The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 16:17-20, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil.
20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

It is notably said of those who are prisoners: “Keep your eye on them, lest they escape!” Such an indication, however, presupposes some action to prevent an escape, if and when the prisoners seek to free themselves. Paul uses something of this concept when he warns against dissenters of the Gospel. Anyone who has spent time in the arena of Gospel presentation, knows that some will snear and seek to free others from the truthful knowledge of the Gospel of Christ.

Yes, there are those who seek to deceive and dissuade others from the Truth of the Gospel. They existed in New Testament times, and they are still with us today. Some are seeking to build “churches” of their own, where followers chant their leader’s view of the Scriptures. Such leaders’ “appetites” are satisfied when they themselves are the center of attention and when they prosper monitarily from book and trinket sales that feed their own lavish lifestyles at the expense of their followers. Why would those followers feed such lavish lifestyles, except that they are spiritually mezmorized away from the Gospel?

Still, there are those who are true ministers of Jesus Christ: Adrian Rogers, Billy Graham, Robert Jeffress, John Walvoord Dwight Pentecost — to name just a few. None are without fault, especially me! But, we are to remain true to the Word, as best we know It, for we will one day stand before our LORD and give account of both what we have taught and the true motive that lies behind our having taught it.

Paul rejoices over the obedience of his fellow-laborers, as well as over those who have willingly received and imbibed the True Gospel. “Be wise in what is good,” he says, “and (be) innocent in what is evil.” The Power of the God of peace will one day soon be victorious over Satan and his deceivers, as the grace of the LORD Jesus reigns supreme within us! Stay strong! Keep the faith! The battle will not be long.

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