The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 19:8-13, “Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord,
‘Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor,
and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back
four times as much.’
9And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this
house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost.’
11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on
to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they
supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear
immediately.
12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to
receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas
and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’”

The whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is the Holy Word
of God. What we often read in the Old Testament (39 books)
must be appropriated to our current lifetime. For example,
when Zaccheus said, “…half of my possessions I will give to
the poor…,” it does not mean that we must calculate our
financial holdings and give half of what we have to the poor.
What the Scripture says here speaks only of Zaccheus.

However, Jesus supports that meaning when He says “Today
salvation has come to this house…” What Zaccheus proposes
to give back (four to one), Jesus says is proof that Zaccheus
belongs to Him! Zaccheus had a change of heart! That’s what
salvation does to us when we trust Jesus!

There’s more –much more!—to this passage than what I have
reproduced in these short paragraphs. Just don’t miss the
emphasis on the “changed heart.” That can happen to you, too!
Jesus affects the operation; but you submit to the operation.

It all has to do with faith! We exercise faith when we allow a
surgeon to physically operate on us. We do the same when we
allow the Great Physician to spiritually operate on our hearts.

True churches teach what I’m saying here; yet, no one is saved
by belonging to any church. Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone!
Still, churches that teach clearly from the Bible are true churches!
If the church you’re attending doesn’t teach the Christ of the Bible,
you would do well to find a church that does! Salvation is in Jesus;
and His churches teach Him as the only Savior of man’s soul.

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