The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 3:22-26, “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

The Galatians came from Ancient Gaul in the north country. They were a “wild and wooley” people, believing something today, and disbelieving it tomorrow. For one thing, they were confused about the Law, thinking that the Law was God’s plan for their salvation.

Paul tells them that the Scriptures teach that everyone is a sinner in the eyes of God; and that His promise of salvation is not for those who just keep the Law, but for everyone who believes in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sin. The Law, he tells them, was their tutor, guarding and keeping them under spiritual control until Jesus came and died on the Cross for man’s sin.

But now, Paul says, faith has come and they are no longer under a tutor. Salvation is available to everyone who will turn from sin and believe on Jesus Christ. That’s how sinful man is saved –by turning from sin and believing on Jesus Christ. Have you trusted in Jesus? He loves you and wants to forgive your sin and save you. Ask Him to forgive you today. Today is the day of salvation. Some day, tomorrow will not come.

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,

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Have you ever seen someone hurt so severely that you felt the pain within yourself? If it were a loved one, you might even have wished to change places with him. That’s about what the Apostle Paul felt when he came to know Christ on the Damascus Road (Acts 9).

Prior to his salvation, Saul (his Jewish birth name) despised Christians. He had some imprisoned and some put to death, simply because they were Christians. He honestly believed he was doing God’s will. But his encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus changed all of that. He then became an ambassador for Christ.

You may never have actually killed anyone, but you’ve hated some people to the core! –and some without cause. Do you know that hating people in your heart is a sin against God? Even if you think you have just cause to hate them, the Bible says you’re not to do so. No one who has done you wrong comes even close to the wrong you and I have done to Christ. Yet, He died on the Cross so we could be forgiven.

What’s the cost? Surrender of your pride! Pretty small sum for the Eternal Life He promises, isn’t it? Physically and emotionally you’ll feel better, too. Following Christ is always advantageous. Turn your life over to Him. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

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,

John 3:16-19, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

Virtually every public speaker encounters skeptics who approach him at the close of his speech. They have “an axe to grind,” and want to use the speaker as the recipient of their anger.

John speaks to a gathering in his day, citing the love of God for the world He created. The proof of God’s love is clearly manifested to those who believe His Son, Jesus. He died on the Cross as His Father’s sacrifice for the sins of those who live on the Earth.

Without question, God will one day judge the world; but that was not the purpose for which His Son came. Clearly, those who believe on His Son, Jesus, will not perish; they will have eternal life. But, those who fail to believe on Jesus as their personal Savior will die in their sins.

Let’s suppose that someone came through our streets offering a free ticket to a concert. Some would see it as a benefit and accept the ticket. Others would view it as a gimmick or a trick, and stubbornly refuse the ticket. “No one gives away expensive concert tickets,” they say.

But the day of the concert arrived and everyone –everyone!—was excited! Everyone wanted to attend. Those who had received the tickets were allowed to enter the concert area. Those who had believed it was a joke, and had refused the tickets, were turned away at the concert entrance.

That simple illustration clearly states what our Scripture above teaches. Jesus is the Light of the world; but those that refuse to walk with Him are found walking away from Him and in the darkness. The Bible says that those who walk in darkness do so because the deeds of their lives are evil. Don’t be stopped at the Gate to Heaven! The LORD loves everyone. But He needs “everyone” to love Him in return by accepting His Gift of His Son for our sins. Have you received Him?

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 John 1:5-7, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If you’ve ever tried to walk around in the darkness of an unfamiliar room, you know the practical value of light. Yet the light that enables us to see also possesses energy, “electromagnetic radiation to which the organs of sight react.” Light travels at 186,282 miles per second, meaning that it would take 1.28 seconds to reach the moon. We get colors from light, too. A prisum residing in sunlight divides them quite well.

The word “light” is exceedingly meaningful wherever it’s found. In the Scripture, it is found just shy of 300 times, and is in most of the books. Interestingly enough, there are two Hebrew words mentioned in the early days of Creation. The first is ???? or, and signifies what we might call “light the creature” or “essence.” This light existed prior to the light that comes from the sun, moon and stars. The other word, ?????? maor, indicates what we might call “light containers.”

When the Bible says that “God is Light,” it is signifying Him as the Creator, whose very nature is Righteous. He is pure, without the slightest hint of sin. I remember one of my Greek teachers translating verse 5 above as, “God is light; and in Him is no darkness –not one little bit!”

There is no fellowship where only one person is committed to Christ Jesus. True fellowship requires both parties to be committed to Him. That commitment suffers attack from time-to-time; yet, the blood of Christ Jesus is continually cleansing the believer, enabling him to continue his walk with the LORD in Light.

I’m sure you agree that walking in the Light is preferable to walking in darkness. The LORD is Light and He willingly shares it with all who will walk with Him.

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,

Deuteronomy 4:23-27, “So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.
24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
25 “When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger,
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
27 “The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.”

Regardless of the commentary on the reason foreign countries encounter unrest, war and devastation, the LORD is ever and always in control. Yesterday’s Letter spoke of the LORD’s jealousy, and how it is justified because “when we accept Christ Jesus as our personal Savior, we belong to Him totally! Thus, He has the Divine Right of jealousy over our lives.”

Years later the warning from Exodus comes again in Deuteronomy. This time God is pictured as a “consuming fire!” Nothing escapes the flames of a consuming fire! His jealousy concerns His children. In the Old Testament Israel was His children. In the New Testament, those who accept Jesus Christ become His spiritual children. He loves His children, but angers furiously when they disobey Him and fall again into sin.

Spiritual behavior in the light of our “new birth affiliation” reflects upon Him, just as our personal behavior reflects upon our human parents. Are they not angry when our behavior causes them embarrassment? Still, our adverse behavior is far more injurious to our Heavenly Father.

Our LORD is a LORD of love. He loves us enormously! That love drives Him to a hard attitude against bad behavior. His threats are not idle; nor are they soft. He offers the very best to those who honor Him. He lashes out furiously against those who do not! His reaction corresponds to our behavior, and it is all with the view that we learn obedience.

Are you honoring Him with your life? Has sin been thoroughly put away? He loved you enough to give His Son, Jesus, to save you from your sin. Show your love by yielding yourself completely to Him.

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