The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 2:9-12, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

I have a long-time preacher-friend who lives in a distant state. (I won’t say which state because he thinks his state is the finest and he needs no encouragement in that area.) In his late-in-life encounters, one of his doctors is Jewish. When he witnessed to this doctor, the discussion of creation came to the point that my friend asked his doctor, “Then, who made God?” And the doctor answered, “Man made God.”

Peter and Paul were both Jewish, too; but they were believers in Jesus Christ. You will remember from previous Letters, however, that Paul was called to minister to both Jews and Gentiles, while Peter ministered exclusively to the Jews. Peter was right when he told the Jewish Christians that they were “a chosen Race…a people for God’s Own possession.”

Long before the existence of the church, Jews who had accepted Jesus as the Father’s Son, and Savior of the world, were known as “the people of God.” Prior to their belief, however, they were “not a people,” as they had not received the mercy of God’s forgiveness.

Then the group of believers in Christ came together and formed a church. Peter became their spiritual leader and urged them to “abstain from fleshly lusts” because these sins waged “war against the soul” of the believers. They still do! Peter warns them and us against being like the Gentiles. It doesn’t matter what they say about us, Peter exclaimed; just keep on glorifying the LORD Jesus Christ.

There will come a day, Peter taught, that the LORD Jesus will come again. We have no idea of when that day will come. Yet, each day brings us closer to that day; and we don’t want to be caught doing sinful things when He comes. So just keep spiritually clean. Read the Bible every day. Pray about everything! See that you’re ready when He comes. After all, you are His possession! You belong to Him. So, act like it! Be ready for His Coming!

And “being ready” means living righteously, so that neither He nor you, nor your friends will be embarrassed when He Comes. Are you ready for His Return? If not, Get ready! Every day brings us one day closer to His Coming!

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,

1 Peter 1:10-16, “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating, as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven– things into which angels long to look.
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’”

At the time of this writing, I have been in the LORD’s ministry for more than 65 years. I say that to give credence to my “searches and inquiries” regarding the time of Christ’s Return. The pastors I had and heard as a child and through my adolescent years, did not emphasize the Second Coming of the LORD. I was in college when a sweet, Missourian girl (later my wife) introduced me to the premillennial theology surrounding His Coming. From that point onward, I made careful study of that theme from the Word of God.

As with the prophets’ study, my inquiries into the Word demonstrated that I was not serving myself (although I certainly profited), but I was serving others –others who, perhaps like you, had never heard of our LORD’s Second Coming. How important is that subject? Peter says “…those who preached the gospel…” were by the Holy Spirit revealing things which angels themselves were longing to understand.

There are multiple things in the Word of God that remain a mystery even to those of us who have studied it for many years. What we do know is that we learn only when we are obedient children, given neither to laziness nor to worldliness. The Holy Spirit has called us to forsake the ways of the world and be open to the purity of God’s Word.

We who are saved are encouraged by the Holy Spirit to give ourselves to holy living. For it is holy living that pleases our Heavenly Father; and it is He alone who deserves all praise. If you are not being encouraged to give yourself to holy living, you do not possess the Holy Spirit; and if your do not possess Him, you do not belong to God.

Yet, you can know Him through turning from sin and yielding your life to Him in simple prayer. Let me urge you to yield to Him today. He is Coming! And you’ll want to be ready for that Grand Event!

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,

1 Peter 1:1-5, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

What on Earth is Simon Peter talking about? What is he saying he wants to do for those aliens who are scattered everywhere? Who controls what Peter is talking about? What’s the benefit of it? These are common questions that deserve honest answers.

The Gospel is clearly Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Our sin requires forgiveness. Thus, the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the World. Jesus obeyed His Heavenly Father and became the Savior by dying on the cross in our place. His death, however, was just a part of it. After three days, He arose from the dead, proving His power to forgive our sins. So now, He now lives forever as the King of Kings.

When we believe His words concerning His death and resurrection, and when we confess our sins to Him, He forgives them and we become spiritual children of the Father in Heaven. We are then and there spiritually sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, making us holy in the sight of God the Father. At that moment, we become heirs of His saving grace, and we are forever thereafter protected by His power, just as a child is protected by its parent.

Ours, therefore, is an inheritance ordered by the Father, made possible by the obedience of the Son, and encouraged moment-by-moment thereafter by the Holy Spirit who has taken up residency in our lives.

Aren’t you tired of sin? Don’t you want to be free of the evil habits that invade and plague your life? Just open your heart and life to Jesus. He’s in the business of forgiving sin; and He will delightfully forgive yours. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trusting Jesus. He loves you and earnestly wants you in His family.

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,

1 Timothy 6:20-21, “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge “–
21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.”

Earnest parents are crushed when their children go astray from their teachings. Parents say things to their beloved children that they would not repeat in the hearing of others. Of course, some things are to be kept secret in the confines of the family; yet, even those things that are allowed to be revealed, parents want to be revealed to their children alone.

Paul has instructed Timothy and expects him to instruct the church of believers. Yet, he knows how susceptible believers –even careful believers like Timothy— are to the alurements of the world. Yes, God is omnipotent; still, he longs for His children to avoid the temptation of Satan. Surely, that is what Paul means, too, when he says, “…guard what has been entrusted to you…” You’ve received sound instruction; now hold onto it with all your might!

Yielding to the inner control of the Holy Spirit, who will lead a conscientious believer to avoid “empty chatter” (empty, unwholesome speech) and all the arguments that even some pastors call “knowledge.” What some profess openly and publicly is false according to the Scriptures. Moreover, they, along with others, who have professed faith in Christ, have strayed from the Faith.

Don’t break the heart of your teachers! Don’t break the heart of your LORD! Don’t stray from the faith! Stick closely to the Holy Scriptures! May the grace of our Risen LORD always be with you! He will lead you in right paths.

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,

1 Timothy 6:17-19, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”

Word reached me this week telling of a native in a far country, who had heard the message of Christ for the first time and said, “I cannot wait to tell those live in my village about the LORD Jesus Christ.”

My reaction was both joy and sadness. I was joyful because the Gospel of Christ had reached the life of that dear man and he immediately wanted to share it with others. On the other hand, I felt sadness because it rebuked me for not being more aggressive in sharing the Gospel.

Many in Paul’s day were held captive by the grip of wealth. He warns that they should be held in the grip of the Savior. Be captive to “good works.” Be captive to Christ, sharing His everlasting Gospel. Be generous in that! The riches of this world are temporal. Only the certainty of salvation in Christ is eternal.

My mother used to tease that she read the obituaries every day just to see if her name was in it. I read the obituaries every day and marvel at how many lives have totally ignored the spiritual. If you are reading this Letter and have not yet repented of your sin and trusted Jesus Christ, please do it immediately! Eternity is at stake! If you have trusted Christ, but are not sharing Him, drop everything and tell someone you know about Jesus! You’ll both be better for it.

“Only one life; it will soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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