Thought Number 268... Divisive Persons In Danger of Damnation. But As With All Sin, There Is Hope In Christ

et there be no mistake, if you are one who is wont to stir up division for the sake of division, you remain under the wrath of God and in danger of hell.  You have not been saved because you do not know the true Christ.  Your fruits bear witness to you.  Repent now and turn to Christ, trusting in him alone, that your soul may be saved in the last day.  And surely it will, if you trust in him alone.  For everyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

There is a difference between vigorously debating the scriptures and exhorting one another in love towards evermore perfect doctrine, and dividing along doctrinal lines in pride.  If you do not know the difference, run immediately to the cross of Christ and throw yourself upon it and His mercy, that God may transform you by the renewing of your mind.  Do not flatter yourself, but rather humble yourself.  Let God prune you, that you may produce fruit in keeping with the branches that are in the Vine.

Romans 16:

¹⁷I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. ¹⁸For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Titus 3:

¹Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, ² to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. ³For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. ⁹But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, ¹¹knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Jude:

¹⁷But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." ¹⁹It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

And to the rest of us in Christ and to those who would heed the warnings above and turn to Christ in the future if not in him now, Jude concludes:

 ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

God is God... Get used to it.