Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices Author: Chris Brauns

Bound Together: How We Are Tied to Others in Good and Bad Choices
Author: Chris Brauns

Don't let the title scare you, but be encouraged that you are bound together with others. What is it that binds us together? In his latest book, Chris Brauns defines the negative (curse) point of "the principle of the rope" as the decision that Adam made to rebel against God, which has subsequently left us in a desperate situation. We stand condemned as rebels, excluded from God's good future, unless we are saved from our wretched condition (p. 50).

In Chapter 3, Chris Brauns follows up with the positive (blessing) point where believers are "roped" to Christ, so in being united with Christ--or being "roped" to Him--we can receive His freedom, forgiveness, and salvation for our sins (p. 58).

"Roped to Christ", in precise, theological language, equates to "union with Christ". Union with Christ means that the believer and Christ are one. This reality underlies the message of the gospel and affects every aspect of our salvation. Because Christ is righteous, the believer is righteous. Because Christ is a child of God, the believer is God's child. Because Christ is eternally blessed, the believer is eternally blessed. Union with Christ means that a believer is in Christ and Christ is in the believer, who is being increasingly conformed to the image of Christ (p. 63).

Most Christians focus so much on the person and the work of Christ (it is an excellent desire for believers to study the person and work of Christ), but fail to recognize their own "union with Christ". This has cost many Christians to not experience "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3).

In "Part II: Applying the Principle of the Rope", husbands will learn something new in Chapter 7. After reading this chapter, I decided to take a week off for Spring Cleaning my whole house so my wife could have a rest.

After reading Chapter 8, I must confess that I have not read the story of Rahab the way Chris Brauns wrote it in this chapter. God's grace is so richly shown in her life that I have reread this chapter twice to sink into my spirit the richness of God's grace towards a sinner like me.

I encourage you to read this book for a clear understanding of "original sin" and the best understanding of our "union with Christ". For me, Chapter 7 alone is well worth the price of buying the book because my wife noticed that I had done something I had not done in our 14 ½ years of marriage, which was taking a week off to do Spring Cleaning.

I received this book for free from Zondervan via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."