The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Galatians 6:1-8, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

Were you ever frustrated with someone who had done you wrong? You just wanted to get even and do wrong to him in the worst possible way. I’m sure we’ve all felt like that at times. The Scriptures, however, encourage us to restore such people to fellowship with ourselves and with Christ. At the same time, we are to be careful that we not engage in wrong.

Instead, we’re directed to help those who have done us wrong. It’s the way the LORD desires that we behave. We are to demonstrate His likeness, not that of those who fail to follow Him. All the while, we are to be careful not to think too highly of ourselves. To do so is self-deception. How we act reveals and determines our character. If we engage in fleshly, worldly activities, such will ultimately require a severe payment.

If, however, we live by the LORD’s standard, we will bring glory to Him. He alone is the rightful recipient of glory. Just as our parents were pleased when we faithfully obeyed, so is the LORD pleased when we begin to act and look more like Him. May God bless you as a true and faithful servant.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P.S. Recently, I have learned that the attachments I have sometimes added
to these Letters, have not been viewable by the recipients. I apologize
for that, despite my earnest attempt to add encouragement to you as
faithful readers.

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 5:1-8, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”

Freedom is being judged just about everywhere. It might well be assumed to be found in the field of politics; but it has ventured into the Church of Jesus Christ. Freedom in Scripture does not allow anyone to live and believe as he would. Rather, freedom exists only in Christ.

The Galatians were a wild and wooly group that leaped freely from one belief to another. They were introduced to Jesus by the Apostle Paul. Subsequently, however, there were those who came to believe that they needed to turn to circumcision and keep the Law of Moses. Paul said that if they did that, they were then required to keep all of the Mosaic Law, not just part of it.

Some Christians today hold that Galatian theory. They attend church, and feign a worship of the LORD, but they never really turn from their sin and fully trust Him as LORD and Savior of their lives. Paul clearly stated that they were to live by faith. They were to trust Christ alone, not circumcision, not the Law, not the Church, not baptism, just Christ alone. Yet, they were truly not following Christ’s teaching.

Paul said, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” In other words, You were doing very well; you were growing in Christ and the faith. Who bumpted you and broke your stride? You’re not obeying God’s Truth. Whatever it was that persuaded you to leave off from following Him, did not come from God.

Runners have to follow strict training, if they are to have hope of winning the race. Even so, Christians have to follow strict instruction, if they are to be pleasing to Almighty God and accomplish His willful purpose for their lives. Take inventory of your training. Have you read closely the directions the LORD gives in His Word? Or, has your instruction come from another source? Consider those questions carefully. Your very life depends on it.

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 4:21-26, “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24 This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she (Israel) is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.”

I have always been interested in genealogy. It’s fascinating to find and read about your ancestors…where they were born, what they did for a living, who they married, the children they had, how they died, where they were buried –and the list goes on and on. Both sides of my heritage goes back into the 1700s. The Jeffries were English; the Andersons were Scots.

What is more interesting is my spiritual heritage. My parents were led to faith in Jesus Christ by their parents; and their parents came to Christ through their parents. The influence parents have upon their children is of enormous value! Parents who participate in worldly activities are saying to their children, “This is acceptable activity for you.” Those who emphasize Christ and His Church are setting a holy pattern for their children.

The apostle Paul had previously led the Galatians to faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, they had gotten spiritually off course, believing now that they were saved by keeping the Law –the Ten Commandments. In the attempt to re-stabilize them in the Christian faith, Paul uses the Old Testament genealogy of Ishmael and Isaac. Isaac was the son that God had promised to Abraham and Sarah.

Rather than wait, as the LORD has said, Abraham and Hagar, Sarah’s maid, elected to have a child of their own. Yet, that was not acceptable to the LORD. When the LORD ultimately told Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away, it was descriptive of His replacing Old Testament Law in favor of New Testament grace. Thereafter, the LORD directed us all to turn away from sin and accept the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior.

The key question is: have you turned from sin and accepted Jesus? If not, remember that there is a limit to God’s mercy, just as there is a limit to the time we have on Earth. “Today is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow may never come. What if it doesn’t?

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