19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.(Galatians 5:19-21)

Selfish Ambitions

Dissensions & Heresies

Ambitions which stem from self A self-seeking pursuit (Rom. 2:8) “disputes” (NASB) “factions” (ERV) “strife” (KJV) Opposite of humility, “Let nothing be

done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3)

1. “Selfish Ambitions”

• Stems from earthly wisdom (Jas. 3:13-15)13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

1. “Selfish Ambitions”

• Fruit = confusion and evil (Jas. 3:16-18)16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1. “Selfish Ambitions”

“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17)

• A “dissension” is a “division”

• Stands contrary to established doctrine

• Must avoid those who promote division

2. “Dissensions”

“for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” (1 Cor. 3:3)

• Often associated with envy and strife

• Stems from behaving like mere men and not appropriate behavior which is governed by the Spirit

2. “Dissensions”

1) act of taking, capture: e.g. storming a city

2) choosing, choice

3) that which is chosen

4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party)

4a) of the Sadducees 4b) of the Pharisees 4c) of the Christians

5) dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims

3. “Heresies”

Online Bible Lexicon

• Word does not inherently necessitate the presence of false doctrine

• Acts 26:5, “They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee” (cf. 24:14)

3. “Heresies”

• Word does not inherently necessitate the presence of false doctrine

• 1 Corinthians 11:19, “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”• The word conveys the tendency to

create division• The true friends of Christ are

manifested!

3. “Heresies”

Be Neither Liberal Nor Factious

Liberal (walking away)

Factious (walking ahead)• Thou shall not

offer it during second service

• Thou shall use glass containers

• Offered on multiple days of the week

• Observed once a year

• Change elements

• Taken out of the church setting and into another

• Turned into a common meal rather than a memorial

Example of Lord’s Supper

Liberal (walking away)

Factious (walking ahead)• Thou shall not offer it

during second service

• Thou shall use glass containers

• Thou shall use only one container

• Observation of is the most important action

• Thou shall pray, then mechanically break

• Offered on multiple days of the week

• Observed once a year

• Change elements

• Taken out of the church setting and into another

• Turned into a common meal rather than a memorial

Example of Lord’s Supper

Liberal (walking away)

Factious (walking ahead)• Must have “adultery” on divorce papers

• No remarriage for any cause

• Innocent must be fully engaged in divorce procedure lest become the put away

• Race to the court-house determines who can remarry

• Divorce and remarriage for any reason

• Both the guilty and the innocent may remarry

• Love the one your with after you are baptized because God hates divorce

Example of Divorce (put away) and Remarriage

Liberal (walking away)

Factious (walking ahead)• Must be baptized

in a river or natural body of water

• Must be baptized where water is running

• Preacher must baptize

• As an outward sign of an inward grace

• Baptized in the word when I read it

• Must be baptized in Holy Spirit to be saved

• Baptism can be with sprinkling and pouring

Example of Baptism

Boldly promotes personal opinions above what is written

Attitude of preeminence and dominance over brethren (3 Jn. 9, 10)

Strives over words to no profit and engages in foolish disputes (Titus 3:9)

Marks of a Factious Person

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

2 Timothy 2:14-16

1. Recognize what it is –pushing opinions on others, selfish ambitions, strife, over estimation of personal thinking

2. Realize God hates it (Prov. 6:16-19)

3. Reach only for what is written and wholesome (1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Tim. 6:3-5)

How To Avoid Being Factional

4. Remember hero worship is carnal (1 Cor. 3:3, 4)

5. Repent—recant, and repair any damage caused by being factious (Acts 17:30; ex. Eph. 4:29; 2 Cor. 7:11)

6. Reject association with those who are factious (Titus 3:9-11)

How To Avoid Being Factional

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.

He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not

seen God” (3 Jn. 11)