Dwelling Together In Unity.

It's great to know that God is there for our good. His desire is that we do the same for others. The bible says behold, how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. This causes God to command A blessing. See this is how we get it. God has A formula. When we follow the formula of God we enter into the door of holiness because every way of God is holy. If we practice doing things the Lord's way instead of our own we prosper. Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

You've addressed a great point. In the first three Chapters of 1st Corinthians the Holy Spirit makes clear that DIVISION is of the flesh (1st Cor.3:1-4). Note that He even included Paul, who was more clear on things than Peter and Apollos. And those joining a DIVISION are "babes in Christ"! Another word for "DIVISIONS" is "DENOMINATIONS". Remember the good old days at school? You did "Denomination Tables". In the nearest big city to where I live, a rough count showed that there were over 200 Christian denominations. It is not a big city like New York. WHAT have we done?! Can we expect any blessing at all? Later in the chapter it says that these men's work in the Church will be burned up.

Yes Corban you are correct. Somethings are so sad. God gave us instructions blessed are those who follow him.

God sees all believers as one body in the Lord Jesus Christ (and of which the Lord Jesus Christ is Head), and we are all members in particular in that one body ... placed specifically in the body where it pleases God:

1 Corinthians 12:

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Amen Reneweddaybyday this discussion is A winner for us all I love it.

The fact is that soon after the year 132 when most of the Jewish heads of the Christian church like James, the brother of Christ, was killed the gentiles took over. Those gentiles lived at a time that the Jews were looked down on by gentiles, saying their ways were strange. The Jews had the only scripture available in those days, the gentiles didn't. So although they were converts to Christianity, their background was of the occult and they had no background of knowing their Creator. So with all their good intentions, they slipped in ideas from their background. Many of these ideas are still with us as they changed he church.

Constantine still has much to do with our church doctrines for he led the world in accepting Christianity. His goal was to unity Rome with one religion and he thought Jews opposed that religion so he taught that anything the Jews did they were not to do. The Jews denied Christ, but they accepted the Father, Christ taught to obey the Father.

There has always been a remnant who stayed loyal to Christ and God, but the deep sea scrolls opened up history that supports this remnant, and we are in the midst of a great conflict. As Jesus said He came to bring a sword, and they are using this sword to fight for the Lord. That is conflict, not unity.

Is 1 Corinthians 12 showing all believers as one body or the church at Corinth as one body?

The 'ye' in this verse is the church at Corinth.

I believe it speaks of all born again believers as being one body in Christ with the Lord Jesus Christ as Head:

1 Corinthians 12 is not the only section in Scripture concerning this truth:

Romans 12:4-5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both [speaking of Jews and gentiles] unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby

Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Colossians 3:12-15 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

As Paul speaks to the body in Corinth he is giving us the principles of the Lord.

We are to be united as one body in Christ. But our church now is divided. We have many denominations and some have gone away from the teachings of the lord. What can we do to protect that body of Christ from false teachings?

Yes we are body of Christ and God still desires unity and he also comes with A sword. All these are correct.

When that Eastern sky splits, and Christ descends on a cloud with all the Saints that have gone before, He will gather to Him HIS CHURCH. ALL believers! Be they in the grave, or still living........

While some of Paul's writings were aimed at specific church groups, Corinth for one, the totality of Scripture declares the Truth that there is One Church which all believers (dead or alive) are a member of.

From the King James
(some may already have been posted)

Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, [be ye] all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous:

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

Colossians 3:14 - And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Ephesians 4:1-6 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (Read More...)

Romans 15:6 - That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:4-5 - For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (Read More...)

Ephesians 4:3 - Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Psalms 133:1 - (A Song of degrees of David.) Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Romans 12:16 - [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Romans 15:5 - Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Romans 14:19 - Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Acts 4:32 - And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

John 17:11-23 - And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]. (Read More...)

Maybe each small c church going back to the bible

You're correct, but there is more.
1st Corinthians 1:2: "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours"

The Lord knew that this matter of unity would be a problem. Even before He breathed the Holy Spirit into His disciples in John 20:22, He prayed in John 17:11, 21-23.

John 17:11, 21-23

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

...

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Amen! Thanks for posting them.

1. In verse 11 we are "kept" so that we may be "one" - a "oneness" that the Triune God enjoys
2. In verse 21 the whole gospel hangs of our "oneness" - sobering
3. In verse 22 we are given Christ's glory that we may be one. Imagine answering for having demeaned this glory
4. In verse 23, our "perfection" is only complete when we are one. Imagine casting aside this perfection for a petty doctrine

We deal with the aims and goals of the ALL-mighty. Who is the man who will lightly destroy the oneness of a Church?

I partly agree with this, but i am a perfect example of somebody who does good to all and suffers, Jesus said himself that if people persecuted him they will do the same to us. Its sad to know that usually brethren do not have unity in the church. I suppose it depends on the church, some of them have a lot of unity, others have a bunch of strangers in them. If there was true unity all around then us Christians around the world would be unstoppable, but the devil is working in churches even more than in the world.