The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 5:25-30: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body.”

The apostle Paul was in Rome when he wrote this epistle to the Ephesians. It was at that time around 10 years since the Ephesian Church was founded, and it has been said that “this epistle surpasses all others in sublimity of style and is preeminent, even among the apostle’s writings.”

Its distinctive teaching concerns the Church as the Body of Christ and the believers as members of that holy body. It’s worth comparing the church today with this epistle; we might quickly discover that the “wrong” within the church is directly traceable to our own doorstep. Ouch! That strikes rather close to home, does it not?

As with all of Paul’s writings, he sets forth a doctrinal section (chapters 1-3) to which he then compares the practical section (chapters 4-6). The practical section always rests upon the doctrinal. That also means that what we do always rests upon what we are. Oh, how easy that is to say; yet, how hard it is to do!

By the report I heard at church yesterday, we had a great Vacation Bible School! It simply proves that we have to be something in order to do anything! Yet, everything is good when it comes from the LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Galatians 3:1-7: “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6 Even so, Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

Galatia is a broad strip of country in Asia Minor, inhabited by a mixed race, consisting predominantly of Gauls. The Gauls had left their own country (known today as France) some 300 years B.C. and settled there following a successful military campaign.

The temperament of the Celts was very fickle, so that when Paul and other competent teachers of biblical truth left to go elsewhere, the Galatians would slip back into their old ways of worship. Yet, this epistle has done more than any other to emancipate people from Judaism, Romanism, Ritualism, and every other form of externalism, all of which have threatened the freedom and spirituality of the Gospel.

Galatians cites Paul’s apostolic authority, his defense, and exposition of salvation and sanctification by faith alone. The doctrine of justification by faith is stated here more emphatically than in any of Paul’s other writings. Here he teaches everything from revelation, justification, and divine unification, including liberty and service—all through justification.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 5:14-19, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, 16 Therefore, from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

There was no church with which Paul was ever affiliated that gave him more trouble than this church in Corinth. It was hardly controlled by the love of Christ. Remember that the Corinthians were chiefly viewed as a lower class of people (1 Cor. 1:26), making persistent the problems they faced. It was the kind of congregation that compelled its leadership to simply seek another people.

Yet, Paul never forgot his own conversion and the calling to share the gospel, regardless of the attitudes that clamored against it. He emphasized that Christ’s death and resurrection should be visible within the people that claimed to have been changed, so that now they follow His Son, Jesus, as their Leader.

Paul speaks forthrightly to these Corinthian believers, just as he speaks to us. “You simply cannot go on living like you used to do,” he says. “Christ died to make you a ‘new creature.’ Now, start living like it!”

There’s an old adage that says, “You’ve got to be something before you can do anything.” Are we what He needs us to be?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 5:9-13, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.”

If you are a pastor reading this Grands Letter, you know how difficult it is to pastor a church. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to pastor a church from a considerable distance?

Robert Lee, author of The Outlined Bible, is careful to note how the Apostle Paul had to care for received notice of a non-spiritual outbreak that drew his attention back to the church from which he had just departed. Nor was transportation convenient in those days. He was often forced to write letters—letters that took a long time for delivery, as they were carried via ships.

“The clue to the message and understanding of this epistle is the mental, moral, and spiritual condition of the Corinthians… The members of the Corinthian Church were chiefly drawn from the lower classes (1 Cor 1:26), and they were not free from the peculiar tendency of the Greeks to intellectual pride. Corinth was the rival of Athens. The Greeks were proud of their language, literature, learning, and logic. Paul prepared this epistle to meet the Greek mind, and he commences by renouncing what is called “human wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:17).

The Corinthian Church suffered from various church disorders (1:10-4:21), as well as numerous social irregularities, such as modesty in dress and disorder at the LORD’s Table (5:1-6:8). May we all be careful to study and learn and obey all that Paul has written.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Romans 1:16-20, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

When was the last time you had something really spectacular take place in your house? Maybe it was Mother’s Day or Father’s Day celebration? Maybe it was a Thanksgiving dinner or some “long-time-no-see” relatives? Did you have fun? Did you enjoy knowing what they had been doing all these years?

Well, it’s just my guess, but I truly believe you would be more joyous listening to the adventures of the Apostle Paul.

Paul, you say? What would I learn from him? Just re-read the five short verses above and let them speak for themselves. I will put them up against any other venturesome dialogue from any other party!

These 16 chapters were written by the Apostle Paul in Corinth, in the home of a believably wealthy believer, sometime in February of A.D. 58. It is a strong, doctrinal letter whether viewed from an intellectual or a theological standpoint; it answers the query of the ages: “How can man be justified before God?”

In spiritually calculated wisdom, the Apostle Paul cites first the doctrine (chapters 1-11); then, the application (chapters 12-16). When the LORD gets through to us, we ought to rejoice and believe in His Name!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom