The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 4:17-19, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will

be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?

19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing

what is right.”

A current story in a web-based Christian newspaper carries this headline:

“A Nigerian civil society organization estimates that about 620 Christians were killed and hundreds of homes,

as well as churches, were damaged in Nigeria since the beginning of the year as attacks carried about by Fulani

radicals and Islamic terrorists continue” (The Christian Post).

Whatever you might make of such a headline, the overall truth is that Christianity is under attack and has been for a considerable time. Peter’s warning of the “time for judgment” teaches that judgment will “begin with the household of God.”

It’s a shame to believe that the LORD, who gave Himself on the Cross for our sins, would have to execute judgment

upon us because we have not divested ourselves of the sins that took Him to the Cross. Peter continues by saying that if we, who are already saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, are to be judged, what a tremendous judgment awaits those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior! Still, that is no comfort to us as believers! We have drifted far from our LORD’s will and are certain to suffer for it, although not eternally in Hell.

Yet, I hear you say, “I have trusted Him! Why should I suffer further?” That’s saying, “I’m saved, and I’ll never be doomed to Hell, but I can live like those who are not saved and be accepted by them.” These are they who are saved by His grace, but willingly drift from His instruction. Yet, they will pay a price in His judgment right here on Earth!

Others, who do not know Him, may seem to escape judgment, but will suffer according to the pre-determined will of f God.

The capstone of Peter’s thesis is exceedingly clear: “…let those also who suffer according to the will of God” simply remember that they have entrusted “their souls to the Faithful Creator in doing what is right.” If you’ve say that you have been born-again and are enjoying living apart from the will of God, be very careful. Were I you, I would re-examine my life carefully. It is more than likely that you have trusted “religion” or “church membership” of even “baptism” instead of our “faithful Creator.” He alone is the One who saves!

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 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,

as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His

glory, you may rejoice with exultation.”

Everyone loves surprises! Birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries –you name it; everyone loves surprises!

There are, however, some things that come upon us unannounced. Often, these slippery events catch us unawares, in that they offer nothing more than the surprise itself. There are no gifts, no promises of good things; they’re just surprises.

Simon Peter understood the meaning of surprises, and he tells us “not to be surprised” at these adverse situations that befall us. They are the means of the LORD’s testing. Nothing has ever occurred that the LORD has not known ahead of time. Parents often test their children to insure that they will behave properly in given situations. Why, then, should we be surprised when the LORD does the same thing to us? After all, He tested your parents before they tested you.

It’s easy to be excited when the surprise is a new iPad or an iPhone or something from the new super-electronic store. But what should be our reaction if the surprise were something of suffering or a loss through a physical emergency? Peter says that we should view such sufferings as complementary to the sufferings of Christ. If He suffered (and He did, infinitely more than any other person on Earth!), why should we be surprised if we are called upon to do the same?

One day, Peter assures us, we will rejoice – you read it correctly! – that we will rejoice at being permitted to share in the sufferings of Christ Himself. Ministers of the Gospel, Christian educators, missionaries, all share in sufferings. So, for the time being, we must just rejoice! Rejoice in hope for hope is the believer’s “future certainty.” Whatever negativity befalls us here on Earth, we are assured of His superlative blessings in Glory! So, start rejoicing! Don’t give up! Don’t question God! Just praise the LORD that He found us worthy to suffer for His glory!

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 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

There’s a lot of talk these days in secular as well as Christian circles regarding whether and when Jesus Christ will

come again. Let me say as definitely as I can that 1) He is Coming Again, and 2) that no one knows when –even Jesus Himself said He did not know when (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32).

Paul wrote this epistle (letter) so all believers of his era and ours might be informed. When Paul uses the word asleep, it’s an euphonisim. He means physically dead. The spirit of man never dies, whether he believes in Jesus or not. Paul further states that those of us who may still be living when Jesus Comes will not get a head-start on those who are believers and are buried. Jesus will descend from Heaven, accompanied by a loud shout from the archangel and the trumpet of God. At that point, the graves of all believers will be opened and they will arise alive and be caught up to meet Jesus in the air.

