The Grands Letter

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

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.”

It is doubted by some that the Apostle Paul actually wrote this letter. Doubters, however, often arise when the contents of a letter speak to things that call their own lack of discipline into question. Titus was Paul’s 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: 1) 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 idea for the church was an 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.

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 3:2-7, “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.”

Timothy was a young Christian lad when Paul wrote him this letter. Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and his father was Greek. This was the first of two letters that Paul, now in his seventies, wrote to young Timothy. Paul himself was writing from Lystra, but always maintained encouraging communication with Timothy. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). Those five Christian virtues cover the conduct of all believers in Christ. We should all examine ourselves regularly in the light of this verse.

Paul emphasizes doctrines that should be cherished and demonstrated within every believer’s life: sound doctrine, prayerfulness, spiritual oversight, particularly of those younger in the faith, and the careful exercise of one’s own spiritual responsibilities.

Although set forth in Scripture many years ago, the principles of the Christian faith ought ever and always to be observable in a true believer’s life.

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,

2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6 For after all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,

8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

Have you ever had a situation where something you had said was later misquoted and you were required to set things straight? That is exactly what was occurring here! Paul had taught the Thessalonian Church that certain things would have to occur before the Lord Jesus Christ would return.

Then, someone gave the Thessalonian Church instruction that the Lord was coming right away! Obviously, this upset the church, and Paul had to write and straighten things out.

Whether the one whose statement upset the church and contradicted Paul did it purposely, we are not told. Nevertheless, the entire congregation was upset, and Paul had to remind them that numerous things had to occur before the Lord Jesus would return.

We often find ourselves beclouded by false information. It often comes from one who mistook what someone else had said. Sometimes, however, false information comes from someone who wants to procure a following. There is no substitute for following the Word of the Lord! Jesus is always correct! When you find a “Paul,” you can follow him. Just be certain that the Paul you are following is the one following Jesus!

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 Thessalonians 1:1-8, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”

This First Epistle to the Thessalonians was written by the Apostle Paul from Corinth around 35 A.D. He had learned from Timothy that the church was experiencing rapid spiritual growth. They were in sorrow over those who had died, expecting them to have joined with the full church body at the soon coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Everything in the apostle’s greeting to the church may be summed up in the word “hope.”

The church was immersed in the hope of the second coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Churches today would do well to encourage their members regarding the LORD’s coming! Encouragement requires prayer and a faithful adherence to the Scriptures. We have an intense desire for our pastors to share the word concerning our LORD’s return. Should we not also be encouraging each other as we see the day approaching?

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