JESUS,

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JESUS, THE GREAT UNITER AND DIVIDER PART 1
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IRS agent
Fisherman
Radical Religionist
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Matthew 418 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of
Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter,
and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to
them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men." 20 They immediately left their nets and
followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two
other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and
John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their
father, mending their nets. He called them, 22
and immediately they left the boat and their
father, and followed Him.
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A zealot is defined as 1. one burning with
zeal 2. to defend and uphold a thing, vehemently
contending for a thing
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Matthew 99 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw
a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office.
And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he arose and
followed Him.
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Matthew 910 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the
table in the house, that behold, many tax
collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him
and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw
it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your
Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those
who are well have no need of a physician, but
those who are sick. 13 "But go and learn what
this means 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'
For I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners, to repentance."
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Acts 91 Then Saul, still breathing threats and
murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to
the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to
the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found
any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he
might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
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Acts 93 As he journeyed he came near Damascus,
and suddenly a light shone around him from
heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard
a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You,
Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
against the goads." 6 So he, trembling and
astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to
do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must
do." 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood
speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8
Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his
eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him
by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And
he was three days without sight, and neither ate
nor drank.
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Acts 910 Now there was a certain disciple at
Damascus named Ananias and to him the Lord said
in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am,
Lord." 11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go
to the street called Straight, and inquire at the
house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for
behold, he is praying. 12 "And in a vision he
has seen a man named Ananias coming in and
putting his hand on him, so that he might receive
his sight." 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I
have heard from many about this man, how much
harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14
"And here he has authority from the chief priests
to bind all who call on Your name."
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Acts 915 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he
is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before
Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16
"For I will show him how many things he must
suffer for My name's sake." 17 And Ananias went
his way and entered the house and laying his
hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord
Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you
came, has sent me that you may receive your sight
and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18
Immediately there fell from his eyes something
like scales, and he received his sight at once
and he arose and was baptized.
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19  So when he had received food, he was
strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the
disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he
preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is
the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were
amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed
those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and
has come here for that purpose, so that he might
bring them bound to the chief priests?" 22 But
Saul increased all the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus,
proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
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John 1147 Then the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What
shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48
"If we let Him alone like this, everyone will
believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take
away both our place and nation."
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John 1153 Then, from that day on, they plotted
to put Him to death.
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Luke 2312 That very day Pilate and Herod became
friends with each other, for previously they had
been at enmity with each other.
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Matthew 1521 Then Jesus went out from there and
departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And
behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region
and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me,
O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely
demon-possessed." 23 But He answered her not a
word. And His disciples came and urged Him,
saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after
us." 24 But He answered and said, "I was not
sent except to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel." 25 Then she came and worshiped Him,
saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and
said, "It is not good to take the children's
bread and throw it to the little dogs." 27 And
she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs
eat the crumbs which fall from their masters'
table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her,
"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you
as you desire." And her daughter was healed from
that very hour.
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Acts 109 The next day, as they went on their
journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on
the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10
Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat but
while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11
and saw heaven opened and an object like a great
sheet bound at the four corners, descending to
him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all
kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild
beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter kill
and eat." 14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For
I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second
time, "What God has cleansed you must not call
common." 16 This was done three times. And the
object was taken up into heaven again.
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Acts 1028 Then he said to them, "You know how
unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company
with or go to one of another nation. But God has
shown me that I should not call any man common or
unclean. 29 "Therefore I came without objection
as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what
reason have you sent for me?" 30  So Cornelius
said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this
hour and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house,
and behold, a man stood before me in bright
clothing, 31 "and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer
has been heard, and your alms are remembered in
the sight of God.
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32 'Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here,
whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the
house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he
comes, he will speak to you.' 33 "So I sent to
you immediately, and you have done well to come.
Now therefore, we are all present before God, to
hear all the things commanded you by God." 34 
Then Peter opened his mouth and said "In truth I
perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But
in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him.
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Acts 1047 "Can anyone forbid water, that these
should not be baptized who have received the Holy
Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded
them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then
they asked him to stay a few days.
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Ephesians 211 Therefore remember that you, once
Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called
Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision
made in the flesh by hands -- 12 that at that
time you were without Christ, being aliens from
the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without
God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you
who once were far off have been brought near by
the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our
peace, who has made both one, and has broken down
the middle wall of separation,
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15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that
is, the law of commandments contained in
ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new
man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that
He might reconcile them both to God in one body
through the cross, thereby putting to death the
enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you
who were afar off and to those who were near. 18
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit
to the Father.
