21.Why was Paul ready to believe there were divisions among them? .

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Because it is though the process of division and refinement that the true Church emerges. For there must be also heresies [factions] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you (I Corinthians 11:19).

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (I John 2:19).

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 1:4).

The process of separating the wheat from the chaff that takes place in an assembly of saints is a grievous experience. People we have worshiped with for years begin to be seen as to their actual spiritual level. We do not notice these defects at first, but as that which is in them comes to maturity we can recognize that some are wheat and some are tares.

None of us should be confident or arrogant concerning the process of separation. Are we positive we ourselves can stand the testing?

Let us pray that we indeed can stand the testing and be kindly toward those whose immaturity or innate wickedness is coming forth.

When a fellow believer breaks the brotherly covenant we can understand the grief of Jesus, as Judas, his friend, admitted Satan into his personality.

We have a tendency to paint such pictures in black and white, to view people as altogether good or totally depraved. But we see that Judas had started out with good intentions, and after his treachery was filled with repentance. Thoroughly wicked people do not repent!

How was Judas different from any of us?

How was Absalom different from any of us?

How was Korah different from any of us?

No doubt Ananias and Sapphira were decent people, beloved by many in the church. Each believed himself to be a good and righteous person and had friends who trusted him.

Let us, therefore, work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. The Kingdom consists of those whom God truly has elected from the creation of the world. Are you one of these? Am I?

Let us strive to make our calling and election certain.

We must always keep in mind that whenever we come into the Presence of God, Satan is there to resist us.

And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him (Zechariah 3:1).

Every son of God must learn to serve God while in the midst of his enemies. We must rule while surrounded by enemies, for it is there God sets a table for us. When our obedience has been perfected, God will remove Satan far from us. Even the memory of Satan will be banished forever from the minds of God’s victorious saints. But the lessons of godliness we have learned as we have struggled against Satan are part of our character for eternity.

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