I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lords people were divided.

D.L. Moody
Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.

its effect on the church

&

Grace helps us build one another up (1 Corinthians 8)

Knowledge of Christ's work is not permission to shame others for not being in the same place We are called to do what is loving for the mutual edification of each other
1 Corinthians 8:9 - But take care that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

A.W. Tozer
Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.

Our behavior should not cause others to fall into sin

Charles Spurgeon
If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary's love.

1 Corinthians 8:11-12 - And so by your knowledge this weak

person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Amy Carmichael

Grace brings all kinds of people together for a common cause (1 Corinthians 12)
Each person is blessed in such a way to make Christ known
Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:7 - To each is given the manifestation of the

The cause of Christ is what holds the Church together

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1 Corinthians 12:13 - For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one bodyJews or Greeks, slavest or freeand all were made to drink of one Spirit. No one is deficient (v 14-17) No one is better (v 21-25) When one suffers, we all suffer (v 26)

Grace allows us to forgive and receive each other

(Philemon) The hard part about loving people is that they aren't perfect The great part about a Christian's sin against us is that Christ paid for it

Commonly this is referred to in the cases of actual law suits, however there are several principles we can take out of this scenario:

There is great benefit and refreshment to be had by the Church when we forgive the least and the greatest sins committed against us Philemon 1:17-20 - So if you consider me your partner,
receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay itto say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

We are able to resolve matters amongst ourselves (v 2) We are able to trust the judgment of fellow believers when we aren't able to resolve matters one-on-one (v 5-6) We are presently defeated by our own pride when we hold petty grudges or don't work out conflict with each other (v 7a) It is far better to admit defeat for the sake of building one another up (v 7b-8)

Practical Application
Commit yourself to loving God and the Church (Luke 10:27, Ephesians 4:1-6) Commit yourself to spending time with the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25) Commit yourself to praying for and with others (Matthew 18:19) Commit yourself to helping shoulder the responsibility of the Church (Exodus 17:12, Ecclesiasties 9:10)

Grace allows us to work out conflict amongst ourselves

another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8But you yourselves wrong and defraudeven your own brothers!

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 - 1When one of you has a grievance against