A Divided World: Satan's Paradise

Intro to the Series

Today I’m going to be starting a new series that I’ve entitled “The Church United in a World Divided.”

It is a series that is particularly borne out of concern surrounding the racial tensions that we see escalating in the world around us. These racial tensions are not new. In fact, they’re far older than most of those engaged in the demonstrations of our day realise. But the fact is that these racial tensions are having a significant impact not only on the world, but on the church.

The question must therefore be addressed: How do we as Christians respond to such events. How should we approach them from a church perspective. How should Christians engage, and should they engage?!

These are all difficult questions, with a host of different approaches.

But we must rest in this truth: God’s word is sufficient for us.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV84

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Scripture will equip us for the task of responding to these divisions and challenges in a Christ-honouring manner.

In this series, I am bound to bring before you what the Scriptures teach us concerning these matters and how to approach them. I am of the firm conviction that God has taught us in his word that which is of primary importance for us, and thus that which ought to be the impetus and motivator for us as the church in this divided and hostile world.

Before we begin to lay some foundations for the series, I want to just say that while the series is borne out of a concern for the racial tensions that we face as society, the principles and truths will be able to be applied to all manner of relationships - marriages; work relations; friendships etc.

At its root, this is a sin issue.

But as we begin today, and in order to just start laying those foundations upon which we must build, I simply want to bring our attention to the seriousness of division in the church. My hope for this morning is to develop within our hearts and minds a holy hatred for division within the church, and so to create a hunger and longing in our hearts for pure, united worship of our God.

Wherever you stand in these matters of racial tensions, whatever your perspective is on who is to blame and for what, and whatever your perspective is on who needs to do what in order to bring the necessary justice or peace, let God’s word teach us that in His church, divisions are both sinful and destructive.

We must have the thought and desire in our minds that we as the children of God will do everything in our power to foster unity in Christ, and so bring honour and glory to His name.

With that in mind, let us read together…

Scripture Reading

Galatians 5:16–25 NIV84

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

As we begin our study this week, I want us to notice firstly from this short passage (and from Galatians as a whole)...

1. The Wretchedness of Division

As Paul writes these words to the Galatian church, he conveys to the church the distinction of a life that is lived according to the sinful nature, as opposed to a life that is lived according to the Spirit.

Now in order to better understand what Paul is talking about, we need to understand something of the concern that he is addressing with the church.

The concern that Paul had has he wrote to the church in Galatia was the fact that there were divisions creeping into the church as a result of mainly two distinct groups. There were the Jewish Christians, and there were the Gentile Christians. There were racial divisions with in the church. And the Jewish Christians were teaching that you needed to obey certain requirements of the law - particularly circumcision - in order to be a part of the church.

And this was causing divisions. There were these distinct groups that were opposed to each other on certain customs and requirements, and they had set themselves up into different camps. Listen to Paul’s words in Galatians 2...

Galatians 2:11–13 NIV84

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter here finds it necessary to disassociate with the Gentile believers because he’s afraid of what the Jewish believers will think of him. And so Paul confronts him on the issue.

What Paul says, effectively, is that if you’re requiring anything beyond Jesus Christ and salvation by this Gospel that was preached, you’re preaching a different Gospel that is no Gospel at all. He was emphatic that the Gospel message is that which saved, and thus that which ought to have brought unity.

Later on, he makes this clear...

Galatians 3:26–29 NIV84

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Paul addresses the issue of unity in Christ head-on in this book. He says that there should not be divisions within the body. But he goes beyond just Jew and Gentile distinctions here. He relates it to other aspects of life. He says there should be no divisions along ethnic lines; there should be no divisions along socioeconomic lines; there should be no distinctions between male and female in terms of being in Christ. The fact is, those in Christ are in Christ - all are heirs according to the promise.

As Paul deals with this matter of the divisions in that particular context, he goes on to say in Gal. 5:6,

Galatians 5:6 NIV84

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Let me say for our sake, as we are in Christ Jesus, as we the church live with one another, the only that counts in terms of our new freedom in Christ is faith expressing itself through love.

Which then brings us back to the passage that we consider this morning from Galatians.

With that as some of the background, we must see the emphasis that Paul now brings to his readers, and which is of so much value to us.

Paul contrasts here the life that is led by the sinful nature, compared to the life that is lived according to the flesh. And as part of the list of vices of the life that is lived by the flesh, there are a number of descriptions that he uses that relate directly to divisions within the church.

