The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:1-7, “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?”

It’s an unending battle! Most spiritual battles are! Paul argues mightily regarding that
salvation in Jesus Christ is far and away superior to just being Jewish! Just being Jewish
is tantamount to being “subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Circumcision is the male declaration of Jewishness! Those who are circumcised are just
one step behind those Jews with whom Peter was cavorting back in Galatians 2:13f. To trust simply in being Jewish and observing the Old Testament law profits absolutely nothing! In fact, it’s a huge step backward!

A lot of people make that same mistake when they view “baptism” as the washing away of sins. Water Baptism has never washed away anyone’s sins! Only the Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ can forgive sin! Paul notes the same for the Jews when he says,

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
means anything, but faith working through love” (vs. 6).

My dear friend, as we don’t believe everything we read in the papers, so never should we believe everything we hear some ministers say. There’s a lot of wrong floating about these days. Stick with the Bible and those who preach it! Trust only the LORD Jesus, as taught in His Word! Jesus’ Coming for His own. The Rapture is the very next item on His agenda. We just don’t know His precise timing. Therefore, the key word is “be ready!”

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 2:17-20, “…if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also
been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
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.”

Having openly and forthrightly corrected Simon Peter for mingling with those who believed salvation was partly in keeping the Old Testament Law, Paul lays down the true foundation of salvation which is in Jesus Christ alone.

Paul teaches that the Old Testament Law simply demonstrates that mankind needs salvation. He forshadows the Coming Messiah, but affirms that no one is saved by keeping the Old Testament Law. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Law completely through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Now, Paul explains what is required of us for true salvation by citing his own experience.
Where Paul once counted on his own deeds being acceptable to God, he now shows that through a positive act of his own will, he died once and for all to Old Testament Law,
and trusted that Christ Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s only substitute for his sin: past, present, and future!

What occurred for Paul, awaits our faith. Jesus’ death and resurrection was for us, too!
And by confessing our sins to Christ, He wipes them out and gives us a clean slate!
Has that occurred in your life? It surely can! When you confess your sins to Christ, He
forgives them completely and gives you a “clean slate.” The Holy Spirit then enters into your life and becomes your constant Companion. “Why not give Him a place in your heart?”

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 2:12-20, “For prior to the coming of certain men from James, (Peter) used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be!
18 “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
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.”

What do you do when someone accuses you of something you positively did not do?
Most of us would furiously leap to our own defense! But what do you do when you see a person keeping company with a questionable group? Do you leap to accuse the compromiser? That’s precisely what the Apostle Paul did.

These were the early days of the Christian faith. Prior to this time, many Jews believed
that salvation was achieved in blending Christianity with the Law of Moses. These Jews were called “Judaizers.” Peter held to salvation in Jesus; however, his fraternizing with the Judaizers was a compromise. That’s when Paul challenged Peter and insisted on salvation being in Jesus Christ alone.

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed,” (meaning, holding to the Law of Moses), “I prove myself to be a transgressor” against the Christian faith. It must have been a hard pill for Peter to swallow. At the same time, Christianity cannot tolerate compromise of any sort!

If we laugh at jokes that are tainted with profane words, we are compromisers! The joke
Itself may rate a laugh, but not with the intrusions of unacceptable words. Ultimately, Simon Peter sided with Paul in upholding Jesus Christ as the only LORD and Savior! We must uphold Him as well, or we bring disrespect on the only faith that rescues from sin. We must always stand faithfully in and for our LORD Jesus Christ!

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,

Genesis 6:13-17, “Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.’
14 “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.
15 “This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
16 “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
17 “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.’”

The enormous difficulties our nation is currently facing has prompted not a few to announce their belief that the end of the world is coming. It’s not easy to make such a prediction because
our world has suffered more enormous difficulties than one could easily resurrect. I came into
this world just short of World War II. Adults of that time had much the same thought as those
who are today predicting the world’s end.

We must not become so focused on the evil that encompasses us, that we lose spiritual perspective on everything! We must look to Holy Scripture for what the LORD says.

Yes, He is coming! Still, the exactness of that time, He reserves unto Himself. Noah faced the
same situation in his day. He was ordered to prepare the Ark for the safety of his household.
But, he was not told when the flood was coming! That’s the lesson we need to learn. The
corruption that is being unearthed at the highest levels of our government is indeed greater
than history reveals of previous immoralities. And it is in such a time as these that He will
come! Yet, we are instructed to be ready!

Those of us who are ready are responsible to awaken those who are asleep to the LORD’s
warning: “”Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise. No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory” (Isa. 60:18-19).

Corruption in government is present throughout the world! Jesus’ Coming will rescue His
people from all sin and despair. Evil will ultimately be eradicated completely, along with all who are complicit in sin. The big question is: Are you ready to replace your sin with His Love and Grace? It’s the only way to truly be ready!

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,

Exodus 18:21-23, “”Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who
fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over
them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
22 “Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they
will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So, it will be easier
for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
23 “If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and
all these people also will go to their place in peace.”

Were we to apply these wise words of Jethro to Moses today, we would do well to find
even a few “able men who fear God, men of truth…those who hate dishonest gain.” Were
we, by chance, to find some, they are to “fear God,” be “men of truth,” men who “hate dishonest gain,” and men who were capable of leading thousands.”

There are, of course, those who pretend to be what they are not. When Constantine of
ancient Rome died, there was a herd of harsh family and servants, who vied for the
possessions, title, and even leadership of the nation. Even at a Church dinner, some will
feign passing up the most desirable piece of chocolate cake — until no one is looking!

True honesty emerges from humility. But when the “name of the game” is “snatch & grab,”
we look in vain for an honest player. Jethro was right, to be sure. He evidently had never
played with the “big boys.” In the LORD’s realm, they are called “truthful, honest men,”
and they were ultimately elevated to leadership among the LORD’s people.

There are numerous individuals today, who want to be leaders. There are fewer, however,
who are qualified to be such. Leadership comes from His appointment, not from contest.
Those who self-qualify are seldom truly able. Those who are prayerful, then lead through
spiritual prayerfulness. And it is through that prayerfulness that the LORD demonstrates
those He wants to lead.

Be willing to be a good and close follower of Jesus. The closer you are to Him, the more
qualified you become for wider and deeper leadership. Some are seeking leaders they can
follow; and they will always be found in the “spiritual dependency” group.

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