My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Hebrews 12:22, 23, it is written, " 22 But ye are come unto mount Si´-on, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the ¹general assembly and church of ^athe firstborn, ^bwhich are ²written in heaven, and to God ^cthe Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men ^dmade perfect. "  As Christians, members of the church of Christ ( see Acts 2:38, 41, and 47; Romans 12:1-8 ( especially verse 5, for example ); 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 ( especially verses 20 and 27, for example ); Galatians 3:26, 27; and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ), we are the new Jerusalem, recorded for life in Jerusalem, enrolled in heaven.  We are a royal priesthood ( see 1 Peter 2:9, for example ).

In 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, it is written, " 10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^athat ye all ¹speak the same thing, and that there be no ²divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chlo´-e, that there are ¹contentions among you.  12 Now this I say, ^athat every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of ^bA-pol´-los; and I of ^cCe´-phas; and I of Christ.  13 ^aIs Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? "  The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) teaches ( see 9:1; 16:21, for example ), here, that quarreling is a characteristic associated with religious division.  Quarreling is occuring because someone is not willing to follow Christ.

The very basis of religious denominationalism is due to an unwillingness to follow Christ.  It is based on the sin ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; Romans 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); and 1 John 3:4 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) of pride ( see Proverbs 15:33, for example ).  Paul clearly teaches, in the passage of Scripture quoted in the previous paragraph, that Christ is not divided.

Religious division occurs because someone wants to do something contrary to God's will.  In Matthew 7:21-23, it is written, " 21 Not every one that saith unto me, ^aLord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that ^bdoeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we ^anot prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out ¹devils? and in thy name done many ²wonderful works?  23 And ^athen will I profess unto them, I never knew you: ^bdepart from me, ye that work ¹iniquity. "  Jesus will say, on judgment day ( see also Psalm 6:8; Matthew, chapter 25 ( especially verse 41, for example ), for example ), to all those who choose to digress from His Father's will, " I never knew you. "

All those who choose not to follow Christ are not recorded for life in Jerusalem.  The adherents of religious denominationalism are not enrolled in heaven.  Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ). 🕮