COLOSSIANS 3:14-15 ABOVE ALL PUT ON LOVE

Love: a new goal

Col 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

3:14 “put on love which is the perfect bond of unity” Love, which issues in unity, is the distinctive mark of the Christian (cf. Eph. 4:2–3; 1 Cor, 13; Gal. 5:22).

Paul leaves the greatest and highest grace to the last: ‘But above all these things put on love’. Christian love is above all these other important and beautiful graces because it is self-sacrificing, self-giving, and the fulfilment of both the law and the gospel. It is a new commandment given to us by our Savior (John 13:34–35). The local church needs lashings of love for unity to be maintained.

Put on … love (Col. 3:14). This is the most important of the Christian virtues, and it acts like a “girdle” that ties all the other virtues together. All of the spiritual qualities Paul has named are aspects of true Christian love, as a reading of 1 Corinthians 13 will reveal. Love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit and the other virtues follow—joy (Col. 3:16), peace (Col. 3:15), long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, and meekness (Col. 3:12).

When love rules in our lives, it unites all these spiritual virtues so that there is beauty and harmony, indicating spiritual maturity. This harmony and maturity keep the life balanced and growing. The gnostic system could never do this.^[1]

Once again, Paul gives the Colossians the responsibility for making changes to their lives. The new clothes are beautiful gifts from God, but putting them on is the work of every individual Christian.

The most important item of all is love, which Paul imagines as either an overgarment or a belt. Love unites all the other qualities, and makes the outfit perfect.^[1]

THE SUPREMACY OF LOVE: ‘above all these things put on love’. Philosophy was the ‘false teachers” trump card, however, ‘the love of God poured out in our hearts’ (Rom. 5:5) is the ultimate thing. It is superior to all other graces (1 Cor. 13; 1 Thes. 3:12).

THE STRENGTH OF LOVE: ‘which is the bond of perfection’. Love is like cement or belt that binds all the holy graces together in perfect harmony. Love completes and to keep our illustration of holy apparel, it completes the outfit. If there is no love then the other graces are only duty, cold morality or at best good manners. But love makes them all acceptable to God (even when they are imperfect).

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

In this verse Paul turned from character to conduct. How can a Christian know when he is doing God’s will? One answer is: the peace of Christ in the heart and in the church. When the believer loses his inner peace, he knows that he has in some way disobeyed God.

3:15 “Let the peace of Christ” This term originally meant “binding together that which was broken” (cf. John 14:27; 16:33; Phil. 4:7). There are three ways the NT speaks of peace: (1) as the objective (doctrinal) aspect of our peace with God through Christ (cf. Col. 1:20); (2) as the subjective (experiential) aspect of our being right with God (cf. John 14:27; 16:33; Phil. 4:7); and (3) as God’s uniting believing Jews and Gentiles into one new people (body) through Christ which is the mystery of God (cf. Eph. 2:14–17; Col. 3:15).

The word translated “rule” is an athletic term. It means “to preside at the games and distribute the prizes.” Paul used a variation of this word in his Letter to the Colossians: “Let no one declare you unworthy of a prize” (literal translation, Col. 2:18). In the Greek games, there were judges (we would call them umpires) who rejected the contestants who were not qualified, and who disqualified those who broke the rules.

The peace of God is the “Umpire” in our believing hearts and our churches. When we obey the will of God, we have His peace within; but when we step out of His will (even unintentionally), we lose His peace.

THE SIGN OF LOVE: love teaches us how to talk to each other, how to cope with each other and how to forgive. It fills the heart with God’s peace (v. 15). This is a subjective ‘peace’ (it is felt within) which is intended to ‘rule’, i.e. to ‘act like an umpire’ who keeps us right and tells us when we are wrong. There must be no racial barriers, cultural barriers or social barriers when love is in control. Love is a telling sign of regeneration.

We must beware, however, of a false peace in the heart. Jonah deliberately disobeyed God, yet he was able to go to sleep in the hold of a ship in a storm! “I had peace about it!” is not sufficient evidence that we are in the will of God. We must pray, surrender to His will, and seek His guidance in the Scriptures. The peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God.

Something else is involved: if we have peace in our hearts, we will be at peace with others in the church. We are called to one body, and our relationship in that body must be one of harmony and peace. If we are out of the will of God, we are certain to bring discord and disharmony to the church. Jonah thought he was at peace, when actually his sins created a storm!

When a Christian loses the peace of God, he begins to go off in directions that are out of the will of God. He turns to the things of the world and the flesh to compensate for his lack of peace within. He tries to escape, but he cannot escape himself! It is only when he confesses his sin, claims God’s forgiveness, and does God’s will that he experiences God’s peace within.

When there is peace in the heart, there will be praise on the lips: “And be ye thankful” (Col. 3:15). The Christian out of God’s will is never found giving sincere praise to God. When David covered up his sins, he lost his peace and his praise (Pss. 32; 51). When he confessed his sins, then his song returned.^[1]

 “rule” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. In contrast to the false teachers acting as umpires in 2:18, Christ is our only judge, guide and arbiter.

 “you were called” God always takes the initiative in calling, electing, and wooing believers to Himself (cf. v. 12; John 6:44, 65; Eph. 1:4–5, 11). The term “calling” (kaleō) is used in several theological senses: (1) sinners are called by God through Christ to salvation; (2) sinners call on the name of the Lord to be saved (cf. Rom. 10:9–13); (3) believers are called to live Christ like lives (cf. Eph. 4:1); and (4) believers are called to ministry tasks (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4–7).

 “in one body” This speaks of unity amidst diversity (cf. 1:18, 24; Eph. 4:4–6)! Notice that the emphasis is not on personal election, but corporate election. Salvation is corporate, not just individual.

In reaction to the abuses of power in the Roman Church, the Protestant Reformers emphasized the rights and responsibilities of the individual before God. However, their formulation became a biblical overstatement. The Bible does not teach the “priesthood of the believer,” but “the priesthood of believer s.” It is not a doctrine which emphasizes the freedom of the individual, but the body-life responsibility of each believer (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:).

 “be thankful” This was a PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE, “keep on always being thankful.” Thankfulness is a sign of Christian maturity, of the Spirit-filled life (cf. v. 17; Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18). It is not a resignation to determinism (Islam), but a biblical world-view that God is with us and for us even amidst the difficulties and circumstances of this fallen world!

 

     Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

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