In verse 20, we see “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy.” And that statement at the end of verse 21: “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

This is a powerful statement from Paul. Divisions, and those acts which lead to division within the church, are indications of a life lived according to the sinful nature, rather than according to the Spirit of God.

While Paul addressed the issue particularly from the perspective of Jewish verses Gentile believers and the divisions that arose out of those distinctions, the same holds true for divisions along lines of ethnicity, social standing etc. We are all sons and daughters of Christ, and so why the division?

Let us consider some of the works of the sinful nature that are Paul confronts here...

One of them is "Hatred". Hatred means enmity or hostility towards another person. We must not think of hatred as merely those strong or intense feelings of hatred. Rather, hatred is when we live in opposition to others around us. We live effectively as enemies of one another.

Listen to how this is used within the context of the Ephesian believers...

Ephesians 2:14–16 NIV84

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

The word hatred means hostility. And Paul says that when you come to Christ, those dividing walls of hostility are broken down by the cross. There is a reconciliation that takes place at the cross, as both parties - Jews and Gentiles - are reconciled to God, and therefore have their hostilities put to death.

Dear friends, the exact same is true of black and white. When we are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, by the work that is done at the cross, the hostilities are put to death.

And lest you say - but you don’t understand how this group is treating me; or how they cause me and my group trouble; or how they have hurt us.... etc. This is precisely what the hostilities of that day looked like. The racial discontentment of our day is very little different to the racial discontentment of that day. There were some strong feelings towards each other.

The Jews would call the Gentiles dogs. The Gentiles were seen as filthy, dirty, and unworthy of God by the Jews. There were strong oppositions in these groups. There were divisions. But this is precisely what the power of the Gospel is - to say, we are now identifying ourselves as true sons and daughters of the living God, no matter what our background, and therefore hatred towards one another is out of place.

As we look again to the works of the sinful nature, Paul includes the word “Discord...” This speaks of strife, quarrels or contentions. In Titus 3:9, it is translated “arguments...”

Titus 3:9 NIV84

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

In Philippians 1:15, it’s translated as “rivalry...”

Philippians 1:15 NIV84

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

When there arises in the church these quarrels and arguments and contentions about matters, it is a demonstration of the works of the sinful nature.

Paul includes in this list “selfish ambition...” Selfish ambition is a sin that drives so much of the strife that we find in the world. Much of the strife that we find in the world comes as a result of selfish ambition. I want something, and I deserve something. I have my rights, and I’m going to make sure I get them. I deserve what I have, and I’m not going to let anyone tell me otherwise… The god of self rears its ugly head.

James 3:13–18 NIV84

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Do you see the distinction? Do you see how this may apply to divisions in the church, particularly in this context along racial lines?

Another word that Paul uses here is the word “Factions...” This is a term used in Hellenistic Greek especially in reference to political preference or group loyalty. In Acts 24:5, it’s used to speak of the Nazarene sect. In Acts 5:17 it speaks of the party (sect) of the Sadducees etc. The fact is it speaks of those divisions among different group.

In Corinthians, Paul addresses this issue of divisions and factions within the church as it related to the communion table…

1 Corinthians 11:17–22 NIV84

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!

What is clear dear friends from these words that are used is just how sinful divisions are within the church. When the people of God are rising up and opposing one another and arguing with one another about these matters, let us be sure that we are not living in accordance with the Spirit of God.

Now I want to say, I understand that there are hurts, and there are pains and frustrations. I understand that people have been impacted in different ways by racial prejudice - and this is true no matter what shade of brown you are… I understand that. And we as the church must understand that about one another.

We need to show love by being understanding of one another, and being able to share our hurts and our pains and how this affects our day to day life. But the question is how do we do that? How do we discuss these issues? And to what extent? And for what purpose? What is our goal in this?

But let us always keep in mind the destructive nature of such opposition and dissenssions. Let us be clear in our minds that divisions flowing out of these things are works of the sinful nature. And Satan loves it. Particularly when the church becomes embroiled in these things.

As we continue, I want to raise the issue of...

2. The Risk of Division

We see firstly in this regard, that in the words of Paul, those who engage in such divisions will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:21). In other words, when these sinful works and ways of living are the norm - when the lives of those who claim to be believers are marked by such acts, they demonstrate that they are not being controlled by the Spirit, and thus lack the presence of the Spirit of Christ.

