In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All Things, Love: Things that Can Unite or Divide Us as the Body of Christ (A New Covenant Understanding)

By G. Bruce Greer

A slightly updated version of an aphorism attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) has been used to define unity among Christians in good faith, or at least principles that promote the Christian virtue of love among brethren: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love. Augustine's adage about Christian unity is wonderful in what it conveys in a brief statement, but far more can be mined and expanded upon, which is why this book is built upon the three parts of his quote: Part 1 - In Essentials, Unity Part 2 - In non-Essentials, Liberty Part 3 - In All Things, Love. Part One compares various understandings of Christian Unity to Jesus Christ's own definition of the basis for our Christian Unity: our union in Christ as the Body of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit, our united oneness in the Divine Family of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ--what I call New Covenant At-One-Ment (complete definition Appendix A). Part Two examines our liberty in Christ in the many non-Essentials that, while often important, do not define Christianity or our Unity in Christ. In considering Christian Liberty, I will apply Paul's admonitions that "while nothing is unlawful" (unconstrained liberty), we must discern whether our liberty is "profitable, edifying or damaging" for ourselves or others. I categorize beneficial liberties as Healthy, damaging liberties as Unhealthy, and other things as Neutral. Non-Essential items can be very important to the health or detriment of individual believers and the Body of Christ. The real danger lies in elevating any non-Essential to the status of Essential (necessary to be a Christian) or central to their understanding or practice of the Christian faith. Part Three begins by narrowing our definition of Love to that unique form of love expressed in scriptures as Agape Love from one of the Greek words translated as love in our New Testament. This form of love, found in the very nature of our Triune God and uniquely indwelling born-again Christians through His indwelling Spirit, is what I refer to as Christian Love . We will look at scriptural examples in the person and work of Jesus Christ (God the Son), God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ. Then we'll further define what Christian Love looks like: whether it is monolithic or relationally multifaceted, how it differs from other forms of human love, whether it is a commandment or the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and finally how Christian Love is best encouraged in individual believers and in the Body of Christ.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0BZ6QGXQ1
• ISBN13: 9798387985317
• Release Date: March 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 351 Pages
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"