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Galatians 326 For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither slave nor free, there is neither male
nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
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Romans 56 For when we were still without
strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will
one die yet perhaps for a good man someone would
even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then,
having now been justified by His blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when
we were enemies we were reconciled to God through
the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we
have now received the reconciliation.
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JESUS, THE GREAT UNITER AND DIVIDER PART 2
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Luke 1251 "Do you suppose that I came to give
peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but
rather division. 52 "For from now on five in one
house will be divided three against two, and two
against three. 53 "Father will be divided
against son and son against father, mother
against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
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Christ is the Prince of Peace but in a sinful
world, a righteous king can have and give peace
only by destroying error and evil to do this
will bring wary not because Christ and his
people have the spirit of strife and war, but
because the truth they urge is resisted, and made
the occasion for strife, division, and
contention by others. The conflict that may be
waged among the different advocates of error will
often unite them in their opposition to the
truth. The truth taught by Jesus is opposed to
error there can be no compromise between truth
and error. When one member of the household
accepts the truth and other reject it, there is
opposition and antagonism (Boles 264).
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Matthew 714 "Because narrow is the gate and
difficult is the way which leads to life, and
there are few who find it.
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Matthew 1034 " Do not think that I came to bring
peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but
a sword. 35 "For I have come to 'set a man
against his father, a daughter against her
mother, and a daughter-in-law against her
mother-in-law' 36 "and 'a man's enemies will be
those of his own household.' 37 "He who loves
father or mother more than Me is not worthy of
Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me
is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not
take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy
of Me. 39 "He who finds his life will lose it,
and he who loses his life for My sake will find
it.
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John 1518 " If the world hates you, you know
that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 "If you
were of the world, the world would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose
you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you. 20 "Remember the word that I said to you,
'A servant is not greater than his master.' If
they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.
If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
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1 Peter 43 For we have spent enough of our past
lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles --
when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and abominable
idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it
strange that you do not run with them in the same
flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
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Acts 923 Now after many days were past, the Jews
plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became
known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and
night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took
him by night and let him down through the wall in
a large basket.
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Acts 141 Now it happened in Iconium that they
went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and
so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews
and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the
unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and
poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3
Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking
boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to
the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders
to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude
of the city was divided part sided with the
Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a
violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and
Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,
6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and
Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding
region.
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Philippians 32 Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are
the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit,
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh, 4 though I also might have
confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he
may have confidence in the flesh, I more so 5
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the
Hebrews concerning the law, a Pharisee 6
concerning zeal, persecuting the church
concerning the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless.
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7 But what things were gain to me, these I have
counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also
count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
have suffered the loss of all things, and count
them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be
found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is from the law, but that which is through
faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from
God by faith 10 that I may know Him and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
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11 if, by any means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead. 12  Not that I have
already attained, or am already perfected but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that for which
Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13
Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.
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John 1242 Nevertheless even among the rulers
many believed in Him, but because of the
Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue 43 for they
loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God.
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Hebrews 64 For it is impossible for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted the
heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the
Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of
God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they
fall away, to renew them again to repentance,
since they crucify again for themselves the Son
of God, and put Him to an open shame.
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2 Peter 220 For if, after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is
worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it
would have been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than having known it,
to turn from the holy commandment delivered to
them. 22 But it has happened to them according
to the true proverb "A dog returns to his own
vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her
wallowing in the mire."
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Luke 1038 Now it happened as they went that He
entered a certain village and a certain woman
named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And
she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at
Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha
was distracted with much serving, and she
approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care
that my sister has left me to serve alone?
Therefore tell her to help me." 41 And Jesus
answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you
are worried and troubled about many things. 42
"But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen
that good part, which will not be taken away from
her."
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Romans 121 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that you present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will
of God.
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Titus 211 For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in
the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope
and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works.
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1 Peter 117 And if you call on the Father, who
without partiality judges according to each one's
work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of
your stay here in fear 18 knowing that you were
not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by
tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot.
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Proverbs 35 Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, And lean not on your own understanding 6
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall
direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own
eyes Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It
will be health to your flesh, And strength to
your bones.