Racial divisions, or divisions along racial lines, political lines, socioeconomic lines, are simply out of place within the body of Christ. Paul has made this abundantly clear through this very letter to the Galatians.

But further to this, we must see just how destructive divisions are to the church and to the Gospel progress.

During a live-stream by the World Health Organization on Thursday this week, the Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was visibly moved and dejected since the United States of America has declared its intent to withdraw its support from the organization, particularly in light of Covid-19.

As part of his speech, he said these words...

"And we cannot defeat this pandemic as a divided world. The Covid-19 pandemic is a test of global solidarity and global leadership. The virus thrives on division but is thwarted when we unite.” Raising his voice, he went on: "How is it difficult for humans to unite to fight a common enemy, that's killing people indiscriminately. Are we unable to distinguish or identify the common enemy? Can't we understand that the divisions or the cracks between us actually are the advantage for the virus?"

His words emphasize the importance of the world uniting against a common enemy and towards a common goal, rather than being divided on less significant differences.

The reality is that we live in a world that is at war with itself. Everywhere you look, you find one person against another, one group of people against another group of people, and even groups within those groups, fighting against one another, leading to divisions.

Certainly divisions lead to destruction, or at the very least, they lead to a state of weakness.

Even within the Scriptures, we have some clear examples of the profound effects that divisions among people can cause. Let me show you just two examples of this in the Scriptures.

The tower of Babel is one such occurrence. God came down and saw that the people had become united, in this case united in the pride of their hearts to make a name for themselves. They were united in their worship of self, and in their agenda to make a name for themselves. But God knew what they were up to, and He said these words:

Genesis 11:6–7 NIV84

6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

And then verse 8 shows us the consequences of this action...

Genesis 11:8 NIV84

8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

We have another example in the Scriptures, and that is in the account of the Apostle Paul before the Sanhedrin. He was standing trial before this Jewish leadership - the Sanhedrin - a trial directed against him because of his proclamation of the Gospel.

As he now stood in front of this Sanhedrin, he knew that there was no opportunity of a fair trial. But as he stood there before them, he wisely observed that some of the Sanhedrin were Pharisees, with others being Sadducees.

Acts 23:6–10 NIV84

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Even this united Sanhedrin, when presented with a point of contention among its members, descended into disarray and in-fighting. Divide and Conquer was used, and how successful it was for Paul in this instance.

Christ’s words were true… “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” (Luke 11:17, NIV84)

But while in those instances, the rule of Divide and Conquer were used for noble purposes, we must understand that such divisions are entirely out of place within the church. God does not desire the church to be divided, but rather that the church be thoroughly united in Christ.

Instead, Satan does desire the church to be divided, and he is putting the rule of divide and conquer to good use in the church, by bringing up these potential points of division, and taking our focus off of the true Gospel.

Dear friends, if we as the church allow a spirit of division to enter into the body of Christ, let us be sure that it will cause much harm to the church.

This issue comes up even with Paul, as he writes this letter to the Galatians, and as they faced their disagreements and fights among themselves. Paul says in Galatians 5:14-15

Galatians 5:14–15 NIV84

14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

How we treat one another within the body of Christ, and how we speak to one another within the body of Christ is significant! How we go about dealing with concerns, with differences, with different views is significant. Most importantly, do we do these things in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel. Does the Gospel, and the realities of the Gospel - the overwhelming love and grace of God; the profound mercy that was extended to each one of us; the fact that we are free in the Lord Jesus Christ… do these truths define who we are, and do they drive how we live, how we speak, how we act, how we treat others?

Christ was clear as he prayed his high-priestly prayer in John 17, of just how important this issue of unity is for the sake of the Gospel and the proclamation of His name...

John 17:20–23 NIV84

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Twice in that prayer, Christ prays for the unity of the church, “so that the world may believe that you have sent me...” Christian unity will demonstrate to the world that Christ is Lord. The opposite happens when we lack that unity.

As we continue, I want us to consider...

3. The Remedy for Division

How do we deal with racial, or other tensions that occur, and threaten the unity of the church.

I think Paul outlines this quite clearly for us in his letter to the Galatians.

Firstly, a reminder of his words in...

Galatians 3:26 NIV84

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

The Gospel message is that which brings unity. When we are born into the family of Christ, all of the dividing walls that previously would have resulted in divisions between people are taken down, and there comes a unity in Christ.

