The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 2:18, “But someone may well say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’

Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Some people take exception to the letter of James, saying that he emphasizes a works-

based salvation. If we read carefully the entirety of what he says, we are forced to reach the opposite conclusion.

The proof of faith is demonstrated in works. One commentator states, “To show faith to man, works in some form or other is needed: we are justified judicially by God…evidentially, by works.” It’s easy just to say, “I have faith!” How does one prove that? He proves it by demonstrating the works that faith has brought forth.

How do you know you’ve been called to the mission field? When you go and the LORD blesses your ministry by saving souls, the souls become the proof of His calling. How do you know the LORD has called you to the ministry? When He blesses those to whom you preach, you have proof of His calling.

The works that we seek as proofs of His calling may take time and vary as to the “fruit.” The man who pastors a small country church and the missionary who must learn a foreign language before he can share Christ with a native people, will not soon witness the “fruit.”

Time, therefore, becomes a factor in the proof of one’s “calling.” God is never in a hurry; so neither should we be. Still, faith persists and the indwelling Holy Spirit continues to bear witness to God’s calling and rewarding of that faith.

James’ Letter is often more quickly read than the faith of which he speaks is confirmed. Just

don’t get discouraged. Paul’s admonition fits well here: “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9). Stay in the Word! Be faithful in prayer! Grasp every opportunity to honor and glorify His Name! May the LORD bless you for your faithfulness!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 1:3, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

Summations of anything usually come at the conclusion of the paper or the speech. Here, however, Paul gives near the beginning of the letter a summation of the glory and nature and power of the LORD Jesus Christ. Written as it was to Jewish believers in Christ, the epistle needed early to expose and expound on these qualities.

There is no glory comparable to the glory of Jesus Christ. It is radiant throughout the entire

universe. From the glorious globe upon which we human beings reside to the furtherest item

at the rim of the universe, spectacular though it is, nothing compares with the glory of Jesus!

The exposure of His glory to those at His transfiguration is incomparable!

There is no glory comparable to the nature of Christ Jesus. The entirety of His life was lived totally and utterly separated from sin. Totally man, yet totally God, His examplary life is exalted above every generation as the unsurpassable standard by which all mankind should live and will be judged.

Nor is there any power, be it physical strength or mental expansion, that exceeds that of the LORD Jesus Christ. It was He who spoke the universe into being! “Let there be – and there was!” Paul writes “…all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1;16-17).

When scientists first began to fashion an atomic bomb, they were skeptical and fearful about whether atomic power could be harnessed. For if its power escaped from their control, the entire universe could be dissolved in an instant. They called Colossians 1:17 the “Colossian force,” praying that the power of Almighty God would guide and protect the universe from complete extinction.

Yet, rather than destroying the universe, as many scientists feared would happen, the LORD decimated the sin that raged throughout all humanity by yielding His own Life’s blood to remit the sins of those who would believe.

There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus;

No, not one; no, not one!

Do you have a friend in Jesus Christ? If not, why not? His glory and power are resident in His nature. And He will forgive all your sin and fill your life with love and glory! You have but to

repent (change your mind) and believe (trust in Him). When He comes to reside in your life,

His radiant beauty will attract others and you will become a witness of His saving grace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: The authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews has been disputed for generations.

Attached herewith is an argument in favor of Pauline authorship. Study it carefully.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:17-18, “If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my

account.”

Philemon is one of the shortest letters in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul is

writing to Philemon, a fellow-believer, and owner of a slave named Onesimus.

Paul is not writing to uphold or encourage slavery, although it was culturally acceptable in those days. It is simply that Paul was writing against that background. (Don’t read into the Word things that are not there. That is just as wrong as omitting things that are there.)

In time, and for reasons not contained in this short letter, Onesimus escaped from

Philemon and arrived in Rome where Paul was imprisoned. Once there, he helped

Paul immeasurably; still, he was a runaway slave and must return to his master.

This is a remarkable letter! Paul was not attempting to be psychological; but he was

masterfully led by the Holy Spirit, leaving us to wonder at the mastery and ultimately

to appropriate it in our own lives.

The Bible is exceedingly practical! My mentor, the late Dr. Earl L. Pounds, drew from

this brief epistle a means of criticizing others without being offensive. You will want to

employ this fool-proof method for use throughout your lifetime.

First, Compliment them. You are a very intelligent person.

