Two Kinds of Divisions

Two Kinds of Divisions

It is not the number of divisions that is two, for there is an innumerable number of divisions among the unconverted and among the converted. Nevertheless, there are only two kinds of divisions.

The one kind arises through the death of the self-life, which also continues by the constant surrender of the self-life into the death of Christ. For this reason this kind of division remains one in number, for when both the things that people disagree about and those who are in disagreement are surrendered into death, then by definition, only one whole is left—namely, the life of Christ—and we can be certain that this life of Christ is not in disagreement with itself, neither in small nor in great matters! Therefore it is also a reasonable exhortation that Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 1:10. Yet how many people find this reasonable? How many believe this message? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed in this way?

The other division arises and continues to exist through the effects of the self-life; and since this self-life is useless and vain, seeking its own, its fruits must be divisions that oppose each other, each part drawing to its own. Since the self-life has been condemned to death, its works are therefore also dead works. In Galatians 5:20 it is written that ambitions, dissensions, and factions are works of the flesh and that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

All these factions that are built on man’s diverse opinions about what is best and biblical are in themselves a testimony that Christ is divided, in any case temporarily. This testimony is a lie! Christ is not divided. Why do people lie when their desire is to be true witnesses? Because they live for themselves. For it is written that every man is a liar. Everything that is being interpreted and surmised on the basis of this self-life is and continues to be a lie and consequently creates confusion. This is the mystery of this puzzle and most people have given up on finding its solution.

The source of this misery (which it essentially is) is unbelief in the Word. People don’t believe the testimony about our folly; they believe they are good! This is nothing new, for it was for the same reason that the religious leaders in Israel crucified the Lord of glory. Their wisdom had its source in themselves.

The source is also a lack of love for the incorruptible truth. Everything is sufficiently godly as it is. People are prudent and godly, pure to the very core, rich and satisfied, lacking nothing. They do not see their pitiable state; and what is even worse, they do not even suspect that it exists!

People are sufficiently unwise to interpret God’s unspeakable grace and longsuffering as a testimony that everything is in order. However, the trees are known by their fruits. If a person is satisfied with these various factions that cut me off from the kingdom of God, there is no need to speak any more about the matter. For if a person has it the way he wants to have it, then things are in order. If not, then seek healing. The one who seeks will find.

Nevertheless, they have a real unity in all these human, well-intentioned factions, don’t they? They are agreed on the most important, main points, aren’t they? Yes, of course; and when you really think about it, it is a masterpiece! It is just as great as the Temperance people of this world can exhibit. What an honor that is—that one is just as capable as God’s people as the children of the devil are. (The parallel to this is described in James 2:18-20.)

There is an endless difference between these two divisions and a worldly faction: The first believe in the Son and have eternal life—not because of righteousness or unity, but because of justification by faith—whereas the others belong to the world. Nevertheless, when it concerns the virtues—for example, oneness—it becomes evident that converted people in spite of God’s unspeakable goodness toward them cannot show any more of it than unconverted people. See Luke 16:8. Because they also agree on certain main points, everyone in their own faction. The quality of the converted is obviously better than the quality of the unconverted, but the quality of unity is the same among both groups—it doesn’t go far in either case.

When people speak about the one important thing around which they are gathered—the so-called main points—they are agreed, but when they are by themselves, they have all kinds of contradictory opinions and are puffed up the one against the other. Some people like one thing, others like something else. Some people praise one person, others praise another. They argue, choose, and vote on how the different things shall be.

But God be praised for time and eternity, by Jesus Christ our High Priest and Sanctifier, our Head, there is another way, another work, another unity, another way to proceed, another order, which is God’s work of creation in Christ Jesus.

This way goes through death—putting to death without ceasing until the end and being infinite in scope and depth! This is where we need wisdom—the wisdom that is only justified (praised and appreciated) by its own children.

The acceptance of this work of creation in our inner man is contained in a hatred of ourselves, which a love for the truth and incorruption arouses and maintains in the depths of the heart. Under this intense labor we are being held up by God’s power, by the power of His glory in all patience and longsuffering until the end.

The fruits of this way taste unmistakably of divine unity to its very core, from head to toe, in great and small things, in the main points and in the minor points, at meetings and when each one is by himself, for they are—in great and in small things— the result of God’s creation in their entirety!

This work of creation transpires through and on the basis of the death of our self-life, our conceit, our Bible interpretation, and our honor. This is not the result of something that happened many, many years ago, something that is only a tale; nevertheless, it is the result of the blessed Creator’s daily labor.

In this divine unity is found a constant, unchangeable love and fellowship and comfort of the Spirit. God’s hidden wisdom dwells there; there it flourishes and bears the fruit of life.

I wish that you, dear soul, might sense your thorough poverty of a divine life which we are called to partake of, that you might be apprehended of love as it is in Christ Jesus, and in His spirit of zeal reject and condemn to eternal death and damnation all your own human patchworks and those of others, and then, on the basis of your poverty believe the Word which is mighty to build such edifices that will remain unchanged for all eternity.

All praise to the Builder!!! It is my wish that His creative powers may be appreciated by you. Amen.