Same mind (like minded)

1) Sometimes we try to understand things by using a scale.

2) A person may go to their doctor and say, “on a scale from 1-10, how bad is my condition”?

3) A scale may also be used to rate the value of an object.

4) This morning I heard about a “happiness scale” that ranges from 1-10.

5) This scale says people in the United States are a “5” on the happy scale.

6) In 1 Cor. 1 we find a type of “scale” and is associated with church division.

7) There are four distinct words in the New Testament that describe a lack of unity or disagreement.

8) The first word (stasis) is used in places like Acts 15:2 to describe a strong disagreement.

a) Paul and Baranbas had a “dissension” with some people who said circumcision was necessary.

b) This is the mildest of the four New Testament words to describe a lack of harmony.

c) In Acts 15 the situation was serious, but it was no knock down drag out.

d) It was a matter that had to be addressed so action was taken so a very mild term was used.

9) A second word, also on your handout (dichostasia), meant “a standing apart.”

10) This word is more serious and it is listed as a work of the flesh in Gal. 5:20.

11) This term is translated “division” in the ASV and “seditions” in the KJV.

12) This second word is noticeably more serious than the first.

13) The third term used in the New Testament is the word used in 1 Cor. 1.

14) Before we get to this third word, I will introduce the most serious word – hairesis.

a) This final described a mature and established separation. It was the most severe type of division.

b) In Acts 24:5 this is translated “sect.”

c) By the time a situation gets to this 4^th level, there is a definite break.

d) No bond or union is left; whatever relationship that existed has been completely severed.

15) The Corinthians had not reached the level described by the fourth and most severe word.

16) Paul carefully described them with a third most severe word (schisma).

17) This word described a very severe tear.

a) Paul used this word later in the book (1 Cor. 11:18).

b) Paul said when this church came together there were “divisions” (this third word).

c) This third word reminds me of someone who has a gash in his or her body.

d) It may be a gaping hole in the upper or lower section of the body.

e) Perhaps an internal organ has been exposed or has actually partially out of the body.

f) In cases such as this things are very serious, but there is hope of repair.

18) This is how Paul described the condition of this congregation.

19) Corinth was not the worst place to be, but it was in the stage just prior to being a full-blown split.

20) Paul described what needed to be done and he presented the information in three different ways.

21) We heard this for our Scripture reading but we want to look at part of that reading once more:

a) Verse 10 – READ.

b) First, Paul said “speak the same thing.”

c) We are coming to a time of year when a lot of families get together.

d) Families may try to put aside differences for a day or two around the holidays.

e) In some cases a kind of temporary truce is called with respect to family issues.

22) This was not what Paul told the Corinthians.

23) When he said “speak the same thing,” he used the present tense.

24) Paul did not have in mind some type of special Sunday. He meant speak the same thing & keep on doing it.

25) Some might think that is asking a lot.

26) If that is asking a lot, then we should really be surprised by what else the verse says.

a) Notice another little word: “all.”

b) Paul said, “I want you ALL to speak the same thing.”

c) Getting everyone to do that on just a single day can be awfully hard.

d) Imagine getting everyone to do that every time they come together.

e) In the world many would look at this instruction and shrug it off as impossible.

f) Paul believed it was possible and it was something that had to be done.

g) These Christians needed to seek peace and harmony.

27) A second expression is in the middle of the 10^th verse; “that there be no divisions among you.”

28) Divisions is the third word for division-- a word used to describe a tear in material.

29) People can suffer torn relationships, even in the church.

30) Such was the case at Corinth and Paul said this has to be resolved.

31) At the end of our text comes a third expression of unity: “perfectly joined.”

a) This is a verb and it is in the perfect tense.

b) The perfect tense describes something that happened in the past and the results continue.

c) Suppose a person said they “lost” a $50 bill 20 years ago.

d) If that $50 were never found, the perfect tense would describe the event.

e) Something happened in the past (money was lost) and that lost money is still lost.

32) Paul said “be perfectly joined” and the perfect tense gives us this picture:

33) “Become joined and stay joined.” Restore the bond and then maintain it.

34) Writers other than the New Testament authors used this third expression.

a) There used to be people known as “bonesetters.”

b) As the name suggests, these people “set bones” (put them back where they needed to be).

c) The word was also used of architects who restored the walls of a city or religious structure.

d) Christians were told to restore their relationship so they were all on the same path.

IN THS CHAPTER WE SEE THAT GOD WANTS CHRISTIANS TO BE “LIKE MINDED.”