Second, Hint at a criticism. Yet, even the most intelligent have flaws in areas of

their thinking.

Third, Criticize them outrightly! Your problem is that you think you know everything

when you don’t!!!

Fourth, Relate the criticism to yourself. I know, because at one time, I was just as

egotistical as you are!

Fifth, Complement them, You still have a very intelligent mind –one of the finest I know.

What is amazing is that with all of the above being said, what the person remembers are

numbers 1 & 5! Truly, this works! Use it prayerfully. Use it sparingly.

Stay in the Word! Stay focused in Prayer! Trust in the LORD! Share Him with others!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:7-8, 15, “…in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in

doctrine, dignified,

8sound in speech, which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame,

having nothing bad to say about us….

15These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

It has been noted that the Cretans were a very insincere people. They were characterized by falsehood, and gross living. Their religion was hollow and disingenuous. Thus, Titus and whoever might succeed him, should take caution lest they themselves should be corrupted from the simplicity and purity required in the gospel. Further, there should be a guard against the influence of Judaizing teachers, who emphasized the Mosaic law and people becoming Jews before becoming Christians.

Our caution today is against modernism and post-modernism. Modernism rejects all religious and moral principles as the only means whereby human society might obtain social progress. A great majority of these groups are atheists; and when they deny the existence of God, He is replaced by themselves alone. Post-modernists deny all objective truth. Truth to them is whatever they choose it to be. In effect, man then becomes his own god.

That leaves us viewing the times in which we live as very much the same, yet different (and perhaps worse) than the days of Titus. How are we to respond to people who hold opinions vastly different from the Scriptures? Paul says that we are to “be an example of good deeds,” maintain “purity in the biblical doctrines,” and always be “dignified” (???????? (semnotes, serious) in our demeanor. We are to speak wholesomely, so as to disarm any criticism of which others might accuse us.

We are always to speak with authority and encourage those with whom we share the Gospel; yet, we are never to agree with their wrong assertions about our LORD and His Word. We are to speak kindly, in love and with concern for their salvation, not so as to win a debate!

Lost people may forget or choose to dismiss part or all of our witness; but they will never forget the loving attitude and demeanor we displayed as we spoke with them. Remember, too, that the LORD is present in all that we do in His Name. It is He alone who uses His Word to convict of sin and convince of salvation. We are His servants, and to Him is the glory, whatever the apparent outcome of our witnessing. Just be available to the LORD, and be courageous in sharing His Good News!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Dear Grands,

II Timothy 1:8 & 2:15, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God….

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”

Mankind has always wished to be free. Being a prisoner has never been desirable. Yet, its very thought is modified considerably when it’s viewed from the cause. Paul is writing as a prisoner in Rome; yet his cause is just where his imprisonment is not. He was accused by Jewish fanatics in Jerusalem, and not being able to receive justice in Israel, he was forced to appeal to Caesar in Rome.

Now, although unjustly imprisoned in Rome, he saw it as profitable for the Gospel. Paul was never ashamed of or embarrassed by the Gospel of Christ. It was and is “the testimony of our LORD.” Despite the suffering, Paul viewed it all as “according to the power of God.” The same power that accompanied Paul’s preaching now accompanied his suffering. Why don’t we view things like that?

When Paul admonished Timothy to present himself “approved of God,” he was viewing the LORD’s power in the same way as when he was ministering the Gospel. The one caveat is that the minister, the witness must “handle accurately the Word of Truth.” The words “handling accurately” in Greek mean “to cut straight.” No mincing of words or dancing around the Scripture’s true meaning! Tell it like it is!

The power behind the Word, when it’s “handled accurately,” bespeaks a clean and honest heart and mind within the witness. In my more than 60 years of Christian ministry, I’ve encountered my share of human adversaries. I can honestly say that I have never knowingly misused the Holy Scriptures for my own advantage. Some “Christian” people just don’t like “straight talk.” And since they cannot take their fight to the LORD, they take it out on His servant.

My problems were not what people did or said, it was how I responded to what they did and said. So, recently, I spent considerable time reviewing all of the “troubles” I had encountered over those years, along with those who surreptitiously “brought them to my notice.” I wanted to be sure that I had forgiven them for what they had said and how they had acted. With only a few, did I have the opportunity to speak before they died. My conscience was cleared by that same power of God. It is an exercise I greatly encourage! And may our LORD be glorified in it all!

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.”