Division That Is Inevitable

to share a message with you entitled, “Division That Is Inevitable.”

 

In the recent messages in Luke 12, Jesus has been telling parables that have all had the same main idea.  It is found in Luke 12:40.

 

40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

 

As we continue to think about the return of Christ today, we are going to look at the subject of division.  Generally speaking, division in the church or a church is not positive, and should be avoid at all costs.

 

Romans 16:17-18, 17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

 

1 Corinthians 1:10, 10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

Titus 3:9-11, 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

 

These divisions are avoidable.  They are about often about personal preferences and personalities.

 

However, some division is inevitable.  That is the division regarding the person of Christ, and that is our topic for today.

 

 

1. At the end of time judgment, fire will punish the sinner and purify the saint, Luke 12:49.

49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

 

So many times in the Old and New Testaments, fire is understood to mean judgment.  Since we are talking about the return of Christ, I assume that is what Jesus means here as well.

 

BTW…as it relates to end of time timeline, here is what I believe in very general terms.  Unexpectedly, the rapture of the church will be first.  Then, there will be a seven-year earthly tribulation, and it will be really bad.

 

At the end of that seven years, Jesus Christ will return and begin His one-thousand-year earthly kingdom.  Then, eternity will begin.

 

Just before eternity begins, God will punish unbelieving sinners with fire.  See Revelation 20:11-15.

 

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Also, sometime before eternity begins, God will purify His saints with fire.  See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

 

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

 

Why did Jesus say he was looking forward this?  It was will be ultimate consummation of God’s plan and kingdom!

 

 

2. With His death on the cross, Jesus received God’s judgment on sin for all who would believe, Luke 12:50.

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

 

Jesus spoke of His judgement as a baptism.  Notice it was a future event from the time of this account. 

 

He was talking about His death on the cross, and no one in their right mind would look forward to it.  Jesus was distressed about it.

 

Why?  Wasn’t it God’s plan?  Yes, but Jesus became every sin every committed and would be committed. 

 

Think about that.  He became every act of rape and every act of murder and every act of sexual abuse and every act of drunkenness and every act terror in addition to every anger and every lie and every lust and every pride.

 

We know this because of 2 Corinthians 5:21. Therefore, either Jesus was judged for your sin or your will be judged for you sin.  The choice is yours.

 

 

3. Every single individual will be judged by what he or she has done in relation to the person of Christ, and division is inevitable, Luke 12:51-53.

51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

 

Because of His character, Jesus will be a source of division and not peace.  This is true because of the exclusive claims that Jesus makes about God and Himself.

 

For example, any individual can only have the peace of God when they are at peace with God through the Son of God, the Prince of Peace.  See Romans 5:1.

 

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

To be justified means to be made right.  We need to be made right because we are all wrong because of our sin.

 

We are only made right through faith in Jesus Christ.  However, it is not faith in some good person.  It is not faith in some moral teacher.  It is faith in the perfect, sinless Son of God as Lord and Savior.

 

When a person makes that decision, there will be others who don’t, and those others will even be family members.  This division is inevitable.

 

Fathers will disagree with sons and vice versa.  Mothers will disagree with daughters and vice versa.  Extended family will disagree with extended family and vice versa. 

 

 

Conclusion

However, Jesus worth it all!  See Matthew 19:29.

 

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.