1) Today Christians are still to be like-minded.

a) Over the years I have said that virtually extreme position is contrary to Bible teaching.

b) When it comes to the subject of being “like-minded,” there are two very different viewpoints.

2) I know of a preacher who once went to a congregation and began to teach.

3) He said Christians need to be of the same mind (like-minded).

4) He was right, because this is taught in places like 1 Cor. 1.

5) Having made this good point, he continued to teach but then began to drew some incorrect conclusions.

a) He contended that if we are like-minded, all of us will do and believe the exact same things.

b) He then went a little further and gave some specific examples that we actually matters of judgment.

c) What he taught was not too far off from the idea of cloning.

d) A preacher advanced the idea that Christians become “cookie cutter” people.

e) We may dress a little different, but we are all basically the same.

6) At the far opposite end of the spectrum is the type of thinking we see at Corinth.

7) People were going all sorts of ways; people did not want to be like-minded.

8) What happened at Corinth is now visible on a much broader scale.

9) In the vast sea of religious groups, churches are not like-minded.

10) If it is wrong to not be like-minded in a congregation, it is certainly wrong on a larger scale.

11) What does it mean to be like-minded?

a) Paul helped explain this in Rom. 15:5.

b) The apostle said “be like-minded” one towards another.

c) If this all the information we had, we might not know exactly what this means.

d) We could deduce it does not involve the extremes we mentioned, but that would be about all.

12) The New Testament helps us. Paul’s word for “like-minded” is found in other parts of the New Testament.

13) We want to look at these words so we can know what it means to be like-minded.

14) Our first reference comes from Acts 1:14.

15) If the Corinthians had practiced the “like minded” verses in the New Testament, things would have been much different.

a) Acts 1 is obviously before Acts 2 so it is information prior to the Day of Pentecost.

b) The people of God were waiting, and this waiting was not idleness.

c) Acts 1:14 – READ.

d) “With one accord” (like-mindedness) Christians were praying.

e) Being like-minded means we will be united in prayer.

f) We will be praying for the same things and many of the same people.

g) When a congregation is united in prayer, it is hard for it to be divided by other issues.

h) God’s people achieve unity, closeness and like-mindedness, in part, by praying.

16) Acts 2:46 is the next verse where our word occurs – READ.

17) God’s people continued daily with “one accord.”

a) This is the same word translated like-minded in Rom. 15:6.

b) God’s people saw each other “daily.”

c) We may see some people almost every day that do not have our mindset.

d) Generally these situations are not of our choosing; we are put in this position due to work or school.

e) In Acts 2, the coming together was deliberate; it was a willful choice.

f) When we have a choice, we like to be around those who are like-minded.

g) If we want to be like-minded with church people, we need to spend time with fellow Christians.

h) Our spiritual interests will bind us together more and more.

i) Moral issues should also create within us a like-mind.

18) A beautiful picture of the first century church is found in Acts 5:12.

19) The Bible says “with one accord” the people came together in Solomon’s porch.

20) This is the word for like-minded. God’s people assembled and they were a unified group.

a) A unified group is not what most denominations have.

b) In many religious groups people believe all types of things.

c) That can also happen in the church, but that should not be the case.

d) We should be a unified body of people when it comes to any matter related to the Bible.

21) I say this because of Acts 7:57.

22) A mob was of “one accord” (like-minded) when they killed Stephen.

23) How sad it is that a blood thirsty band of killers can be like-minded but the people of God cannot be.

24) Perhaps this was one of the reasons Paul was so shocked and began to hint at division in 1 Cor. 1.

25) We can be united (like minded) with fellow Christians and one of the ways we do it is found in Acts 8.

26) The Bible says people gave heed “with one accord.”

27) People were like-minded when it came to learning.

a) Teachers in the world often have their hands full.

b) Even if a class only has 10 students, it is rare that all ten have a mind ready to learn.

c) Some want to play, others want to talk, and there are those who like to rebellious.

d) If we have a like-mind desire to learn, we will be on the road to a like-minded faith.

e) Then we come back to Rom. 15:6.

f) Paul said that Christians could be like-minded and “glorify Christ and the Father.”

g) They could do this with a like-mind.

h) In the way we live, worship, and serve God we can be like minded.

28) This does not mean we will be clones; we are all different in many ways.

29) We are like minded in that we are all traveling down the narrow road to eternal life.

30) If we are all really following the same book (the Bible), we will be like-minded.

