The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:2-11, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him–
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

Yes, this is a long passage. In the Scripture itself, it is longer still. The doctrinal section of the epistle is largely covered in the first and second chapters. The practical section (3:1-4:6) concerns the believer’s union with the LORD Jesus Christ, and how believers are to behave. If we are heavenly minded at all times, we will consistently live holy lives.

The greatest influence believers can possibly have on unbelievers is to live holy lives! The greatest hindrance to anyone’s trust in Christ is for believers to live as non-believers. Too
often we identify and speak forbidingly of the sins of the flesh, but find ourselves involved
in the very things we have spoken against. In other words, we have to be what we profess
if others are to seriously consider believing what we say about Jesus!

You and I may need to beg forgiveness for things we have said and done. If so, Jesus is
the first who should hear our confession. Once He has forgiven us, we need to ask
forgiveness from those who are aware of our sin. That can open doors for sharing the
Gospel with those who don’t know Him. Confession of sin, expressed to the Father, Himself strengthens the confessor. How strong are you right now?

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,

Ecclesiastes 5:4-7, “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it;
for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account
of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.”

“Caution!” is the word from Solomon! Those to whom he writes (for his theses are
always current.) Regardless, of what he says, or to whom he addresses his
message, it is always timely and relevant. Make a promise – keep the promise!

I remember well one who sometimes spoke too quickly. When challenged as to
the meaning or intention of his words, he would seek to escape by saying, “That’s
what I meant.” It grew old with those who had previously heard it more than once.

My dear old grandmother used to say, “You’ll give an account for every idle word.”
You know, I think I’ve almost come to an understanding of that value!

Have you ever listened to someone’s intentions, only to leave “thinking and saying”
to a friend, “Did you get anything at all from what that guy said?” If there is value in
such valueless contentions, it would surely be to avoid the speaking of the useless.

The Psalmist says, “Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He
has done for my soul” (Psa. 66:16). James said it well: “…everyone must be quick
to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the
righteousness of God (Jas. 1:19-20). Think of this before you speak –if you want
anyone to profit from what is said.

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 5:22-27, “Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he
became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters.
23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
25 Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech.
26 Then Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the
father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters.
27 So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and he
died.”

To a large number (perhaps I should say, “most”) of the people living on earth today
seek to avoid even thinking of death. Many pastors avoid the subject of death because
it is “uncomfortable” to them and their congregations. Things that we don’t understand
are always discomforting. At the same time, reality must be allowed to invade our
thinking. I have twice experienced hand surgery (once without anesthetic). The latter
was so painful that I still cringe at the thought of it.

Yet, there were two men in the whole of history whom the LORD preserved from
physical death: Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah (II Kngs 2:11). What’s more, you and I are promised eternal life if we turn from our sin and humbly ask the LORD Jesus to forgive
us and save us eternally. The experience is as simple as it is sincere.

There is no clear explanation in Scripture as to why the LORD spaired Elijah. But, Paul says in Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death;
AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the
witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God (Heb. 11:5). The answer
seems all wrapped up in the old hymn: “We’ll understand it better by and by.”

For those of you who have genuinely trusted Jesus as your LORD and Savior, let me
urge you to pray for your pastor, your family, your nation, and for Israel. Say what you
will, Israel is “the apple of His Eye” (Zech 2:8).

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 Peter 2:1-4, 9-10, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment…
9 …the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
10 and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority…”

There’s an old saying that “you can’t do wrong and get by.” I have to admit that I am
grieved when I see pastors, who teach a false gospel, being interviewed on television.
They have no more to say on camera than they have to say from their pulpits. Yet, it
bothers me when truth is supplanted with error. Still, I have no room to object! Their
erroneous comments hurt the heart of the LORD.

Such pretenders lure in those who long to be entertained. Never mind what the Bible
says about “pits of darkness,” judgment, “corrupt desires” and “authority…“ There will
indeed come a day of judgment! Be ready and you will avoid all of the unpleasantness!
The LORD wants to save the lost! Have you been saved? Trust Him today before that
great and terrible day of judgment falls upon you!

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 Peter 2:1-4, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will
also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long
ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and
committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment…”

None of the epistles in the New Testament were arranged, as we have them now
in our Bibles. Stephen Langdon created the chapter divisions in A.D. 1228. Robert Stephens divided the chapters into verses in A.D. 1551; and Montanus numbered
the verses in A.D. 1571. Later, Gutenburg made the first printing in A.D. 1455. We
should honor those four men for making the Bible easier to read and understand.

Still, the message of the Scriptures must not be overlooked! Especially, is that so
in today’s world where numerous large churches are being “pastored” with wrong
doctrine! Categorically, there is nothing wrong with large churches. The problem is
that too many pastors are focused on money or pride instead of the Scriptures!
Unsound messages come from pulpits that are believed to be theologically sound
because so many people attend. “Might does not make right!” And “large” does not
equate with “soundness!”

Pray for your pastor(s)! Their time is so precious! They need time for study and
reflection. That is how truth avoids being maligned.

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