Galatians 5:6 NIV84

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

We must see this for what it is. When the power of the Gospel transforms us, all of the animosity and hatred that existed towards others, is now seen in the proper context of God’s great love for me, a sinner. We cannot live with hatred in our hearts towards others, anger and bitterness and fighting against others within the church, when we have been forgiven so much.

This inner working of Christ within us, leads us to live in a different manner. It leads us to live under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit, a completely different way of life.

From our passage this morning, note how Paul conveys this...

Galatians 5:22–23 NIV84

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Paul calls the believers who have this animosity between them to do away with that, and instead to live a life that is controlled by the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is to overflow out of our lives in terms of how we love others, even others of different backgrounds and perspectives in life. But the driving force is the character and nature of Christ.

In the words of Philippians 2:3-4,

Philippians 2:3–4 NIV84

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

And then in verse 5...

Philippians 2:5 NIV84

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Those words apply to every single believer. Absolutely nothing that we do is to be done out of selfish ambition, trying to get our own agenda, or our own group, or our own whatever ahead of another persons within the body.

We are called as Christians to die to ourselves. We are to die to self, and to serve those around us in love. We are to humble ourselves, in the same way that Jesus humbled himself and came from His Father’s throne in glory, humbling himself as a man, and even becoming obedient to death for the sake of sinners. That is the love we are called to.

Jesus said that if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, let him take up his cross (that is an instrument that brings death).... let him take up his cross and follow me.

If we are going to see racial tensions healed and mended; if we are going to see the church of Jesus Christ standing firm as a united body in Christ, then it is essential that each and every one of us - not just those who don’t see things through my correct way of looking at it - it is necessary for each and every one of us to humble ourselves, to die to ourselves, to want to understand and to be able to live with love and concern for each and every one of our brothers and sisters.

In the words of Galatians 5:25-26...

Galatians 5:25–26 NIV84

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

With that said, just a few words are necessary on...

4. The Reality of Differences

Having said all of this, we need to keep in mind that there are differences between people.

Just because we are called to have no divisions, doesn’t mean that we are called to ignore those aspects which are different about us. When Paul said to the Galatians...

Galatians 3:28 NIV84

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

…he wasn’t saying that suddenly we all look the same, and feel the same. Paul was not promoting gender neutrality. There are differences between us. But we do not divide ourselves based on those differences. And we do not allow those differences to become a source of pride, entitlement, arrogance etc. to be used against another group of people.

Our uniqueness and our identity as people is a wonderful and beautiful thing by the grace of God. It creates a colour and dimension to our worship of God that is something to be celebrated.

In the book of Revelation, the differences between the people worshiping at the throne of God are not erased, but they are celebrated...

Revelation 7:9–10 NIV84

9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

John didn’t just say, all the Christians are there.... it was a great multitude that was distinguishable by their unique characteristics. But they were united in the grand act of worship. We are to worship God together.

Our differences of who we are and our backgrounds are a reality. We are unique. But these are not a cause, they should not be a cause for division.

Application and Conclusion

Just briefly as we close, I want to call us as a church to pursue the unity that Christ our Lord calls us to. The world around us is fighting. There are divisions in every way conceivable, and beyond that. We must not allow these points to be the cause of division among us.

Let me take the words of Dr. Tedron Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and just change them somewhat and apply them to the church. He said...

"How is it difficult for humans to unite to fight a common enemy, that's killing people indiscriminately. Are we unable to distinguish or identify the common enemy? Can't we understand that the divisions or the cracks between us actually are the advantage for the virus?"

In the context of the church, we must ask, how is it difficult for Christians to unite to fight a common enemy, that’s killing people indiscriminately. Are we unable to distinguish or identify the common enemy? Can’t we understand that the divisions or the cracks between us actually are the advantage for Satan?

Our common enemy is sin in this world. And the remedy for sin is the Gospel. We are not fighting one another on secondary outworkings of the Gospel.

Oppression is a reality, and it is wrong. But we don’t fight among ourselves about oppression. We proclaim and live out the Gospel that brings freedom.

Gender-based violence is a reality, and it is wrong. But we don’t fight among ourselves about gender-based violence. We proclaim and we live out the Gospel that brings freedom.

We want to tell the world that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all people.

We want to show the world that the Gospel brings radical life-transformation.

This is only possible as live united in our common purpose of serving Christ.

As we continue in this series, let me just say that there is much to be said.

Please, listen to the Scriptures. See what God says about these matters.

And may our gracious Lord grant us the wisdom and the humility to see how we can better foster unity among us, even as the world seeks to bring divisions within our midst.