Eastern Bible Conference 2019 - Study 2: Prescription for Unity

What this episode covers

The Gospel We have seen the problem of having unity, with disunity resulting from sin. Today we will see that God has a solution, but His is a different approach from everyone else. It will take a review of the human condition before we can discover His prescription. This is important to recognize because we don’t want to bring the mindset of disunity or the wrong approach to unity into our relationships as believers. The scene starts in Acts 2:1-10. On the Day of Pentecost those from many different nations were in Jerusalem. Some from Rome were included, and they brought the gospel message back to their homes. Later, Paul was used to write the book of Romans for them and for us. Romans 1:8-13 We may be established and encouraged together The gospel is God’s power for all who believe, 1:16 Romans 1:17-21; 29-31 The righteousness and the wrath of God are revealed Clarity is available (vv. 19-20), but futile thoughts led to darkened hearts; the mind first, then the heart This is the same tactic used today in messaging and advertising from the world Then those thoughts lead to actions (vv. 29-31) and affect others This is one of the wrong prescriptions for unity. The end of Romans 1 pictures everyone being accepted and wrong behavior actually promoted. If unity comes simply by embracing diversity, then man’s inhumanity to man has no limits. The reality is that thoughts have to be captured and transformed. The “strongholds” of 2 Corinthians 10:3 suggest mindsets that have to be resisted and conquered. Romans 2:1-16 This is the moralist: cultured, yet inconsistent. God judges that person—in fact, judges their secret sins! They are still exposed. This prescription doesn’t work either. Romans 2:17-3:20 The Jewish nation received advantages and had privilege; they had direct communication from God in the covenant (the law); yet they dishonored God. Simply knowing the Word of God is not enough; there is a need to allow its proper impact. Ultimately there is a statement of unity, but in a terrible way: All are guilty (3:19)! To review, there are three bad prescriptions: 1:32 Let’s embrace everything—but that only accentuates the problem. 2:16 Let’s live morally—but our secrets are still sinful and cause division. 2:24 Let’s live with God’s privilege—but that just makes people even more guilty. An example of the outcome of privilege is in Numbers 12, when Moses married a woman of a different nationality, ethnicity, and culture, a woman of Cush (Ethiopia). The prejudice of Miriam and Aaron comes immediately to the fore. Peter also had to learn this in Acts 10: the power of the gospel breaks down walls …and he had to learn it again in Galatians 2, when even Barnabas was affected God’s prescription …the righteousness of God, by faith in Jesus Christ, to all that believe! Romans 3:22 All have a need, but all may believe. Christians are now all of the same family, with the same Father, all transformed into the same image by the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18). Romans continues: we all may be justified; we all may be reconciled; we all may have joy. Absalom’s prescription for unity in 2 Samuel 15 was to make everyone think of themselves. They all united in rebellion behind Absalom. But when that rebellion was put down, true unity was restored when the people thought not of themselves but of David (2 Sam. 15:6, 19:9). Sin leads to sins ; we have to deal with the issue of disunity, but we have to do it in God’s way.

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