Unity: Striving Side by Side for the Gospel

by Conrad Mbewe

Exploring Unity as a Fruit of the Gospel 

Christians most effectively serve others and advance God’s kingdom when they are in biblical unity with one another. Unfortunately, modern Christians seem to be divided on countless issues related to ministry, culture, the church, and even unity itself. Some prioritize organizational unity over gospel truth, while others only seek unity with those who share their same doctrinal beliefs.

In this short, accessible guide, author Conrad Mbewe explores unity as a fruit of the gospel. He finds that biblical unity is only achieved after understanding what God has done through Christ and how it is continuously executed by the Holy Spirit. This biblically centered book encourages readers to respond to Paul’s apostolic plea of “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27), embracing unity as a valuable, God-given blessing. 

Encourages  Explores unity as a fruit of the gospel that is only understood through what God has done through Christ and executed by the Holy Spirit Practical  This concise guide encourages Christians to stand firm in the spirit and in unity with others  A Part of the Growing Gospel Integrity  Created in partnership with Union School of Theology

Genres: Theology, Christian

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2024

About the author

Since 1987 Conrad Mbewe (pronounced em-bay'-way) has been pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia. He is widely known as the Spurgeon of Africa for both his preaching and devotion to the ministry. His church is presently overseeing the start of more than twenty Baptist churches in Africa, often reaching out in communities where there is little or no evangelical witness. In recent years he has been in high demand as a conference speaker and missions adviser. He writes two articles every week for national Zambian newspapers, edits the Reformation Zambia magazine, is President of a small Reformed Baptist seminary, and recently spoke at the national conference for The Gospel Coalition in Chicago, IL, USA. As a churchman, he has been interviewed by Tim Challies of challies.com, by Mark Dever of 9Marks ministries, and D.A. Carson of The Gospel Coalition. To this day the influence of his ministry continues to deepen and expand. Conrad Mbewe has a unique ability to convey the truth of God's Word through clear, fresh, and powerful exposition. His pastoral and administrative experience in church matters situates him uniquely among evangelical leaders in the world. You can learn much more about Conrad and his ministry at this website: resources.grantedministries.org/found...

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, short work on unity among believers. Focused mostly on inter-church unity rather than intra-church unity.

[Collin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little addition to this Union series. This was a great reminder not only of the importance of local church unity, but local churches, plural, unity as well. Striving side by side with other Christian’s whether a part of your church or not is essential for gospel work and the way in which your towns and cities will see Christ.

It is also a humbling reminder that the gospel brings us together in Christ to the “unity of faith and the knowledge of the son of God..” (Eph. 4:11-13). This means that secondary doctrinal issues should not separate us. It is hard this side of heaven to maintain unity because in our pride every little style, or method, or theological issue is seen as divisive, but in heaven:

“The only division in heaven will be between those who have trusted in Christ alone for salvation and those who have not. Therein lies the true evangelical unity and division”

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Unity at all costs” is the subtle battlecry we hear in many churches these days. The not-so-subtle demand for tolerance that the world’s system demands has been adopted, to the great detriment of the church. Thankfully, not everyone is deceived by the spirit of the age. Conrad Mbewe, pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Zambia challenges Christians to strive side by side for the gospel in his book, Unity: Striving Side by Side for the Gospel. At the heart of the book is an appeal for Christ-followers to “be wary of divisions over non-gospel issues.”

The book is arranged in two parts. Part one, The Indicatives of Christian Unity focuses on our unity, which Christ has accomplished and applied by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Mbewe makes it clear that unity is something that God has already achieved. “Our role,” he says, “is not to become united but to remain united, not to attain but to maintain unity.” Christians are not only reconciled to God; they are reconciled to one another, a fact that is established by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Additionally, the Holy Spirit unites us to the body of Christ and indwells the people of God. As such, the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of Christians to truth, which they should unite around. Consequently, they strive to live godly lives and remain sensitive to indwelling sin. Mbewe adds:

The Holy Spirit enables us to die to this sin so that we live more for God. This is a lifelong process. We never arrive in this life. It is our responsibility to actively put to death the misdeeds of the body, but we are enabled to do so more and more by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Part two, The Imperatives of Christian Unity argues that unity is to be jealously guarded by believers and evidence in gospel pursuits. The author clarifies that “we must guard against an ecumenism that suggests that we should embrace anyone calling himself a Christian or any group calling themselves a church.” In other words, the gospel is the test of truth, which becomes the benchmark by which Christians live their lives. “Let us not sacrifice the good of the church and the glory of God on the altar of unity for pragmatic reasons,” writes Mbewe.

Several activities are encouraged, which will help foster evangelical unity, including growing in our understanding of the gospel, growing in love and concern for other believers, and faithfully meeting together with the people of God.

Unity: Striving Side by Side for the Gospel strikes a critical biblical balance that affirms the importance of unity while rejecting a pluralistic, ecumenical mindset that is informed by the postmodern zeitgeist. Pastor Mbewe’s work should be read and digested by Christians who are committed to walking together in unity.

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:20–21, ESV)

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review.

[John Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book, but it helpfully explains the Christian doctrine of unity. Mbewe moves from the indicative (we *are* united in Christ through the Holy Spirit) to the imperative (we *should* be united in the gospel). He does, however, tend to downplay organisational and institutional unity. Although there are areas in which we should labor together with Christians of other denominations, theological training (p. 84) should never have been pushed outside the Church.

[Drew Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When we as Christians stand firm in one spirit, it is for the purpose of making known the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ together” (77). Mbewe demonstrates that unity, which God desires for us and has accomplished for us, has an evangelistic goal. Reading this book develops a similar desire to see interdenominational, local church unity for local evangelistic efforts.

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent little primer on unity. Theologically rooted. I think it could have done with being twenty pages longer and clarifying some tricky issues like sexuality/baptism/leadership. But a useful little book to complement e.g. Jonathan Lamb’s ‘Essentially One’.

[Matthew Rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little book. I am preparing to preach through 1 Corinthians beginning in January (Lord willing) and this short, crisp work has been very helpful in supplementing commentaries for 1 Cor 1-4 especially!

Highly recommended.

[Conner Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly put into perspective the biblical support for ministries to work alongside one another and achieve the common good which to share the gospel of Christ and make disciple-making disciples.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book

[Andrew Krom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little primer on church Unity!

[Erik Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little resource/booklet.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Not worth nitpicking in a review.

[LMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unity accomplished in the Son and applied by the Spirit. Good little book.