“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ”
The second line of defense is an intimate fellowship among Christians.
“being knit together in love”
The second line of defense means that believers join in love to fight against error. We must be careful about how we enter the attack. Christians should shoulder to shoulder in love to serve the Lord. The unity of love comes from common truth.
The Greek indicates that knitting together in love comes before encouragement in truth. We will not apply truth to experience unless we walk in the unity of love among Christians.
Principle:
Love among Christians precedes encouragement in truth.
Application:
“Love” here is not sweetness and light. It is love that transcends personal feelings. This love does what is best for others, even if it causes the person who delivers the message pain or the person who receives the message pain. Love communicates that which corresponds to the truth. The best thing we can do for those we love is to be truthful with them.
