THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
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HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD AGREE ON? So, how do we know what we should and must agree on and what we should be flexible and patient with? What are the “basic essentials” of our faith and fellowship and what are considered “disputable matters” (Rom.14:1)? How do we know what should be tolerated in some situations and what we should stand strong on in others? Eph.4:1 says we are to “bear with one another in love.” (NIV) How do we know what we should forbear with one another on, and what we should not? How does God expect us to achieve unity? Can we even really get a handle on what God wants us to unify around and what unity should look like? Paul says – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph.1:3 (NIV). We must ask again – what does that look like? How do we really work with unity and achieve it? DISCOVERING HOW WE DETERMINE “BASIC ESSENTIALS”. The Letter of 1 John reveals the key of how we determine “basic essentials.” The theme of the letter is clear – the letter is written and proclaimed to us so that a Christian can determine whether he or she “has fellowship with the Father and with the Son,” 1 Jn.1:3. We can as Christians have confidence that we are accepted with him. In order to tell us HOW we can know we have fellowship with the Father and the Son, John uses several “all or none statements” in the letter. Those statements are stated in this way – “either we believe a certain thing about Christ, or we do not know him.” “Either we believe a certain thing about Christ, or we do not belong to him.” Either we live in the light or we are still in darkness.” There is no middle ground. The statements are decisive and direct. Let us illustrate below the use of the “all or none statements” in the First Letter of John.
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About the Book
This is the third book by the author. This book, The Unity of the Holy Spirit, is very unique in the author’s approach. He uses what he observes in 1 John to discover a key to recognizing and achieving unity and fellowship. That key in 1 John revolves around “all or none” type statements. What do those statements tell us? Like John’s theme in his letter, it answers the question – “How do you know you have fellowship with the Father and with the Son?” These “all or none” statements of John tell us one is either “in or they are out,” “in fellowship or not,” “you know God or you do not,” “you are saved or you are not.” In the statements of John, there is no middle ground. For example, John says “Except you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” He says – “He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” This author proposes these various “all or none” type statements throughout the New Testament are the basis of what Christians must agree on. These statements are revealed truth that we must stand on. There is no compromise with these and be a Christian. The author also addresses “issues” that divide churches. He proposes that we do not have to agree on “disputable matters,” Rom.14:1. These “issues”, though they have divided Christians for hundreds of years into over four hundred denominations, are not necessary to divide over, and it destroys the unity and effectiveness of Christians. These disputable “issues” that Paul speaks of and many more the churches divide over are a matter of individual growth and understanding in one’s Christian journey of faith. We should not “Lord it over another’s faith.” “To his master he stands or falls.” We all need time to grow and understand things throughout life. Some of these “issues” can be very serious, and sometimes can rise to the level of a need for church discipline. But, for the most part, we should not stand as judges over our brothers because we disagree over an issue. Nor should we part ways. Christians are to help each other, be patient with each other and longsuffering. Finally, there are several chapters in the book that address several aspects of unity - the attitudes and qualities that help produce unity, those who cause disunity, approaches to unity, and what is true unity and what is not. These and more are topics addressed in the book. The book is written to give churches a practical and scriptural way to approach unity. It is very different from the many creeds, church rules, and traditions that are offered as the approach to unity of churches. Churches offer a very legalistic approach that demands conformity to their beliefs to be a member, to teach or to lead in their church. Such an approach demands conformity to a particular denomination’s views and following their creeds, rather than allowing the Spirit to help the individual Christian grow and learn God's will. The growth and beliefs of individual Christians have been hi-jacked by the various well-meaning but biased denominations. This new book is very challenging to the traditions and approaches of denominations. Unity is not realized by them. They are divisions of believers that cannot fellowship each other, nor can they work together. It is time for a fresh look in how to bring Christians back together and how to work together. This is the book for those who want true unity with our brothers.