The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 1:1-9, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”?

6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”

7 And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.”

8 But of the Son He says, “YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.

9 “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”

Were you ever assigned a responsibility for which you felt totally inadequate? What did you do? Depending upon who assigned you the responsibility, you probably undertook it with great care. I recall a man being almost overcome by an assignment given to him by the company for which he worked. He could have asked to be relieved of the task, but that might have risked losing his entire job!

The Apostle Paul was assigned to enlighten his readers on the glory and power of the LORD Jesus Christ. It was Jesus’ sinless life itself that portrayed His Heavenly Father! It was Jesus Christ who created the world! It was He who superseded the highest angels of Heaven and is forever worshipped by the host of Heaven’s angels and those He rescued from sin.

The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus left Heaven for Earth, where He gathered about Him a small, unlikely group of adherents, whom He taught the purity and glory of His Heavenly Father! In time, Jesus’ outspoken appraisal of His Father wearied those who objected to His message. And why did they object? They were not prepared to renounce their sinful ways and submit to God’s Son, who came to gather mankind for eternity with the Father.

Those today who resist the clear salvation message do so at their own peril. Heaven’s gates are opened only to those who have turned from sin and received the LORD Jesus Christ. Where do you stand? Have you trusted Him? Do so today! Time is running out….

Heartily in Christ,

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,

Philemon 1:8-20, ‘Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,

9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–

10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,

11 who formerly was useless to you but now is useful both to you and to me.

12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart,

13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;

14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,

16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;

19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self as well).

20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.’

Have you ever had the authority to require someone to do something, but wanted them to do it without any pressure from you? That’s exactly where Paul found himself as he wrote this letter to Philemon. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave, and he had run away from Philemon. Paul discovered Onesimus and led him to faith in Christ. Now, since Onesimus had also come to faith in Christ, Paul wanted Philemon to show love to Onesimus, too. This was further an opportunity for Philemon to grow in grace by also showing Onesimus forgiveness.

Isn’t this what we all ought to do? Find someone today to whom you can show the Savior’s love! Share your faith with that person. They just might be looking for what you have to share. God bless you!

Heartily in Christ,

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,

Titus 2:1-8, “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;

7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,

8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

What could I possibly add to what Paul has said here? It’s so simple and down-to-earth that there is little left upon which to comment. What we can see, however, is that Paul had excellent home training. Further, he saw what many parents fail to see: namely, that a proper upbringing is the doorway to a sound, adult Christian life.

Note, too, that Paul starts with the husbands and wives. It is their responsibility to be what they want their children to be. He encourages physical labor and pure doctrine—all things that are “beyond reproach”—things that not only shame the opponents of the gospel, but that honor the LORD and the parents from whom we have come.

What a transformation our society today would experience, were we all that we ought to be! It starts, however, with you and me. Are we ready? Are we honest? Do we honor and live as our LORD has instructed us? I pray that we are. Every day brings us nearer to the hour when Jesus is coming. Scripture is being fulfilled every day! Many are still lost, and we are responsible to witness and win them.

Heartily in Christ,

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,

2 Timothy 1:3-12, “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,

4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.

5 For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

6 For this reason, I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

8 Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

12 For this reason, I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

What is your foremost treasure? What do you treasure exceedingly more than anything else? Before you reply, let me note that beyond everything else, the Apostle Paul considered the LORD Jesus Christ first and foremost in his life. Christ was continually in his thoughts. He trusted nothing other than the One who had transformed his life from that of a persecutor of the Christian faith to its chief proclaimer.

What a formidable change would occur in our lives were we to put Christ foremost. Those things we fear would disappear. Christ would replace them with the glory of His promises. The things we embrace, trusting they will erase the fears and intimidations that move in upon us, will be erased from our thinking and replaced with Him by His warm, reassuring Word, the Holy Scriptures.

Heartily in Christ,

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,

1 Timothy 3:1-10, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,

9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”

As a youth, did you ever receive a reprimand for doing something wrong? Did that reprimand come from someone who “manages his own household well” and keeps his own children under control? The Apostle Paul requires that those who are leaders within the church and who oversee others must themselves be above reproach.

As one who derives authority from the LORD, he must be above reproach in his marriage, in his home, and in his work, both secular and spiritual. He must be a man of faith and peace. It might well be said that a man must be a “Christian man’s man,” and a true and faithful man of confidence!

A man need not be a deacon in the church, but he must be a Christian man’s man! Such is honorable to the LORD and patterns the way for others in the faith.

Heartily in Christ,

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