The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 1:12-16, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,
13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”

Sometimes people see in us more than we see in ourselves. That’s why the boss for whom you’re working ties you with a responsibility of which you never thought yourself capable. Would you assign the responsibility of composing a commendatory letter for you to someone who had openly stated that he despised you and hated and persecuted those you called “friends”?

That’s exactly what the LORD assigned to Paul. It was an act of God’s love and grace. The LORD saw that Paul simply didn’t know that he was acting in unbelief. Still, it was more than perfect patience on the LORD’s part. He needed someone like Paul to be an example of someone faithful –someone who believed in Christ Jesus for eternal life.

That’s exactly what the LORD Jesus wants from our lives. Like Paul, we are far from deserving the honor of sharing Him. We’re guilty of those very things that Paul listed in his “guilty column.” But, look at the transformation that occurred in Paul’s life! Christ can do that for you as well.

A number of men have done work for me recently. I took the opportunity to share with them my faith in Jesus. Then I wrote the companies for whom they worked and commended their workmanship. It was what I would expect of the Apostle Paul. Moreover, it’s what the LORD expects of all who possess His love and grace. Trust Him yourself; then share Him with others! Be an example of one who knows and loves Him for all He is!

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 1:5-10, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers
10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching…”

Why do you do what you do? Is whatever you do simply the outcome of some thoughtless, spontaneous act? Or is there an guiding principle of purpose, behind it? Paul’s instruction possessed the goal of implanting in someone “love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” He writes that his goal might be our goal as well.

Paul’s day wasn’t much different than our own. I dare say that there are men today who so relish the admiration of others that they seek the pulpit where they find esteem and where they can influence others. Yet, theologically, they don’t understand what they are saying or matters which they pretend to understand. How can uncalled, ungodly men teach others the principles of God’s Holy Word? Simply stated: they cannot!

Additionally, those without Christ often engage in unholy, profane, immoral acts of sin and wickedness – things that are “contrary to sound teaching.” Thus, sound, spiritual instruction requires spiritually-sensitive, God-called men. Those men and those of us who would be led by them, must become what our LORD intends. When we are what we ought to be, those outside of Christ will see the difference and desire to be like Him, as well. May God help us to want to be like Him ourselves!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Pray for your pastor! I pray for my pastors every day.

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,

2 Thessalonians 3:13-16, “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”

If we didn’t know about his previous life, we could hardly believe that the words spoken in the verses above came from the Apostle Paul. The first word we have of him in Scripture found him thoroughly opposed to the Christian faith! He was Jewish through and through, and had received Jewish authority to imprison and even kill those who professed faith in Jesus Christ.

Yet, now in this letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul instructs them not to grow weary of doing good; but to be diligent in the work of the LORD Jesus Christ. He instructs Christians not to associate with those that disobey his instructions. Yet, at the same time, they are not to treat the disobedient as enemies, but to admonish them as Christian brothers.

We have a tendency to view and treat those who believe differently than we do, as if they were not born-again believers at all. Some indeed are not, but we should treat them lovingly and share the Gospel with them. It’s unbelieving people, who treat others with harshness. God loved us before we knew Him; shouldn’t we love others before they know Him, as well?

Paul then concludes his instruction by praying that the LORD will show His peace in every circumstance to those early Christians. He wants them to grow in their faith, making them pleasing to the LORD Jesus Christ. He wants that for you and me as well. Are we following His instructions in this? We had better, as this instruction originates with the LORD Himself.

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:6-10, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.
8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”

Have you ever given thought to how bad things would be if there were no Police in your town? There are those today who advocate complete discontinuance of all law and law-enforcement. Paul says that Satan is working now to ruin everything God created! He’s pushing to gain control over the whole world.

The LORD God is infinitely more powerful, and Satan’s plot to ruin and rule is ultimately doomed to failure. Were it not for the Holy Spirit of God, Satan would be ruling now. The Spirit is the One who is now holding back the total flooding of the world with evil. Satan will be allowed to function in the world until his time has run out. God is the “time-keeper.”

When Satan’s time has run out, he will be revealed to all the Earth, and the LORD will end his life with the “breath of His mouth.” And all of those who have resisted the LORD and His salvation will perish “because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved.” Have you yielded your life to Jesus Christ? He is your only hope! It’s not how good your life is, or what church you attend, or whether you have been baptized. It’s whether you have trusted Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior.

And for those of us who have trusted Him, we are responsible to tell others just like I’ve attempted to do in the paragraphs above. The time is getting shorter every day!

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,

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him,
2 that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

If you read the comments that follow news stories today, you will notice how many people believe the “coming of the LORD” is very near. The verses above tell us that the people of our day are not the only ones who have believed Jesus’ Coming to be near; the Thessalonian Christians believed it, too –only they had been misled to believe the Day of the LORD had already come!

The Apostle Paul writes to assure them that the Day of the LORD had not come. In fact, that Day could not come before the Rapture of the saints. How this young Thessalonian Church could get so confused is doubtlessly traceable to weak and incorrect teaching. Don’t believe everything you hear! Not all who purport to be preachers today have been called by the LORD.

Not all men who pretend to be pastors are even saved! That is precisely why you need to examine their backgrounds and the teachings of the churches they lead. You cannot be too careful. There have always been men (and women) who claim to know the LORD’s Word, but who themselves are false believers.

Yet, to be competent evaluators of truth, you must know the LORD and be born again (i.e., born spiritually from Above). When you are born from Above, the Holy Spirit enters your life and guides you into the right and righteous way. You come to know Christ Jesus by believing in Him as the Father’s sacrifice for your sins. Tell Him you’re sorry for your sin. Turn away from those sins forever! Trust Jesus alone as your personal Savior. You will then come to know Him and really begin to live!

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