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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 10:13-14, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

How often have you thought of your troubles as being an example to others? Troubles occur every day. Automobile accidents occur because drivers are driving too fast. People die from falling while taking a selfie at the edge of a steep cliff. Others get into fights that end up in death because they visited bars and drank alcohol –the mix that doesn’t prove advantageous to anyone. Okay, I hope you don’t engage in such devilry, because such things are examples that are noticed by others. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” you ask.

You sure are!

Temptation, reduced to its lowest common denominator, is simply a “solicitation to do evil.” In verses 1-12 in the passage above, Paul rehearses for us the sins of Israel after the LORD God delivered the people from the shackles of Egypt. Then, as he warns us not to engage in sin, he reveals that Israel’s punishment serves as an example for us. Twice he says that (10:6 & 11); that means it’s important!

“I know what’s right,” you say, “but I just can’t help it. I don’t have the strength to resist temptation.” You didn’t read the key verses for today. You don’t have the right to say that. Go back to the top and re-read verses 13 and 14. Everyone on Earth and in every generation has the same temptations that you and I have. We’re no different from others. BUT, with us, as opposed to those who are not saved, all temptations are resistable! God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him, to those who are His by being “born again.”

Yes, there is a way of escape – an exit from the claws of the devil! Remember that verse: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). James also says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). But, don’t forget: someone is watching how you respond to temptation. You’re more visible and more vulnerable than you know. And since God has provided an escape hatch, you have no excuse to ignore it.

May the LORD give you an understanding of His Word and His grace!

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,

1 Corinthians 5:9-11, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.

11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler– not even to eat with such a one.”

How much do you know about the organization of the Bible? How carefully do you read the Bible? Years ago, when I was a very young lad, our church used to give “credit” for our daily reading of the Bible. And it was then that I learned how to skim through what I was supposed to read quite carefully and get the “credit.” I don’t blame the church for giving an incentive to read the Bible daily; I only blame myself. I don’t read that way today –and haven’t for many, many years. I now read to learn the depths of what our LORD intends for us to know and to live.

We all need to read the Scriptures very carefully. Let me ask you a question. How many letters did Paul write to the Corinthian Church? “Well,” you say, “there is First Corinthians and Second Corinthians –so, I guess he wrote two.” Wrong! I selected the verses above to point out something you just might have missed. Read verse nine very carefully. What did Paul say? “I wrote to you in my letter…” Stop right there!

That’s the past tense he used, isn’t it? “I wrote” is past tense. If he were saying that in Second Corinthians, we could understand him to be refering to First Corinthians. But, he’s writing in First Corinthians; so there has to have been a previous letter –one that we do not have. In fact, he mentions the matters of which he wrote in that previous letter. The Corinthians understood what he meant. It’s important that we understand, also.

Now, attached above is a paper to help you understand how the Bible is organized. Read it carefully – more carefully than you read the verses above. We need to view how the Scriptures are organized, and we need to understand very clearly all it says. Just be thankful I’m not giving a test! However, the LORD is, so study carefully. God bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

the attachment as well.

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,

1 Corinthians 4:10-14, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”

Did you ever meet someone who thought he was so smart that he could challenge anyone, even one who is noted for his multiple contributions to his own intellectual discipline? Some people do actually become more knowledgeable than their teachers; but if they are humble, they will always admit that it was the teacher, or someone else, who was actually responsible for their success.

These Corinthians knew nothing about Jesus, until the Apostle Paul shared the Gospel with them. Now, in his absence, they are acting as if they know more. Paul loves them, but he finds that the best current instruction he can offer is to address them ironically. (Irony, you will recall, is saying something that is the opposite of what is intended.)

Paul knows that he and his Christian companions (Timothy, Luke, et al) were responsible for these Corinthians being converted from paganism to faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, the Corinthians are now behaving as if they know more than Paul, their teacher. So, Paul resorts to irony (maybe even sarcasm) when he says, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor…”

Then, after scolding them for their spiritual immaturity, he concludes by saying, “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” The lesson here is that we should never think too highly of ourselves. Why? Because we’re not responsible for anything that is worthwhile. All the good things, all intelligence, comes from God. If God has blessed you with a good mind, don’t act like you know everything. Give Him the glory! Men and women who are truly great are humble. They know their limitations. And those who don’t, God scolds and punishes them until they do! We have everything to gain by glorifying Jesus Christ! We have everything to lose by not doing so. Think about it! God bless you!

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,

1 Corinthians 3:21-23, “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.“

I may have referenced this previously, but as I was boarding the airplane for Sydney, Australia in 1965, my pastor-mentor-friend, Dr. Earl L. Pounds, shouted at me: “REMEMBER! ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!! REMEMBER THAT! DON’T FORGET IT!” I shouted in response, “I WON’T FORGET! I WON’T!” The problem

was not that I might forget. I just didn’t know what he was talking about! “All things are yours…”? Humm…

There was as much confusion in the Corinthian Church at that time, as there was in me in 1965! Remember that some were claiming Paul as their example and leader. Others insisted that Apollos was superior, while other claimed Cephas (Peter) as supreme. What a divided church! It was a mess! How could such division ever produce anything to the glory of Christ?

We may learn some things from some men that we wouldn’t learn from others. That’s natural. But to place one of the LORD’s servants over another is neither intelligent nor right. The styles of ministers’ labors differ according to their personalites. Nuances of theology are often traceable to the institutions where they studied. Paul simply emphasizes that whoever the leaders are, and whatever they teach, it’s all yours! I like the way Barnes puts it:

“Christ lived, and acted, and reigns to promote the glory of his Father…You belong to Christ;

and He to God (the Father). You are bound, therefore, not to devote yourselves to a man,

whoever he may be, but to Christ, and to the service of that one true God, in whose service

even Christ was employed.”

Thus, when a minister has a message from God, he delivers it to the people in his charge. Yet, the glory is not for the minister, but for the LORD from Whom the instruction ultimately came. Now, that instruction is yours, and it is for you to share with others. Some of those who receive your instruction, will come to faith in Christ themselves. And they are yours, because you belong to Christ. In all of this, however, Christ alone is to be glorified.

Do you personally know Jesus? If not, why not? If you do know Him, are your sharing Him with others? If not, why not? The greatest joy in life is in knowing Jesus! And the second greatest joy is knowing that someone knows Him because you shared Him with them. “All things are yours!” Never forget it.

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.”