The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:2-11, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him–
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

Yes, this is a long passage. In the Scripture itself, it is longer still. The doctrinal section of the epistle is largely covered in the first and second chapters. The practical section (3:1-4:6) concerns the believer’s union with the LORD Jesus Christ, and how believers are to behave. If we are heavenly minded at all times, we will consistently live holy lives.

The greatest influence believers can possibly have on unbelievers is to live holy lives! The greatest hindrance to anyone’s trust in Christ is for believers to live as non-believers. Too
often we identify and speak forbidingly of the sins of the flesh, but find ourselves involved
in the very things we have spoken against. In other words, we have to be what we profess
if others are to seriously consider believing what we say about Jesus!

You and I may need to beg forgiveness for things we have said and done. If so, Jesus is
the first who should hear our confession. Once He has forgiven us, we need to ask
forgiveness from those who are aware of our sin. That can open doors for sharing the
Gospel with those who don’t know Him. Confession of sin, expressed to the Father, Himself strengthens the confessor. How strong are you right now?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom