Love is the Glue
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Colossians 3:14 KJV:
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
“Perfectness” means maturity. If we walk in the love of God, we will start to grow up in Him.
Here are some other translations of Colossians 3:14:
(ESV) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
(NASB) In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
The word for “bond” is sometimes translated as “ligament.”
There are two things—common connecting points—that make the body work together.
1. He gave each one of us the exact same measure of holy spirit.
2. Love.
Ephesians 4:3 KJV:
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There’s a unity of the spirit because it’s the same spirit in every person.
Ephesians 4:7 KJV:
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
We all have the same measure—that’s a point of unity!
The spirit and love are the two common connecting points that bind the body of Christ together.
You could translate the end of Colossians 3:15 as “Endeavoring to keep the unit of the Spirit in the bond that brings peace.” When we walk by the spirit, it brings peace.
Colossians 2:19 KJV:
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
The physical body (joints and bands) is used here as an example of how God set up the body of believers to work.
“Knit together” is translated from a wonderful word that could be translated as molded together, locked together, or compacted. It is used in two other places.
Ephesians 4:16 KJV:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted [knit together] by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Colossians 2:2 KJV:
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
If we walk in the love of God, we’ll be living the mystery.
The body of Christ is not the only way that God described the mystery; He also described it as being in a family. The touchpoint is that we have the same Father.
When you talk about a family being an illustration of the mystery, you’re talking about the relationships that we have.
Ephesians 5:1–2 KJV:
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
The bottom line of walking in love is giving.
1 Thessalonians 5:11–12 KJV:
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
We are all members in particular. So when you see verses with something like “are over you in the Lord,” there must be something in our understanding or in the translation. It’s not “over.” If anything, leaders are “under.” In the body of Christ, it’s one level.
The word translated as “over” you, means “protect, guide, guard, care for, give aid.”
1 Timothy 5:17 KJV:
Let the elders that rule [protect, guide, guard, care for, give aid] well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Corinthians 12:18–20 KJV:
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1 Corinthians 12:22–27 KJV:
[If you say I have no need of you] 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble [without power, without strength], are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
What makes asphalt stick together? Heat! In Aramaic, the root meaning of the word for “love” means to kindle like a fire.
Colossians 3:14–15 KJV:
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
This teaching is also available on the Acts Now Fellowship website.
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