The Kingdom of God, Not Sectarianism!
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:1-4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Sectarianism is sinful and has no place in the Kingdom of God. Understanding the need for unity in the church helps us understand the need for church discipline. As believers, we are called to actively promote unity within the body of Christ, if we understand and believe that God places every member in the body to best serve His purposes, we will be more accepting in loving those among us.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4, 3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there are jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men?
Being worldly and self-centered is still spiritual infancy, showing arrogance and pride bring division. We must faithfully apply what we have been learning to receive advanced spiritual training. When we apply the spiritual growth to our day-to-day living the Word will remove disobedience, competitiveness, and strife.
Once we understand that we as believers are to be united in our devotion to the gospel of Christ, we must then acknowledge where we fall short and repent (v.10) recognizing that division in the kingdom is sin (3:1-4).