Knit by Love - Colossians 2:1-5

The french philosopher Rene Descartes in one of his writings defined the human person as a “thinking thing”

The is the entire premise of what we believe to be the modern human

A person who is nothing more then a brain who is telling the rest of the body what to do.

But in a world where knowledge should come first what if it isn’t necessarily at the forefront of where we should stand

Now knowledge is an important and even essential asset to directing the world to Christ.

I am reminded of God granting Solomon any one thing in 2 Chronicles chapter 1 and Solomon asks for and Solomon's request was “Wisdom and knowledge to lead your people”

Due to this scripture we know that wisdom and knowledge are very important if not vital to Christian leadership

The truth however is that in order to obtain knowledge we first have to obtain something completely different. We have to obtain love!

Colossians 2:1–5 KJV 1900

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 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; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

Paul obviously wasn’t present with Colosse in fact he was in prison and had never even met these people.

Yet in verse 1 Paul is in essence saying “I want you to know the great worry that I have for you”

This isn’t meaning he is in fear for the situation but is in worry about their lives

Meaning he has bought emotions stock into their lives and he cares for them, he cares about their walk with Christ.

What is this care exactly

In verse 2 Paul expresses a hidden and profound statement that many times we may not notice at first glance

Paul says “that their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love”

So Paul’s worry about Colosse was that they wouldn’t stand stand unified in love for one another.

Paul continues and says “Unto all riches of fullness of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of the Ghost.”

In short unity in love for one another must be there before the wisdom.

We must love and unify one with another as the body of believers before we can seek wisdom and truth because wisdom comes from Christ.

In the world that holds an egotistical belief that our own wisdom is the most important thing we fail to acknowledge that even if we become so wise our head swells but we aren’t knit together in love we still cannot combat the enemy

See there were false teachers in Colosse at this time

How can they maintain the strength they needed alone?

No wisdom was strong enough alone.

Even if they were the wisest person in all of the region it would be impossible to stand up to the false teachers while standing alone

They could only stand together unified, knit together by love, seeking the truth of the salvation message.

In verse 2 and 3 Paul expresses to the readers that wisdom comes from the most high and it is only through him that we can ever truly understand the “mystery” of God.

I want to hone in on one particular truth that this scripture is screaming to us

pauls encouragement is our message for today his encouragement was the the Colossians that remained faithful unit together in love and hold each other to the truth of the word.

Paul knew that the easiest way to maintain the faith while constantly listening to persuasive arguments of the false prophets was to do so united in love while seeking the truth.

Sure they could stand alone and seek the truth but they wouldn’t be as strong.

Paul was concerned for them and praying they would stay united and stand firm on their beliefs.

I want to encourage you to do the same today.

Stand firm on the gospel truth but do not do it alone.

I know it is difficult to be unified right now but let us not lose that unity.

We cannot stand as strongly alone.

I begun this week noticing people posting on a wide real of social media platforms how the world is not U.S. no longer seeks the kingdom first.

If that is true it is due to 2 things.

1. The people don’t seek God first

2.The people aren’t unified under God

The reason Paul was so strongly encouraging the church not to seek wisdom but to seek the truth while unified was because they were stronger together.

If you aren’t seeking Christ and you aren’t unified with the church you are one of the key reasons for any fall of Christianity that may follow.

So now what do we do to fix this mess we have gotten ourselves into?

1.To remedy the problem we have to seek knowledge through the word to combat the false teachers that our in our world.

2. we have to not only seek knowledge but do it together as brothers and sisters in Christ

3. To finally remedy the problem we have to be united in Love (what is love? Christ is the perfect example of love)

For us to be unified in love we are not at each others throats but standing firm with those who believe the truth of the gospel pushing forward together and remedying the issue caused by many false teachers.

Beware church. false teachers are still very much alive and the only remedy is the solution that Paul had given the Colosse people so long ago.

Let us remain faithful to the word and seeking the truth of the gospel together knit by love. Held together for our desire for the kingdom and the advancement of the gospel.