31) We will be like-minded on how to become a Christian.

32) We will be like-minded on how we need to worship and serve God.

33) We will be like-minded on how to live the Christian life.

34) This is a possible way to live and it will be the way that we live if we simply follow the Word of God?

35) Is this our choice?

twelve times in the New Testament. The other eleven places where this word occurs are all in the book of Acts—1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:24; 5:12; 7:57; 8:6; 12:20; 15:25; 18:12; 19:29. Each of these verses 1:10: Now I beseech you, brethren, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Paul addressed the various factions as “brethren.” The Corinthians needed to realize they all had the same spiritual father. This was the beginning point for church unity. To insure this point was presented with authority, Paul appealed to the “name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thayer (p. 448) defines name (onoma) as “to beseech one by employing Christ’s name as motive or incentive.” Kittel (5:278) said the “name of Christ is an instrument of admonition.” Paul did not ask for unity based upon his authority as an apostle; he appealed to deity. He went to the part of the Godhead that died on a cross. Today people often appeal to others in “the name of common sense,” “the name of decency,” “the name of humanity,” or “even the name of Allah.” There is really only one true source of authority and this is Jesus. When commenting on Paul’s usage of name in Col. 3:17 Kittel (5:274) said, “The whole life of the Christian stands under the name of Jesus.” For Christians who are doing what they ought not, an “appeal to Jesus” should be enough to cause them to reconsider their actions.
If the Corinthians knew much about the Lord (and they did, verse 5), they may have remembered Jesus’ great prayer for unity in Jn. 17:20-21. If for no other reason, Paul was able to appeal to Jesus because the Lord is the head of the church (Col. 1:18). Since Christ is the head, how dare men try to associate it with mere men, even if that man were an apostle! True unity would allow the Corinthians to Paul’s instructions concerning unity are in conflict with what is taught and done in the denominational world. Most who call themselves Christians belong to a denomination. Different doctrines and practices abound, but few are bothered by the lack of harmony and religious disagreements. There are even those who think religious division is good. It has been said that a lack of unity results in “having a place for everyone.” Or, “With so many churches to choose from, at least one group will appeal to people.” The lack of unity in the religious world and the desire for diversity are completely contrary to the New Testament. God requires people to be involved with “sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10) and has even said sound doctrine is directly joined with “godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3). We cannot be godly without God’s doctrine. Accepting “some of the truth” is not enough. If we worship in a place that teaches and practices religious error, we are not “holding to” sound doctrine and the pattern in God’s word (2 Tim. 1:13). We commit the same kind of sin Jesus specifically condemned while on the earth (Mk. 7:6-9—see section 21 of the Gospels commentary). When an individual or even a congregation refused to follow sound doctrine, God says a rebuke is necessary (Tit. 1:13). Preachers (Tit. 2:1) as well as every other Christian are bound to follow sound doctrine (for additional information on sound doctrine, see the commentary on 1 Tim. 1:10).
Some have seen the lack of unity in the denominational world and decided a “unity-in-diversity” approach is needed. Such an approach is not unity; it is toleration. A unity-in-diversity attitude is also wrong because it violates what Paul told the Corinthians. Paul did not say differences were to be tolerated; he said these Christians were to be of the same mind. God wants His people to speak the same thing, have no divisions, and be perfectly joined together. These things can only be accomplished when everyone agrees to completely and fully follow God’s word and use nothing but the Bible as their religious guide. For additional information on this point see the twelve point study in the commentary on Rom. 15:5-6 as well as the commentary on Rom. 16:14-16.
It has been said that Paul condemned what has now become modern denominationalism in verse 10 but this is incorrect. In the first century there was only one church (the church of Christ, Mt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16). What we now know as “Christian denominations” is very new; these groups did not exist in the first century. What we do have in these two verses are the seeds of denominationalism, and this fact makes Paul’s remarks even more striking. If the divisions within the local Corinthian congregation (the seeds of what has now become full grown) were wrong, what must we say about modern day denominationalism and multiple religious bodies with varying doctrines? Jesus answered this question in Mt. 15:13: If a religious group has not been established by God, it will be “rooted up.” Many talk about the “head of their church,” but the true church has only one head: Christ. If we have a head other than Him, it is the wrong one. If we have a head other than Him, we have more heads than God has authorized.

1:11-12: 11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them (that are of the household) of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Though the church at Corinth was divided, Paul still felt the need to refer to these Christians as his “brethren.” Paul was still spiritually related to these people and this relationship justified his becoming involved