousy, etc.  (Gal. 5:13-17, 20-21)
• It causes conflicts and problems.  James 4: 1-3
• The problem of judgmental spirit or critical spirit is lack of maturity.
• Romans 12: 3, James 1: 19; James 2: 13;
• The Bible speaks of righteous judgment, John 7:24
• When leaders make decisions, they are judging. Moses, Solomon.
• The church is also to judge, 1 Cor. 6: 2,3 ; 5: 12 ; Mat 18: 15-17.