Christ Preeminence is Detailed to the Colossians Volume 33

Paul Demands of these Colossian Believers to always show Love to One Another Part 3

Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. KJV

Now Paul consummates these Christian virtues to be put on by these Colossian believers and we believers today by one word 'charity' or 'love' as we would render this word today as he says here, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." (Colossians 3:14) (KJV). That is, over or on top of and covering mercy, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and forgiveness must be put on the love of God just as in the brutally cold temperatures of winter people put on layers of clothing to stay warm with the warmest, largest, and thickest coat put on over all the other clothing to seal in the warmth to the body. In the same manner spiritually, love or the Greek word agape should be put on over all of these others, so as to seal in the rest or to make the others truly sincere and meaningful as this same Apostle declared to the believers in Rome with these words concerning love when he said, "Keep out of debt {and} owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor [who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law [relating to one's fellowmen, meeting all its requirements]. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet (have an evil desire), and any other commandment, are summed up in the single command, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements {and} is the fulfilling of the Law." (Romans 13:8-10) (Amplified Bible).

The Strong's Concordance defines 'agape' as this love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love. The love of God is made real to each one of us redeemed by the Blood of Christ by way of God the Holy Spirit, for before our union and connection with Him love to us was mostly dominated by the Greek word phelaio meaning sensual love as between a man and a woman, but now through the Holy Spirit we are able to know the complete sphere of God's love to us, for us, and actuated through us to our brothers and sisters in Christ Body as Paul declared with these words again to the believers in Rome, "And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints {or} deludes {or} shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. While we were yet in weakness [powerless to help ourselves], at the fitting time Christ died for (in behalf of) the ungodly. Now it is an extraordinary thing for one to give his life even for an upright man, though perhaps for a noble {and} lovable {and} generous benefactor someone might even dare to die. But God shows {and} clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us." (Romans 5:4-8) (Amplified Bible). Note: According to Matthew Henry "Christian unity consists of unanimity and mutual love."

Paul calls love 'the bond of perfectness'. First, the English phrase 'the bond' is translated by one Greek word sundesmos meaning a joint tie, that is, ligament, (figuratively) uniting principle, control: - band, bond. In other words, like the ligaments inside the human body connecting and holding together bone, muscle, and skin, so does brotherly love purposed, prompted, and practiced in the Spiritual Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ hold together and unify the Church of God as the Psalmist declares with these very precious words, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar {and} skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]." (Psalms 133:1-3) (Amplified Bible) and as the Apostle John declared with these equally precious words, "And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us." (1 John 3:23) (Amplified Bible).

Second, the English phrase 'of perfectness' is translated by one Greek word teleiotes meaning (the state) completeness (mentally or morally): - perfection (-ness). It is that state or condition of character morally that we strive toward, that is, to be like our Lord Jesus Christ in ever fashion or way and to abide in His Love is the closest we will and can get during our pilgrimage here on the earth to this perfectness as our Lord Jesus Himself told us with these words, "I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love {and} live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love." (John 15:9-10) (Amplified Bible) and this same Apostle Paul said this to the believers in Ephesus, "And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be Apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting {and} the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ {and} the completeness found in Him." (Ephesians 4:11-13) (Amplified Bible).

"Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ have but one commandment from Him and that is that we should love one another as He has and does love each one of us (John 13:34 & John 15:12), when this is truly done in any Church, there will be no gossip or talking about others behind their backs, no fighting over position or status in the Church, no politics or shady deals made that someone may advance to a higher position, no greed for money or stealing money from the Church to get more perishable things, for all of this and many other such things are the enemy of love and the destroyer of it. We find the opposite of all the above behavior detailed for us by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Nor is it only the virtues enumerated here for which love performs this office: but all the else isolated graces of character, it binds or welds into a harmonious whole. As the broad Eastern girdle holds the flowing robes in position, and gives needed firmness to the figure as well as composed order to the attire; so this broad band, woven of softest fabric, keeps all emotions in their due place and makes the attire of the Christian soul beautiful in harmonious completeness. Perhaps it is a yet deeper truth that love produces all these graces. Whatsoever things men call virtues, are best cultivated by cultivating it. So with a somewhat similar meaning to that of our text, but if anything, going deeper down, Paul in another place calls love the fulfilling of the law, even as his Master had taught him that all the complex of duties incumbent upon us were summed up in love to God, and love to men. Whatever I owe to my brother will be discharged if I love God, and live my love. Nothing of it, not even the smallest mite of the debt will be discharged, however vast my sacrifices and services, if I do not." Expositor's Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…