“FACTIONS” (GAL. 5:20)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Most who are here know that Christ died for the church. Eph. 5:25

2. We likely know that Christ bought the church with His blood. Acts 20:28

3. The church is so important that it is called Christ’s body. Eph. 1:22-23

I. IF THE CHURCH WAS WORTH THE LORD’S DEATH; IF IT’S VALUE IS HIGH ENOUGH TO BE CALLED THE LORD’S BODY; WE WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SAY THAT WE CAN NAME SOMETHING THAT IS GREATER THAN THE CHURCH IN LIGHT OF THE VERSES GIVEN.

A. A Christian would surely never elevate anything above the church.

B. Surely the church would take precedence over everything else.

C. Though the church should be above all, this has not been and is not always the case.

D. In Gal. 5 the ASV uses the word “factions”.

E. The KJV uses the word “strife”.

F. If we guessed about the meaning of these words, we would probably be wrong.

G. Strife and factions are terms we use to describe fighting.

H. These words are used to tell us that people are not getting along.

I. The strife or factions in Gal. 5 is not exactly fighting.

(1) If we look at the last few words in v. 20, we find some words that appear to be similar.

(2) Paul lists “wrath, factions, divisions, parties “.

(3) Though all of these words can somehow be related to clashes, there are some additional

ideas connected to these four words.

(4) Tonight we will try to uncover more than what may be immediately obvious.

J. The word that Paul used in Gal. 5 was also used outside the NT. It was not used often, but it was

used.

K. One example of its use involves an election.

L. Just as we elect people to political office, so elections were held in ancient times. People sought to be elected to certain offices.

M. It should be clear that not everyone wants to be elected to public office for the same reason.

(1) Some want to be elected so they can serve the people.

(2) There are those who want to dedicate their lives to public service.

(3) There are others who want to be elected to office but the reason for being elected is not related to public service.

(4) Some want a public office job so they will be noticed.

(5) Some desire a special position and special privileges.

(6) Some people seek public office to honor themselves.

(7) If people seek public office to be a public servant – wish to better lives – this is a noble goal.

(8) Some want elected so they can be served; others want to be elected to serve.

N. The word used by Paul was used to describe politicians.

(1) When a politician sought public office and the reason was self-centered, the word translated strife/faction was applied to him.

(2) This word described people who put their interests above another’s.

O. Paul took a word that was used to describe some politicians and applied it to Christianity in Gal. 5.

P. His application is this:

(1) There are brethren who will put themselves above the church.

(2) As a politician may put his interests above that of the public, so Christians can exalt things

above Christ and His body.

Q. Although the church was bought by Christ; although the church was paid for by Jesus’ blood;

though Christ is firmly connected to the body; there are people who put things above the church.

R. If people put things above the church and the church is connected to Christ, we can only conclude

that anything put above the church is put above Christ.

S. None of the works of the flesh are good.

T. The implications of this work, however, are especially shocking.

II. WE NOW HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA AS TO WHAT THE MEANING BEHIND THE WORD “STRIFE” OR “FACTIONS” IS. WE ARE NOW READY TO SEE SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES IN THE NT OF HOW THIS SIN OCCURS.

A. One of the places where the word in Gal. 5 is repeated is 2 Cor.

B. With all of the problems at Corinth, this should not surprise us.

C. Paul used the same word in 2 Cor. 12:20.

D. With this same word are several other negative ideas (sins).

E. READ 2 Cor. 12:20.

(1) Corinth had all kinds of problems.

(2) Some who were at Corinth were backstabbers.

(3) Christians whispered behind each other’s back.

(4) There was a lack of unity and a lot of anger.

(5) Why did all these sins exist?

(6) One reason is indicated by the word “strife/factions”.

(7) At Corinth, Christians elevated sin above Christ.

(a) What do I mean by this?

(b) How was sin elevated above Christ?

(8) If Christ had been first in the minds of the Corinthians:

(a) The sins in 2 Cor. 12 would not have existed.

(b) The Lord has condemned these actions.

(d) If the Corinthians had put Christ first then love and forgiveness would have been in

their lives instead of sin.

(9) Since these sins were not put away (v. 20) … because these Christians persisted in these

sins … we know that Christ was not first in their lives.

(10) Practicing these sins was more important than the Lord.

(a) Holding on to anger was more important than Christ.

(b) Stabbing people in the back was more important than the Lord.

(11) The Corinthians refused to have Christ on top.

(a) Maybe they felt like Jesus was #2.

(b) Perhaps they felt close to the Lord.

(d) No matter what the Corinthians thought, sin and not Christ had become their head.

(12) This was so serious that in the closing chapter of this book Paul said, “If I come again, I

will not spare.” (2 Cor. 13:2)

(13) When Christians replace Christ with something else, they have a different head.

