Archive for September 21st, 2025


The Grands Letter (Acts/GLJ)

on September 21, 2025 5:39 am (CST)

Dear Grands,

Acts 11:19-26, “So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.

23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Make no mistake about it, persecution was prevalent in the first century. Kings and potentates ruled as they wanted; and what they wanted became law! Those who were aligned to such nations – and visitors who wandered in – found themselves bound by those laws whether they wished to be or not.

Rebellion was as prevalent as those ungodly laws! (Perhaps we can understand that somewhat from our own childhood!) Thus, when laws were disobeyed, punishments flourished – not only upon citizens but upon any and all, regardless of their nation of origin.

Ultimately, as the believers grew in number, sensing that they did not know all they needed to know about the LORD and His Word, Paul was found and urged to explain what they needed to know. And that’s where “the disciples were first called Christians (Χριστιανός).”

With so many claiming to be Christians, it’s becoming more difficult by the day to know what “being a Christian” truly is! So many march under the same flag while ignoring the Person and spiritual principles that are biblically defined as “Christian.” In the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, numerous persons have called themselves “Christians.” Yet, their distance from pure Biblical doctrine certainly identifies them otherwise.

If we would truly be known as “Christians,” we must live according to the Biblical principles which Christ Himself established and by which He lived. Otherwise, the label affixed to us is no different than that by which non-Christians claim for themselves. It’s more than Charlie Kirk. It’s more than the label of a Christian denomination. It’s the designation of one who follows Jesus!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all that we need,

until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

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