The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 2:8-12, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in

the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

I will be clear and concise at the beginning: I have never been in jail! When we examine the Scriptures, however, we learn that while

there are some who ought not to have been there, there are some who ought to be there, but are not!

Paul was not the founder of the Church in Colosse. As a matter of fact, he was a prisoner in Rome when heresy attacked the Colossian congregation. “Flesh is essentially evil…” Heresy prevails when people

leave or ignore the Scriptures and allow human thought to prevail. Here in Colosse, we have a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, Asceticism with a ‘dash’ of angel worship.” (Imagine what kind of messy Church that would have been!)

I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have remained there long. Paul, however, knew that unless things were straightened out, other churches would be infected with the same thing!

Thus, Paul preached doctrine in chapters 1-2, and doctrine’s practical results in 3-4. It wasn’t long, but he bathes his words in love and solemnly warns the Colossians with clear, practical teaching. It’s a message every true church needs and should heed.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

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