(14) It’s time for judgment. This problem is very serious.

F. 2 Cor. 12:20 is very helpful in understanding Gal. 5:20.

G. There is another passage that helps us. Phil. 1:16 in the KJV – (v. 15 in the ASV)

H. There were some people who didn’t like Paul; wanted to annoy him.

I. These people had an unusual way to annoy the apostle. They preached.

J. They thought if they preached Christ this would upset Paul.

K. READ/QUOTE Phil. 1:15.

L. There are probably some men who preach for the wrong reasons.

(1) I have yet to find a member of the church who preaches to make a large salary.

(2) There are probably some who preach for the sake of attention.

(3) Attention and prestige could be more important to some than Christ.

(4) These people apparently didn’t preach for attention.

(5) Neither did they preach to serve God.

(6) Their motivation for preaching was to annoy Paul.

(7) This motivation put annoying Paul above serving Jesus.

(8) This was why Paul could use the same word that is found in Gal. 5.

M. This may have been such a bad thing that in the next chapter (Phil. 2:3A) Paul says,

READ/QUOTE. Again, we have the same word found in Gal. 5.

N. If we use the framework that has been constructed thus far, we may conclude that nothing is to be

put above Christ.

O. Although this should be the way it is, people will be people. This does not always happen.

P. Let’s locate another place where the word in Gal. 5 is used.

Q. My next reference is Rom. 2:8.

(1) Romans 2 was directed to Jewish readers.

(2) Paul told them they were guilty of sin.

(3) Part of the problem was a lack of obedience to God’s word.

(4) V. 8 of Rom. 2 – READ.

(5) Some Jews were “contentious” (factious, ASV).

(6) This is the same word that is found in Gal. 5.

(7) Some exalted disobedience over God.

(8) Christians and non-Christians can do exactly what the Jews did.

(9) Instead of having the Lord first in one’s life, disobedience (sin) – opposition to God – is first.

III. WHEN THIS WORD IS USED IN THE NT IT DESCRIBES SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HOLD ON TO. NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE WANT TO HOLD ON TO SOMETHING, THE THING THAT IS BEING HELD ON TO IS EXALTED (PUT ABOVE GOD).

A. The principle that comes from this word is very useful.

B. How many of us have ever known a person who said, “I can’t forgive him.” or “I will always

hate her.”?

(1) Most of us have heard remarks like these.

(2) Some of these comments have come from NT Christians.

(3) When people make this kind of statement, do we realize what is being said?

(4) A person is saying, “My grudge is more important than Christ.”

(5) If Christ is first in one’s life, the Lord’s will (i.e. forgiveness) will be practiced.

(6) There is no other choice.

(7) Because forgiveness is not practiced, the grudge is more important than Christ and Christianity.

C. I cannot speak for the ones who are here but I never want to face the Lord and have to answer why

I elevated a grudge or a sin like hate above Jesus.

D. The word “factions/strife” describes exalting our own interests.

E. Again, it is just like the politician who seeks office not to serve but to be served.

F. We can do this same thing when it comes to Jesus.

(1) I have known churches that split.

(2) One person or a group had a certain idea.

(3) Often the idea was that things should be done their way.

(4) Some have not only had an idea, they have felt compelled to press their idea.

(5) Something had to be “their way” and they were willing to fight to get it.

(6) In a case like this, what was being exalted (put first), an idea or the Lord?

(7) This would be a painful question for some church splitters to answer.

(8) There are church splits where the split is exalted above Christ.

(9) There are some who would surely be angry at my saying that but it’s true.

G. When we read these passages about the importance of the church in this light, it’s easy to say that

“Christ must come first.” “The church is the most important thing.”

H. When our own interests become involved, sometimes Jesus can take a back seat.

(1) Have you ever been in a congregation that has cliques?

(2) The little groups are not only present; they are obvious?

(3) What has the priority in places like this – Christ or cliques?

(4) It cannot be Christ. If Christ is first, there can be no cliques.

I. I have seen brethren attempt to institute a program/idea.

J. Even though some ideas were good there was too much opposition.

K. In spite of the opposition, some have fought for their idea.

L. Some wanted their idea implemented so they waged war.

M. Brethren called up other members to have a secret vote; or, people were manipulated into

supporting an idea.

N. What had first place in cases like this – an idea or Christ?

O. Within the church there are congregations leaving behind the pattern set in God’s word.

P. Some want to blend in more with society.

Q. The idea is that the time has come to conform to many around us.

R. Is this putting the Lord first or is society first?

CONCLUSION:

1. People can put sins above Christ … sins like strife and jealousy.

2. Faction (a desire to fight) can be put above Christ.

3. Nearly everything can be put above Jesus.

4. One of the words used by Paul, if we study it carefully, shows that putting something above Christ is a

work of the flesh.

5. Is Jesus first in your life?