The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 1:1-8, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This letter from Peter contains a touching reminder of his old age and impending death. He also reminds us of his transfiguration experience, remarkable for its description of the Christian graces, as well as the moral and doctrinal corruption that seeks ever and always to invade the Church. In each situation, Peter emphasizes the corrupting elements with which Satan longs to invade and destroy Christian lives and the Church of Jesus Christ.

Remember today the things to avoid: moral and doctrinal corruption. Remember adherence to things that are spiritually steadfast and doctrinally sound. We will one day meet Jesus; and on that day we will give a full account of our lives.

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,

1 Peter 1:1-7, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this, you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

This first letter was written by Simon Peter toward the end of his life in A.D. 60. At the time, he was living in Babylon, where a Christian church had been established. The letter had a two-fold purpose: first, many of the Christians had come to believe that Peter possessed a different view of the fundamentals of Christianity than Paul. Thus, the letter was intended to strengthen and encourage the Jews who, although converted, were at the time passing through some bitter trials and persecution.

There is a strong encouragement here for those who are rapidly reaching the terminal point of life. They should be demonstrating the love and power of the Gospel, enabling younger converts to become more like Jesus every day. Certainly, Jesus Himself is our Supreme Example; yet we are to exemplify Him to others by living more like Him every day.

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,

James 1:1-8, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the author of this epistle. One commentator said, “It was written by a Jew to Jewish Christians, and there is a great deal that is distinctly Jewish in its style and spirit.” Not many believers, however, can live by James’ directive. Jewish believers were passing through severe trials and temptations, and James was writing to comfort and encourage them. How much that encouragement is needed today!

James emphasizes faith that is tested and wards off the temptations that believers experience. Simultaneously, faith is demonstrated by sincere words and works. It is also visible in the lives of true believers. One writer said, “Faith in Christ and His coming will lead us to a patient suffering of evils we cannot avoid.”

The key to overcoming cruelty and worldly wrong is earnest prayer, coupled with a constant trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must faithfully live and ask without doubting—all according to His directive. Only then are we spiritually prepared to receive His blessing. I’m working on this; I trust that you are, too.

Please pray for Israel. The Lord has graciously placed a godly Christian pastor in service as America’s ambassador. He, too, needs and covets our prayers.

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,

Hebrews 1:1-4, “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.”

The author of Hebrews is clearly unknown. Scholars, however, like Eusebius, Campbell Morgan, and C. I. Schofield (to name but a few) lean, however, to the Apostle Paul as the author. The emphasis of the epistle is that the LORD Jesus Christ is greater than the prophets (1:1-3), greater than the angels (1:4-2:18), greater than Moses (3:1-19), or Joshua (4:1-13), or Aaron (4:14-10:18).

“Owing to bitter persecution, the Jewish Christians were beginning to think they had lost everything by embracing the cause of Christ. They had begun to undervalue Christian privileges and were becoming absorbed with their own sufferings. Without question, they were in a backsliding condition.

The clear message for those people is that inasmuch as Jesus Christ lived and died and arose again for them, they should live and work heartily for Him. Is not the same true for us?

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,

Philemon 1:3-6, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake”

Philemon is an important member of the Christian House Church. This letter from the Apostle Paul indicates that there are several members of the church but speaks of Philemon as a primary member. Paul notes that his own prayers are often offered on behalf of Philemon himself—prayers that mention Philemon’s faithful labor for the LORD Jesus.

Having cited his confidence in Philemon, along with his faithful service, Paul moves on to the heart of his prayerful message and thanks Philemon for his care and concern for Onesimus, Paul’s brother in Christ. It is at this point that Paul inserts his love for and confidence in Onesimus.

Paul then appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus and to treat him as a brother. Paul notes, too, that he possesses the authority in the LORD to compel Philemon to do as he directed; nevertheless, he will simply trust Philemon to do what he knows to be the will of the LORD.

It is doubted by some that the Apostle Paul personally wrote this letter. Doubters, however, often arise when the contents of a letter speak to things that call one’s own lack of discipline into question. Titus was Paul’s initial salutation; however, as the letter’s recipient shows. Further, it was Titus who had accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem at the conclusion of their first missionary journey.

The Cretans are said to have been “a turbulent race…neither peaceable among themselves nor patient of foreign dominions.” Undoubtedly, Paul would have known their temperament, as he placed Titus in their midst for giving them spiritual instruction. Nevertheless, Paul issued some spiritual instructions for the church: It was to be an orderly church; 2) it was to be a sound-in-the-faith church; and 3) it was to be a practical church.

There is no doubt that the church today needs what Paul found lacking in the Cretan Church. May we trust the LORD to help the church we serve today to be what He wanted in Crete. Paul’s ideal for the church was orderly organization, soundness in faith and morals, and practical works of piety and philanthropy. For the Christian worker, he wanted “love of order and method, a healthy, living orthodoxy coupled with sober minds and chastened speech.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene

(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