The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 12:1-3, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.”

To put it mildly, the Corinthian Church was a mess! It probably seemed to the Apostle Paul as if they had never even heard the Gospel, much less committed themselves to the LORD. So, once again, weary as he was, he commences to straighten out their misunderstandings.

Whenever you find a word or phrase in Scripture that is italicized, remember that it has been put there by translators to clarify the English meaning of the sentence; it is not a word that was in the original text. We could translate that first phrase as “Now, concerning spiritual things, brethren…” And indeed everything Paul mentions is spiritual.

Remember when you were pagans? he says. –a nation of people distinct from Israel. I’m sure they had no problem recalling that!

“4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.

5 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;

6 They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;

7 They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They

cannot make a sound with their throat.

8 Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them” (Psa. 115:4-8).

Whatever could possess a human being to trust an idol? Yet, without the knowledge of Almighty God, who

or what could they trust? It continues to this day. Those without Christ have gods of their own choice or their own making. Still, everyone has less excuse than the Corinthians. They had heard the Gospel! They had purportedly received Christ as their LORD and Savior.

Some were speaking disrespectfully of Christ, when they claimed to be followers of Apollos or Peter. Barnes explains Paul’s meaning when he says “…no one under the influence of the Holy Spirit could curse the name of Jesus, or denounce Him…as an impostor.” Nor can anyone acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah who is not influenced and led by the Holy Spirit.” These are spiritual principles that simply cannot be ignored.

At the same time, we believers often behave as if had never known the LORD Jesus, while simultaneously and vociferously claiming that we do! Knowing Christ Jesus is more than claiming; it’s behaving like Him!

Live in the Word and pray without ceasing! Yield to the Holy Spirit’s control in everything! That’s how we start to look more like Him than like ourselves. And that’s His glorification: that we look and behave like Him.

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.”