Thus, when we hear news reports or sermons from liberal or “activist” pastors, we are not to be discomforted. We are to use the above words of Paul to bring comfort to other believers. “But what,” you ask, “is to happen to unbelievers?”

Those who are alive but without Christ, will remain on Earth and face the Great Tribulation. Those who died without Christ will remain in their graves until the Great White Throne Judgment, whereafter they will be cast into Hell for eternity. Salvation in Jesus Christ alone will satisfy God the Father. He alone brings comfort to all believers. “Choose your this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. If your church is not onliine, you may hear my pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd, at www.crosschurch.com/live/ at 9:30 or 10:55 A.M (CST).

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 Thessalonians 4:1-8, “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received

from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you may excel

still more.

2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;

4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these

things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.”

8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

How good is good? If our spiritual and moral attitudes and actions are pleasing to God, how can they be improved?

As we read through the verses above, we have to acknowledge to ourselves (if not to others) that we indeed have room for improvement. Paul cites the “commandments” the LORD gave the Thessalonians by way of Paul. These

are not the Ten Commandments. They are further instructions that the LORD gave Paul to pass on to the Thessalonians.

It is the will of God that we be sanctified; i.e., that we improve more and more with each day. We are to abstain from

immoralities by learning how to control ourselves. Thessalonica was a city in Greece, and the Greeks were Gentiles.

So, Paul is citing the difference here between Greek Christians and the Greek pagans, who “do not know God.” Spiritual control commences with the mind, and the Christians were not to defraud or take advantage of others, whether they be believers or not. They were to yield their minds to LORD, who is the avenger in all things that go against His will.

Finally, Paul notes that the person or persons who continue in impurity are not going against him, but against the LORD! It is the LORD who gave us the Holy Spirit; and it is that same Holy Spirit who teaches us to conform to the will of the Father. So, we all need to “listen up!” We have to be something before we can do anything. And we have to become nothing before we can become something, that is pleasing and glorifying to the LORD! Yes, it takes effort; still, the LORD provides all of that. We are just required to trust and obey.

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 Thessalonians 5:16-23, “Rejoice always;

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Of the 14 epistles (letters) Paul wrote, First Thessalonians is the first. It was written to the Church in Thessalonica in A.D. 52. As with all writings in every age, the verb is the most important word in the sentence. That’s why I embolded them in the passage above. They set the pace and emphasis for our understanding of the Word; and they ought to set the pace and emphasis for our lives and our witnessing.

Christians ought always to be glad. We ought always to immerse ourselves in prayer; and in that prayer, we ought to always give thanks to the LORD. Why? Because it is God’s will that we do so. There are a host of things that change when we simply follow God’s will. I am not the first to experience it, but I will acknowledge that His will for us is infinitely greater than our will for ourselves. That’s why we ought never to quench or supress the will of the Spirit.

Things contained in the Scriptures are to be understood and followed. That’s why the examination of everything –especially what’s contained in Holy Scripture – is vitally important. When we learn what the Word teaches about truth, we will neither despise nor render useless its prophecies. Instead, we will “hold fast” to it. That includes abstainence from every form of evil. We’ve all read books that contain evil words and ungodly schemes. Evil there is the word kakos. But, the word evil used by Paul in verse 22 (poneros) means “evil producing.” It’s bad enough to read and think the bad words; it’s worse when we repeat them to someone else. “Did you hear what he said?” Just leave it alone. To talk about the evil language someone said is to reproduce it.

What’s most notable is that God, who sanctifies (makes us holy) only does so when we have put away the evil from within us. Notice how Paul puts it: “Now, may the God of peace…make you holy entirely.” He can do it; He will do it –but only when we follow His teachings and steadfastly resist all evil. May God help us all to resist evil and embrace His love.

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.”