The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 3:22-25, “But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

24 Therefore, the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

I have no idea how much Paul knew about the Galatians before he first met them; but, there’s no question that he understood them quite well when he wrote them this letter.

As you might guess, the Galatians had long before migrated south from Gaul. They were a wild and wooly bunch. Like some people I’ve known, they went wild about the message of salvation that Paul gave them; then, in what seems like a split second, they turned against the message and went back to their old ways. Barnes says that they were a people “without stability of character.” That says it! Remember, too, that the Jews were everywhere and had undoubtedly turned them from the grace of God that Paul preached to the Mosaic Law which the Jews were advocating.

Paul reacts like a physician, whose patient has quit taking his prescribed medication: What have you done? Then patiently he explains that “before faith came, we (Jews) were held in custody by the Law.” In time, the Law was replaced with faith. But before faith came, the Law served as our tutor (schoolmaster, KJV) to lead us to Christ.

The Greek word for “tutor” (or “schoolmaster”) is ??????????, paidagogos.

It designates a slave that accompanied a child to and from school and protected the child en route. Young schoolboys in discovery of some newly-found evil were sure to tempt and seduce any child who was not protected. Thus, the paidagogos took charge and kept the child from wrong-doing.

That’s precisely what the Law did for the Jews, but they didn’t let it work as God intended it. Their failure to obey the Law also demonstrated that the Law was without the power to compel them to obey it. Paul says that God only intended the Law to be temporary. His loving grace was en route, in fact, it had already come to the Galatians!

Has God’s grace come to you? Have you faithfully obeyed the commitment you made to Christ? Or are you a Galatian, who started out well, but has fallen back into some previously evil ways? The power of the LORD is within all who have accepted Him by faith! Stay in His Word!! Stay faithfully in prayer! The Holy Spirit has become your paidagogos. He will protect you from evil. Yet, He seems to work in conjunction with our faithfulness. May the Holy Spirit keep you on track with the grace and love of Jesus Christ –just as the Father intended.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”

Dear Grands,

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”

Every book in the Bible is rich in its message to man. Yet, for many years I have claimed the Letter of Paul to the Galatians as my favorite. And it may be that verse 20 above is the most important of Galatians’ verses.

Paul was reared in a Jewish home. When he was somewhere between the ages of 10 to 13, he journeyed to Jerusalem, where he studied in a prestigious Jewish school. He rose to the top in his zeal for Judaistic beliefs and distinguished himself as a foe of the Christian faith.

Yet, when Paul came to know Jesus on the Road to Damascus, his life changed. He became a zelot for Christ and went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus. Paul died to his Jewish zeal and to himself and to all the fame he had enjoyed as a persecutor of the Church of Jesus Christ. His sins were forgiven as he believed upon Jesus as His LORD and Savior, and he lived thereafter to the praise and glory of Christ Himself.

What occurred in Paul’s life is what you and I should want in our lives. Yes, we know Him as Savior, but do we know Him as LORD! Are we so filled with His love that we want to share Him with others? Are we living by faith in Christ every day? Do those who see us know that we “have been with Jesus?” I want that for my life, and I’m sure you want it for yours. Jesus wants it for both of us, so let’s yield ourselves completely to Him that He may be glorified in us as He was in the Apostle Paul.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

the Ozarks, who just returned from a medical mission trip to Ecuador; and

we thank the LORD for their safe return.

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.”

Dear Grands,

Galatians 1:1-5, “Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

2 and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,

4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.”

It has been many, many years ago, but I still remember the insurance man, who came regularly to collect for our policies. I was quite small, but somewhat aggressive, so he and I quickly became “pals.” He used to say that I would be a preacher; but, like Paul (and this is the closest I ever got to Paul!), I was “not sent from men or through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father.”

Today, perhaps more importantly than any previous time in history, it’s important to know that the man who declares God’s Word to us week-by-week has been called by God and not because ministers enjoy prestige in their communities. His messages must be true to Scripture, and not generated from the writings of some popular, celebrated men of the cloth.

Grace (?????) here is a greeting, blessings. “To you” expresses the value advantaged to the hearer of what is about to be said. Peace (??????), according to Danker, is a “condition with focus on personal relationships relating especially to acceptance of one another in common objectives.”

