“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to send peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-37).
Hi, my name is James. I got this e-mail and I just had a question because I am confused. Now it strikes me as interesting that you say unity is not our end goal. Note, I’m not disagreeing or agreeing with you, I’m asking for some clarification. Now it looks like to me, that no one is worthy of Christ. That is why he had to die on the cross. We could never love Christ enough to say we are worthy of Him. Also, the Bible states in many places that we are all the unified body in Christ, and that we work together as one body. Also, when we leave the earthly realm we go to Heaven in union with the one true God. I think unity is the end goal of our lives, I think the distinction we need to make here is that we need unity in Christ and not unity in Mankind. With that said, and I don’t want to interject anything here that the Bible does not imply, but I am willing to speculate that Christ did not come to bring peace on earth because he is sending us to peace in heaven. With that said, the sword he is sending is to cleave us of our earthly ties to each other. But I am not sure. Can you please clarify?
James, Paul here. Victor and I are as one in the Lord, given to do His work together. That is unity! We do not preach against it, I assure you!
“A song by David for going up to worship. See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! It is like fine, scented oil on the head, running down the beard-down Aaron’s beard- running over the collar of his robes. It is like dew on Mount Hermon, dew which comes down on Zion’s mountains. That is where the LORD promised the blessing of eternal life” (Psalms 133:1-3 GW).
But as you write: “I think the distinction we need to make here is that we need unity in Christ and not unity in Mankind.”
It is not just that we need it, as that is also true, but the fact is that unity is only possible in Him. And in Him one is automatically made part of His Body, the true church of God made without hands. When we know Him, and come into union with Him, by comparison we see that there is no such union that was, or would ever be, possible with man outside of Him. You speculate that He is not bringing us peace on earth because He will bring it to us in Heaven. The truth is that there is no peace on earth because men are alienated from God. When and where men are turned to Him, being reconciled by Christ, alienation ends, and there is Heaven on earth; peace has arrived. (Remember, He is the Prince of Peace, and the Kingdom of Heaven appears from within.)
This involves the sword of which Jesus spoke, whereby the one being reconciled to Him is separated from those in the flesh who are yet at enmity with Him (Matthew 10:34-38). You cannot have your foot in both worlds (Matthew 6:24). Remember that He also said the one following Him would lose his or her life. That is what will happen before you can become alive in Him, here and now, in this earthly plane.
He has done this for us, as with many throughout His-story. We know that every man, unless born from above and formed in Christ’s image by the Spirit of God, is unregenerate and out for himself. In such a state, unity with God (and with us, those who are with God) is not possible, as I have already said, and as all the Scriptures attest.
Witness the disciples before they received the Spirit. None could stand with the Lord Jesus Christ, as He told them it would be by citing the prophesy (“Smite the Shepherd…”). But after He had risen from the dead and the disciples received His Spirit, the sheep were no longer scattered, but were gathered in Him, in unity.
“And all that believed were together, and had all things common” (Acts 2:44).
“And all those who were of the faith were one in heart and soul: and not one of them said that any of the things which he had was his property only; but they had all things in common” (Acts 4:32 BBE).
We are not waiting for unity to come; we have it now, from Heaven, even being in Heaven because in Christ. He is in Heaven, now taking residence in these earthen vessels, bringing Heaven to earth:
“But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6).
But this is only true for those who are truly His. Regarding those who profess to be His, but are not, those whom He calls “tares,” God has sent an angel to gather and bundle them together on earth. They mistakenly call this unity in Him. That is part of that strong delusion He sends on those that do not have a love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
There are some writings that will help clarify this matter, if you will take the time to seriously read them, which you can only do by the grace of God. Without His grace, you can and will receive nothing. You are skeptical, yet you are asking, and we, in good faith, answer you, knowing the weakness of flesh, and the will of God that reigns supreme for good. You are not here asking, and receiving an answer, without good reason from above.
Here are the writings:
Diabolical Doctrine: Family Unity – A Hallmark of True Christianity
Unity
The Case for Coming Out
The Church
Counterfeit Christianity
So You Want to Walk with Jesus
I have written you a previous letter, James, to which you have not replied. You have much to consider, and to respond to, if you are in earnest. If you are not, you are still being judged by the Word of God for good.
Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, in the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn,
Paul
James, Victor here,
I believe Paul has quite covered the necessary ground, but I have these observations and comments:
You write, “Now it strikes me as interesting that you say unity is not our end goal. Note, I’m not disagreeing or agreeing with you, I’m asking for some clarification.”
Then you write, “I think unity is the end goal of our lives….”
Perhaps you disagree, perhaps you do not; it appears that you do. Whether you disagree or not does not matter. We are not here to seek agreement but to speak the truth. For some clarification on the matter of unity, I will say that while unity is not the goal, it is the end result, as Paul has explained, for those who have been crucified to this world and to the flesh, having taken up the cross and followed Christ, dying to themselves.
Depending on how you mean it, you may be right or you may err in thinking He is dividing “us” in the flesh so that we can have unity with Him in Heaven. Those united in spirit are not divided in the flesh. The flesh is not an issue to those crucified with Christ. Each believer knows the other and Christ after the spirit:
“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 EMTV).
The division comes between those who are still on earth and those who have entered the Kingdom in Christ, between those who believe and those who do not, though they profess otherwise. Heaven is here, now, for those who have entered in with Him, even as of Himself He said:
“And no one has gone up into Heaven except He Who came down out of Heaven, the Son of Man, Who is in Heaven” (John 3:13 EMTV).
You write, “I am willing to speculate that Christ did not come to bring peace on earth because he is sending us to peace in heaven.”
Speculation will never do, James. Either you know, or you do not. Speculation on these matters is from the evil one:
“But let your word be ‘Yes,’ ‘yes,’ or ‘No,’ ‘no.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37 EMTV).
Jesus Christ, the good and faithful Shepherd, has not left His sheep to “speculate” on what to eat and drink and what not to eat and drink. He leads His sheep into green pastures and gives them to drink from still waters (the water of the Word). He anoints their heads with oil (the Spirit) so that they can understand. It is very life to them. Those who speculate are wont to feed on weeds, poisonous ones at that, by which they perish. Without the true food, the Bread from Heaven for His sheep that are on earth, they perish in many ways. Those who are His and who walk with Him never perish. He promised:
“And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29 EMTV).
It is all here and now, in Him Who is here and now, James, not only in the future. Those born from above know this. Those not born from above are left to speculations, which engender illusion, confusion, and ultimate destruction. Ideas, notions, opinions, surmisings, theories, philosophies, imaginations, and speculations come from death and will only end in death. They can never bring freedom. Only the truth will make you free:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32 EMTV).
Who is the Truth? The One Who says He is:
“Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 EMTV).
“Therefore if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free” (John 8:36 EMTV).
Knowing the truth brings freedom and peace, as Jesus promised:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 EMTV).
Free indeed, and speaking that others might be free,
Victor