The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:1-3, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…”

How often have you heard someone refer to another person as a “saint?” More often than not, when the word is used in this regard, it is intended to convey a person’s excellent, spiritual attitude. In the Bible, however, –particularly in the New Testament– “saint” refers to a spiritual position, not a spiritual attitude. Of course, those who are in the right spiritual position will possess a spiritual attitude as well.

The word “faithful,” also in verse two, refers to spiritual responsibility. Paul doesn’t waste words. “To the

saints and faithful brethren…” –those who have the good spiritual position because they have trusted in Jesus Christ and those who are living up to their spiritual responsibilities. The word “brethren” in this verse refers to others who are “in Christ.” Those “in Christ” are the Church, the Christian community, in every successive generation. It has no bearing upon any religious denomination, except that those embracing a Christian denomination, hopefully, are themselves embraced by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The statement “Grace to you and peace from God our Father” (v 2b) opens Paul’s acknowledgment of blessing from the LORD. As always, “Grace and peace” are his subjects of focus. Grace is the activity of God’s love. Nowhere in history is this more visible than in A.D. 33 on a hill just outside the walls of Jerusalem. For there on Calvary Jesus Christ was crucified, giving Himself to His Heavenly Father as payment for our sins. “Clean out the old leaven,” Paul said in First Corinthians 5, “that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (I Cor 5:7). Paul admonishes the

Corinthian believers to live consistently clean lives, inasmuch as Christ has paid the supreme sacrifice for them.

“Peace,” by definition, is the confidence of God’s Love. If Grace, as the activity of God’s Love, is associated with the Cross of Christ, then Peace, as the confidence of that Love, is associated with the Resurrection of Christ. For it is through His Resurrection, His people know peace.

The Father and the Son are jointly the source of favor and blessing bestowed upon sinful, but repentant, man. When Paul says “Grace to you” and “peace from God,” he says more than our English translation allows. “To you” means “advantage.” ‘Grace is to your advantage,’ Paul is saying. And ‘peace comes from the ultimate source: God.’

The big question is: Are you a saint? That means, Have you willfully turned away from your sin and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you have not, you ought to immediately! “Now is the accepted time. Today is the day of salvation!” (II Cor 6:2).

If you have been saved, the big question to you is: Are you faithful to the Lord? Faithful in reading His Word

daily? Faithful in praying–not just when you’re in trouble, but to tell Him you love Him, just to praise His Name! Are you faithful in worship? Do you worship regularly in a Bible-believing, Christ-exalting church? Do you contribute your spiritual gifts to the upbuilding of the Body of Christ, His Church? Are you faithful in witnessing to others about Jesus’ saving grace? How long has it been since you spoke personally to someone in the effort to see them receive Christ? There really is a lot to being a Christian!

Pray for us as we pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”