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Answer
In Colossians 3:12–14, the apostle Paul presents a list of Christian virtues that showcase the gracious character of Jesus Christ. Believers are encouraged to embrace “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” as if they were garments (verse 12). Paul also advises, “Bear with each other and forgive one another . . . just as the Lord forgave you” (verse 13). Lastly, Paul instructs them to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (verse 14, NKJV). Other translations interpret this as “perfect harmony” (ESV, NLT), “perfect unity” (NIV), and “perfect bond of unity” (NASB, CSB).
Love is the most crucial attire for Christians to wear because it serves as a unifying force, bringing all the other virtues together in flawless unity (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). In the original Greek, the term translated as “bond” in Colossians 3:14 means “that which fastens together separate items into a unity.” “Perfection” signifies a state of wholeness or completeness without flaw or imperfection. This perfect bond is the harmonious blend and cohesive union that believers enjoy when love governs their hearts and they interact with one another in a manner reflective of Christlike virtues stemming from spiritual maturity.
Jesus prayed for His disciples and all future believers to encounter this perfect unity: “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. . . . May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:20-23; NLT).
Most of us understand perfection as a state of complete, flawless, and faultless wholeness and purity. Only God can be described in such perfection of nature and character (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Matthew 5:48; Job 37:16). However, the Greeks had a different understanding of perfection, framing it more in terms of being “mature and complete,” and this is the idea behind Paul’s use of “the bond of perfection.”
The Christian’s ultimate aspiration is to grow into full spiritual stature (Colossians 1:28; Colossians 4:12; Hebrews 6:1). Paul constantly pushed himself and others toward Christian maturity (Philippians 3:12-14). He earnestly appealed to his brothers and sisters in Christ “to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” «Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. », (1 Corinthians 1:10, NLT). “Always be humble and gentle,” Paul pressed. “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3; NLT). Only as we develop Christlikeness can we experience peaceful, harmonious fellowship in the body of Christ. And then, as Jesus explained, our perfect unity becomes a testimony of God.
God’s love for the world.
The apostle John taught, “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world” «Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. », (1 John 4:17, NLT). God is love «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. », (1 John 4:8). As our relationship with Him develops and deepens, we mature in our ability to understand and give love: “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” «There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. », (1 John 4:18, NLT). As we aim to strengthen the bond of perfection by loving one another, God Himself abides in us, “and his love is brought to full expression in us” «No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. », (1 John 4:12, NLT).
Paul prayed for strength from the Holy Spirit and deep-rooted love for Christ to enable the believers in Ephesus to understand and experience the bond of perfection: “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how
Long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to fully understand. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:16-19; NLT).
We will never be perfectly faultless in this lifetime. But Scripture urges, “Let love be your highest goal!” «Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. », (1 Corinthians 14:1, NLT). Love is the glue that holds us together in spiritual unity. As we allow the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:8-10), we will grow more mature and complete in our love for God and our fellow believers in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 6:6).
