Your Strife Is Pernicious
The speaker emphasizes the importance of unity among believers and warns against the consequences of causing division and strife.
Clement of Rome urges the congregation to follow the examples of the holy and innocent, as written in the Scriptures, emphasizing the importance of unity and harmony among believers who share one God, one Christ, and one Spirit of grace. He questions the presence of strifes, divisions, and schisms among them, reminding them of their interconnectedness as members of the body of Christ. Clement warns against causing offenses and stumbling blocks to fellow believers, highlighting the severe consequences of leading others astray and the detrimental effects of schisms on the faith and unity of the community.
Text
Such examples, therefore, brethren, it is right that we should follow; since it is written, "Cleave to the holy, for those who cleave to them shall [themselves] be made holy." And again, in another place, [the Scripture] says, "With a harmless man you shall prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man you shall be elect, and with a perverse man you shall show thyself perverse." Let us cleave, therefore, to the innocent and righteous, since these are the elect of God. Why are there strifes, and tumults, and divisions, and schisms, and wars among you? Have we not [all] one God and one Christ? Is there not one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And have we not one calling in Christ?
Why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ, and raise up strife against our own body, and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that "we are members one of another?" Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, how He said, "Woe to that man [by whom offences come]! It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect.
Yea, it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about [his neck], and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my little ones. Your schism has subverted [the faith of] many, has discouraged many, has given rise to doubt in many, and has caused grief to us all. And still your sedition continues.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Unity
- We have one God, one Christ, and one Spirit of grace
- We are members of one body
- We must cleave to the innocent and righteous
Key Quotes
“It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should cast a stumbling-block before one of my elect.” — Clement of Rome
“With a harmless man you shall prove thyself harmless, and with an elect man you shall be elect, and with a perverse man you shall show thyself perverse.” — Clement of Rome
“We are members one of another.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We must prioritize unity and avoid causing division among believers.
- Cleaving to the innocent and righteous is essential for spiritual growth and unity.
- We must be mindful of the consequences of our actions and avoid causing stumbling-blocks for others.