A House Divided Mark 3:22-30

Text: “Two are better that one, because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe unto him/her that is alone when he/she falleth; for he/she hath not another to help him up.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

Good morning, critical Christian!  Asking questions and being a Berean is to be recommended within any fellowship group - but beware of questioning for questioning’s sake!  Flee fast from being critical just for the attention received, or to be heard of the group.  For, if we deliberately cause divisions for wrong motives - we are dividing the Church of God, and a house divided cannot stand!        (2 Corinthians 13:8-14)

All mankind must listen and learn in silence when in the very Presence of Wisdom Incarnate - the Word of God, Christ Jesus.  (Proverbs 8:12-23) (Proverbs 4:1-13)

When accused of casting out devils by using the power of the Devil, Christ immediately rebuked the Scribes with profound, yet seemingly simple, logic.  He said, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” (V.23)  The task, of course, is impossible; the lesson taught was clear.

Christ then illustrated His lesson, in figurative terms, by the example of the “...strong man...” and his household possessions.  (V.27)

Before the Lord Jesus saves a sinner, he/she is the possession; the child; of the Devil - born in sin, to naturally sin; and to do the deeds of a deceiving and deadly father - Satan.   We have God’s Word on this subject.

“Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”  (John 8:36-47)

Satan’s ‘goods’ cannot be taken from him unless he is first overcome and this is what Christ Jesus did upon a Cross at Calvary - just as God the Father promised Adam He would in Eden’s Garden.  (Genesis 3:15) (Romans 16:20) (Hebrews 2:9-15) (1 John 3:8) Hallelujah!

The strong tyrant is overpowered and we, his goods, are made free!  Salvation is indeed of the Lord God ALONE.  (Jonah 2:9) (Acts 4:12)

Now learn a serious lesson concerning God the Holy Spirit - the Third Person of the righteous Godhead.  Christ took the blasphemies of men, yet promised potential forgiveness - even though some dared to call Him illegitimate!  Yet, He warned vehemently against blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.  (John 8:41)

Christ has no ‘unclean spirit’. (V.30) The Holy Spirit came upon the virgin, Mary, and Christ was conceived sinless, in sinlessness; and remains forever sinless.  Amen!  (Luke 1:26-37)

The only manner in which we latter day sinners can commit the ‘unpardonable sin’ here referred to is to continually reject the Holy Spirit’s urgent call, via the Gospel, to come and be saved.  (Acts 7:51)

Let us therefore rejoice as one, of one accord, united in the Body of Christ, the Church - for although we ask many relevant questions in order to understand more clearly the things of Almighty God, we are not divided in our fellowship and in our mutual, Scripturally informed, beliefs.  Praise the Living, Loving, Lord God!  Amen.

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“We ought to notice, in the first place, how great is the evil of dissensions and divisions.

“This is a lesson which is strongly brought out in the beginning of our Lord’s reply to the scribes. He shows the absurdity of supposing that Satan would “cast out Satan,” and so help to destroy his own power. He appeals to the notorious fact, which even his enemies must allow, that there can be no strength where there is division. “If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”

“This truth is one which does not receive sufficient con­sideration. On no point has the abuse of the right of private judgment produced so much evil. The divisions of Christians are one great cause of the weakness of the visible church. They often absorb energy, time, and power, which might have been well bestowed on better things. They furnish the infidel with a prime argument against the truth of Christianity. They help the devil. Satan indeed is the chief promoter of religious divisions. If he cannot extinguish Christianity, he labours to make Christians quarrel with one another, and to set every man’s hand against his neighbour. None knows better than the devil, that “to divide is to conquer.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

In this increasingly apostate, unbelieving, period of 21^st Century time, we who are genuine Bible-believing, born again, Christians, must uphold each other in fervent prayer, and seek not to cause divisions which the world will immediately see as a weakness of our faith.

“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (V.25)

Let us, therefore, stand fast in “…the faith once delivered unto the saints…”, and face the forces of Satan and evil in close fellowship with our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and with each other in His love/truth.

Thought:  We who are Redeemed by Christ should remain as one in Christ’s House.