Speaking of "let," I let it all hang out in this edition of MZTV.

What is a poor gospel-of-grace guy supposed to do? Paul can't tell the ecclesias to be good or else—or else they'd accuse him of being a hypocrite; accuse him of preaching grace but then threatening them with law.

The holy spirit came up with just the right word: "let"; as in "Let all bitterness and fury and anger and clamor and calumny be taken away from you" (Ephesians 4:31); as in "Let this disposition be in you that was in Christ Jesus also" (Philippians 2:5); as in "Let the peace of Christ be arbitrating in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15); and as in "Let the word of Christ be making its home in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).

Body of Christ members get nervous when they hear Paul telling people to behave themselves, but these are not commands, they are exhortations. And Paul never, ever, uses the phrase "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not," but rather encourages the believers to simply let the spirit of God do what it does as it lives inside you: bear fruit.

"Let" is active and passive at the same time. It's a miracle word that only the spirit of God could come up with. It's the spirit of God that gave it to Paul, and our grace apostle uses it to good effect.