Be of One Mind in Christ
God in heaven is making new creatures in Christ (Gal. 6:15). He is doing this by creating Jesus Christ’s nature in us (Gal. 4:19). In order to do this, we must undergo testing (1 Peter 5:10; 4:1, 12, 16, 19; 2 Cor. 4:10). Some tests will be more severe than others, but the Lord assures us we can handle these tests (1 Cor. 10:13). We will be tested in our morals. We will be tested in our loyalty and faithfulness. Above all, God wants us to be of one mind in Christ.
In order to cause us to be of one mind, God allows Satan to stir up strife, opposition, dissension, factions, controversies, enmities, jealousy, anger and disputes among those who will give in to such things. When practiced, these evil things will keep you from inheriting the kingdom of God and eternal life (Gal. 5:19-21). God must find out who will participate in these things so He can root them up from among those He is testing (1 John 2:19; 1 Cor. 11:18-19; Jude 1:16). This is how we are perfected by God into being one-minded in Christ Jesus (Phil 1:27; 2:2).
We are to separate ourselves from the world and all that entangles it (2 Cor. 6:16-18; Heb. 12:1; Rev. 18:4). God warns us not to be filled with dissipation, which is the wasteful expenditure of time, or the day of the Lord will come upon us as a trap (Luke 21:34)! We are to draw near to God and His Ways and away from the things of the world (James 4:8; John 15:19). Anything in this world that stirs up strife, confusion, factions, anger and disputes we are not to participate in as these are the deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). We are to pursue holiness, according to God because without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). We are to seek peace and pursue it earnestly (1 Pet. 3:11). We are to be wholly devoted, allowing God’s Ways to direct our lives (1 Kings 8:61; Jer. 10:23; Prov. 16:9). We are to speak as though they were the utterances of God, as we go about imitating Him (1 Pet. 4:11; Eph. 5:1). His opinion becomes our opinion, because in the end, His opinion is the only one that matters. After all, He is our Creator and knows all. We will stand before Him, and only Him, on judgement day to give an account for our lives (Rev. 20:12; Rom. 14:12).
Certainly, it is possible that those who participated in dissension, factions, controversies and disputes, might later on repent. But God is not going to give eternal life to those who cause divisions and dissensions, like Satan did so many years ago (Jude 1:19). God must root them out. It is God’s way of finding out who will remain loyal to God’s Word (Prov. 21:21).
Satan was not loyal to God. He thought he could do God’s job better. He found fault with the way God was doing things. He thought he knew more than His Maker and Teacher.
God teaches His ministers and then sends them out saying, “The person who accepts you accepts Me” (Matt. 10:40). Jesus was accepted by few and rejected by many. The same was true of His ministers. This is a test of whether or not you will be true to God Almighty. If you reject the one God sent to tell you the truth, you have rejected Jesus Christ (Luke 10:16). This is what God’s word, which cannot lie, says! The only exception to this is if that person stops living for God and falls away from the faith (1 Cor. 11:1).
People who fall away from God’s one true faith and give in to Satan, flunk the test. It’s as simple and plain as that. That’s why God’s word warns us to take notice of (mark) those who are causing divisions and avoid them (Rom. 16:17). These people deceive other people by their smooth speech and the unsuspecting, dumb or foolish ones go after them (Rom. 16:18). That’s why God’s word commands that there be no division—none, not one. God wants those who are His perfectly joined together with the very same mind—that mind which was in Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 1:10).
Jesus Christ says, “Every minister which My Father did not plant or appoint will be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13-14). They will bring upon themselves swift destruction from the Lord if they don’t or won’t repent (2 Peter 2:1).
Be very careful who you are listening to, be careful with what you are watching and what you devote your time to (Matt. 6:22-23; Psalm 101:3). Ask yourself, is this in agreement with God and His Ways? Does this promote holiness in my life? Be loyal, be faithful and endure to the end, loving others with one mind, one goal and one aim—to please the Lord Jesus Christ in all areas of our lives and daily walk with Him (Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:4-6).
God is not fooling around and we shouldn’t be either. Justifying one’s actions might work now, but it won’t work on judgment day. Loyalty to God’s Word and the one who preaches His truth is loyalty to God Himself (Matt. 24:45-51). Make your mind up to be of one mind with God. Imitate Him in all your ways to be pleasing to Him in all respects (2 Cor. 5:9; 3 John 1:11; John 8:29) . There is no time to lose!