Division: A Work Of The Flesh
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, any ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other, and ye may not do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these..." (Gal 5:16-19.) These are the words with which Paul sets out to catalogue the evil things, "works of the flesh," which are carnal and sinful in God's sight. No man can be guilty of these sins without walking after the flesh. They depict, they identify, they characterize a fleshly course of conduct. And therefore mean that all who walk after them are guilty of walking after the flesh, and not after the Spirit. But if we walk after the flesh, we shall die. (Rom. 8:13.) Hence, all those who are guilty of the things named here by Paul have the sentence of spiritual death pronounced upon them.
Works Of The Flesh
You may readily divide the "works of the flesh" into four different classes. The first class would consist of those sensual things of which men are guilty—"fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness." These are the sins that arise from a sensual spirit giving way to the lusts and appetites of the body. They grow out of a refusal to discipline and guide the fleshly desires.
The second class is represented by the words "idolatry, sorcery." This, of course, has to do with false worship, and the dealing in those practices which have always been common among heathens and pagans.
A third class of sins has to do with our relationship toward another. It is indicated by the words, "enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths." The word "enmity" comes from a word which means personal or feelings of personal animosity; the word "strife" means discord as a result of personal rivalry. Then "jealousy" and "wrath" have to do with the attitudes that grow out of such strife and animosity.
Debates
The fourth class is represented by the words, "factions, divisions, parties." The word rendered "faction" is the Greek word "erithos," and is translated in the King James version by the word "debate." But it isn't what people mean by the word debate now; and to translate it "debate" is misleading to our present age.
The word as it occurs in the New Testament is translated by Mr. Thayer, perhaps the most outstanding scholar in Greek the world has ever known as, "a desire to put oneself forward, a partyism, and a factious spirit." That is exactly the thing Paul is condemning. He is not in any sense condemning the free and open discussion of whether a thing is true or not. The word "erithos" never had any reference at all to the idea of a free and open discussion. It is nowhere given such a meaning in all the New Testament. No informed man will attempt to give it that definition. Any effort to make this word condemn an open and free discussion of differences politically, religiously, or otherwise, is simply to expose one's ignorance.
The word "erithos" means a factious, or party, spirit in the heart of the individual, and is most frequently translated in the King James version and always in the Revised and American Standard versions by the word "faction." That's what Paul is talking about; and the thing he is condemning is denominationalism, religious division among those who profess to follow Christ.
Right along with "factions" Paul condemns "divisions, parties." The word "division" literally means to "split into." The body of Christ has actually been split by men who have promoted and been guilty of a factional or party spirit.
Warning
From Paul's listing it is apparent that he puts "factions, divisions, parties" right in the same group of sins with fornication, drunkenness, and other sensual and carnal practices. The man who is guilty of promoting division in religion is no better in God's sight than the drunkard or fornicator. He is guilty of the sins of the flesh. He stands condemned.
"Of which I forewarn you, as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." These are the solemn and terrible words with which the apostle pronounces the doom of all those who are guilty of "works of the flesh."