But, how does all of this accrue to the benefit of the Galatians, who were an “on again, off again” type of people? Grace and peace are to them what they are to us: for we, and the culture in which we live, is as spasmodic as were the Galatians. In verse six, Paul even says, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him, who called you by the grace of Christ…” Ever feel like that? Joy one minute; anger the next? How is that “Christ-like?”

Christ died and shed His blood and became His Father’s Sacrifice for our sins! Christ came to deliver us out of this evil-producing, God-denying world! His death on the Cross was the express will of His Heavenly Father. Imagine your earthly father giving you up as a sacrifice!! And fathers, imagine giving your son up as a death offering to Almighty God!! Yet, Paul concludes by saying, “to Whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.”

Dear friend, we are all wonderfully and purposely given life that you might be “to the praise and glory” of our LORD Jesus Christ. Are you living like He intends? I pray earnestly that we are!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Haley Marie Jeffries and her cadre of nursing sisters are safely back in the

United States. We all thank the LORD for the safe travel and ministry

among the Ecuadorian people.

Heather Jeffries is with a group of young people in youth camp in Illinois

this week. We will appreciate your prayers for her as she feeds on His

Word and makes new Christian friends.

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.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:1-2, “Let love of the brethren continue.

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

2 John 1:10-11, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting;

11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

Barclay reminds us of Jewish hospitality: “The Jews had a saying: ‘There are six things the fruit of which a man eats in this world and by which his horn is raised in the world to come.’ And the list begins: ‘Hospitality to the stranger and visiting the sick.’”

We were walking in Jerusalem and had somehow lost our way. I sauntered up the walkway and knocked on the door, intending only to ask directions. The woman who answered the door, came down from a ladder where she was working. She smiled, invited us into the house, had us to be seated, and served us hot tea. Then, the man of the house smiled warmly and asked, “Now what can we do for you?” All of that for a small, simple question: “How do we get to _____?” That’s REAL hospitality! We were not angels, and our erstwhile hosts were not Jews! They were Arabs! Yet the hospitality was the same.

But, how does the hospitality factor in Hebrews 13:2 work with John’s solemn warning in 2 John 1:10-11? They are not contradictory! John is speaking of one who is known to be an adversary of the LORD’s truth. Don’t show him the hospitality that Paul is advocating in the Hebrews verse. This person is not a friend of the LORD; thus, his beliefs and teachings are contrary to Holy Scripture. To the true believer, you say, “Come in.” To the unbeliever (or one whose beliefs are not known to you), you speak with him outside your door.

Dr. Adrian Rogers had a good grasp of such situations. When known adversaries came to his door, he said: “I will listen to you for 20 minutes if you will listen to me for 20 minutes.” They left and did not return.

Your home is your last bastian of safety. Protect it against all ungodly intruders at all costs! Remember, it’s a biblical directive!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’

6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’”

Reputation is what others think of you. Character is what you really are.

Which is more important? Or are they equal in importance? Recent news has focused a lot on some wealthy people, who have cooperated with evil in the effort to get their children into so-called “prestigious” colleges. A state senator in Arkansas has now pleaded guilty to numerous counts of falsification and bribery in the effort to accumulate a lot of money. Some time ago, several U. S. congressmen and senators either resigned or simply decided not to run again, due to illegalities having to do with money.

The Apostle Paul warned young Timothy (1 Tim. 6:10) that “…the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith…” The word longing means “stretching out,” going to undue lengths to acquire more and more money. It’s a thirst — an unquenchable thirst — that poisons the human spirit and leads man on a path away from the faith.

Money itself is not evil; however, the hunger for money for money’s sake takes man’s focus off of the LORD and materialize his mind. I once asked a money manager, “How much is enough?” His reply was, “There’s never enough.”

You may say, “I know what I need and money gives reality to that need.” Do you think the LORD doesn’t know? Israel had been miraculously delivered from Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea and witnessed Egypt’s charioteers drowning; yet, they worried about not having enough food. Do we not know that the LORD is capable of providing everything we truly need? His promise is “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”

Not only will He provide all of our physical needs, He promises to protect us from those who would do us harm. What do you need? –really need?

He can provide it if we will be content with what we have and live confidently in Him. When our character is clean, there is room for all that the LORD can and will provide.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”