The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 1:2-9, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The word “church” is not found anywhere in the Old Testament Scriptures. It is a uniquely a New Testament word, deriving from the Greek word ???????? ekklesia, meaning “assembly.” Jesus said, “…I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (???? hades) will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18).

The Acts of the Apostles focuses upon the origin and expansion of the Church in New Testament times. Yet, the word “church” occurs more often in First Corinthians than in any other book in the New Testament.

Attacks upon the Church are quite literally attacks upon the LORD, her Founder. Over the years, the Church has taken on the meanings and likenesses of those, who historically and theologically aligned with her; so that today, we have scores of congregations who vary considerably in their teachings of Holy Scripture, but claim that they are in essence the Church that Jesus founded. The key to understanding what Church is valid lies is whether those who say they are “enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,” live to glorify Him. The elements that reveal Christ’s likeness confirm that they are the ones who have been born again (from Above) and comprise the Church.

To our shame, it must be admitted that many have “crept in unnoticed” (Jude 1:4) and will not be found blameless “in the day of our LORD Jesus Christ.” Let us remember that despite the actions and attitudes of some who besmirch the Name of our LORD Jesus, “God is faithful,” and through Him we have been “called into the fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD.”

May His Church, which includes all who have personally confessed Him in faith, continue onward in true love, reaching the vast groups of people who inhabit this globe. And may His Church pray earnestly that the declaration of His Matchless Name would reach those who have yet to personally receive Him. May we ever be faithful to Him as He is faithful to us.

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