The Grands Letter

James 2:14-20, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?”

Dear Grands,

“Three men bearing the name of James are mentioned in the New Testament: (1) The son of Zebedee, (2) the son of Alphaeus, and (3) James, the Just, our LORD’s half-brother, the writer of this letter” (The Outlined Bible). Severe difficulties were falling upon Jews everywhere, and it was necessary that they be encouraged. There were also grave disorders in the early Jewish-Christian assemblies, making it vitally necessary that these assemblies be corrected. James is saying that true faith is verified by the works it produces. James was exceedingly practical; moreover, he lived what he preached.

Dr. Charles Swindoll recently stated what could well be established in many of our churches today:
“It is a house of prayer, not a house of business. It is a place of wroship, not a place of entertainment. Jesus is our Savior, whom we worship, not a brand to market. The body of Christ is a sanctuary of protection for the vulnerable—for children, single women, the abused, and the bruised and broken in life…The marvelous opportunity that lies before the church awaits only one thing: the church’s awakening. Stated simply, the people of God must return to a hunger and thirst for righteousness…the ministers of God must repent of their failure to fulfill their calling… and the house of God needs to represent its biblical purpose for existence. In spite of all the spiritual devastation and famine in our land, it is not too late to turn it around—by God’s grace.”

Swindoll’s strong words rate the applause of James, author of this letter. There is no doubt about it – the church has manouvered to the left edge of the world, and her works are no longer the result of pure, biblical faith. She seeks “numbers,” not “souls.” And many, who profess to be
preachers and pastors, were never called of God. They have devoted themselves to a lust for
money and for whom and for what it can buy. Pray daily for your church and her pastor(s). The LORD alone is able to restructure His Church –so vital for our times!

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,

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.”

It could well be argued that historically there has been greater argument over the authorship if Hebrews than there has over its content. Indeed, that is sad because the richness of the message of this epistle speaks well to every generation.

The Jewish people have historically suffered persecution largely because they were Jewish. Their worship of the LORD set them well apart from the multiple gods of other nations. It was this epistle that was written to encourage them. It tells them that they are “better” because of the LORD Jesus Christ. All of their instructions in the Old Testament had for centuries pointed them to the Savior. It was He, who would channel them into the Christian faith. Thus, the key word to all Jews in this epistle is the word “better.”

The author’s argument displays the glory of the Person and work of Jesus Christ (1:1-10:18). The LORD Jesus is greater than the prophets of old. He is greater than the angels, greater than Moses or Joshua, even greater than Aaron. Jesus reigns higher than all!

Following his argument, the author makes an application: we ought to live this new life “…because of Christ Jesus’ life and work” (10:19-13:25). Among other things, he encourages the Jewish believers (and us) to “…lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1). If this “application” was meaningful in the time in which it was written, how much more meaningful it ought to be to us, who live 20 centuries later!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

P. S. Attached is a brief position paper I authored many years ago. Hopefully, it will be helpful.

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

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:4-11, “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.
7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 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.”

One of the chief principles of the Christian faith is the act of forgiveness. Onesimus was the legal slave of Philemon, a wealthy man of serious faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. Onesimus had broken away from his master, and through the providence of God, had come himself to faith in Christ by way of contact with the Apostle Paul. By Roman Law, however, Onesimus was still legally bound to Philemon; thus, Paul writes to Philemon, skillfully apealing to him to treat Onesimus with Christian grace rather than by Roman law.

Not wanting Onesimus to confront Philemon alone, Paul sends him back in the company of Tychicus. At the same time, Paul quite skillfully appeals to Philemon by letter to forgive Onesimus, and adds the thought that Paul himself was planning to viist in the days ahead. The strategy the apostle uses could work well anywhere, and would serve as an excellent formula for any phychology class.

Paul never excuses Onesimus’ running away. Rather, he emphasizes the escapee’s conversion to faith in Jesus Christ, and that Philemon should treat him as a brother. In a basic sense, this short, but pungent epistle, skillfully avoids human law and emphasies heavenly grace – something that should attract all of us.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be;
Let Thy love, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee!

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above!
(Robert Robinson)

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,

Titus 2:5-15, “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.
9 Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.*

Titus was a Greek believer, yet everything Paul addressed to him could have been addressed to a Jewish believer. Paul knew that his own days were numbered, and he would soon depart and be forced to leave the conduct of the churches into the hands of others. Titus was one of those “others.”

Paul emphasized church order (1:5). Remember that “church” was new to these newly converted believers. The leaders scarcely knew how to live the Christian life, yet they were charged with leading the church as well. Not everyone was qualified to lead. The determination of who was qualified was largely left to the discretion of Titus.

In addition to church order, there was emphasis upon sound doctrine. Godly people holding biblical doctrine and living moral lives produce a “sound” church. Recent news of immorality among mega-church leaders is precisely what Paul wanted to avoid. Many churches today are abandoning those quality characteristics that made them what they were. We must remember that sound, quality, biblically-based churches were what led us to become what we now are. Buildings per se do not make a church any more than the New York Metropolitan makes an opera or that Yankee Stadium makes a baseball team.

In a true sense, Paul’s instructions to Titus are his instructions to us as well. We’ve got to be something before we can do anything that will be pleasing to the LORD. May the LORD so enable us that we will be honorable to Him.

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 Timothy 2:11-16, “It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle
about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness…”

Following his first epistle to Timothy, Paul had intended to spend the winter at Nicopolis, but when he took a quick trip to Troas, he was arrested and hurried off to Rome. Everything happened so quickly that Paul had no time to gather his books and parchments, not even his cloak. Further, in this second imprisonment, in Rome, his accommodations were much different. This time he was kept in such close confinement that even his friend, Onesiphorus, had difficulty in finding him. In his first imprisonment, Paul had been permitted a large circle of friends; in this one, he was virtually alone. Paul expected to be called to appear before Nero in the winter; thus, he wrote to Timothy, requesting the books and cloak he had been forced to leave behind in Troas.

Despite his suffering, Paul was exemplarary in every way, (1:1-18). As a true servant of the LORD, and in the midst of imprisonment and suffering, he exhibited loyalty and truth to all others, especially to the LORD (2:1-26). Paul also withstood apostasy, remaining loyal to to the LORD at all times (3:1-4:5). Even when his friends failed to stand by him, Paul’s confidence in the LORD prevailed. “The LORD will rescue me from every evil deed…” (4:18).

Oh, dear LORD! Despite the circumstances we are called upon to bear, may we possess the confidence the Apostle Paul himself expressed when all is lost except for 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