The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 2:12-17, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

The Apostle John was quite elderly when he wrote this first of three epistles. Don’t mistake “elderly,” however, to mean senility. John was well equipped both mentally and spiritually to address any church of the LORD Jesus Christ. Many, if not most, Christian Churches submitted to some creeping paralysis of doctrinal error soon after their founding. Converts from Judaism and paganism impregnated the early churches; thus, John is here addressing relevant issues those churches then faced.

John severely denounced the teachings that denied the humanity of Christ Jesus (4:2-3). The Gnostics (“knowing ones”) avowed that they alone possessed the “true knowledge,” and looked down upon those who embraced the faith of the Apostles of Christ. John, on the other hand, allowed that Christians possessed knowledge from spiritual revelation. He uses the word “know” some 32 times in this epistle alone. John emphasizes Love, Sin and the New Birth. These obviously derive only from the LORD!

This prompts John to write of the Joyful Life (1:1-10), of the Victorious Life (2:1-17), the Guarded Life (2:18-4:6), and the Life of Knowledge (4:7-5:21) –each of which comes from the spiritual life of the Father and is dispensed freely to those, who through faith, become His children. Have you exercised faith in Jesus Christ? If not, please read this First epistle of the Apostle John. He is the same person who wrote the Gospel of John. Just trust the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the Savior of many and worthy to be trusted. That’s how I came to know Him. How about 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 3:1-9, “This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring
up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But by His Word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,
not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Moments prior to this writing, I was well-and-truly entertained at lunch by my two great-grandsons. At their young ages, everything –especially, time—is relative. Some adults have that same relativity toward time. My “greats” often playfully mock me. There is no danger connected with their mocking; but those who mock Jesus, tread on extremely dangerous ground.

Peter’s youthful denial of knowing Jesus was a form of mockery. Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny Him three times. Now, in this epistle, Peter forewarns others of that danger. Peter’s second epistle is “intended to warn (his readers) against false teachers and their corrupt and corrupting doctrines” (The Outlined Bible). Innumerable false teachers and preachers today are attempting to nullify much of Jesus’ teachings. Beware of the “name-it-and-claim-it” teachings!

Many mockers today are themselves steeped in moral corruption. Moral corruption (1:4) leads to
doctrinal corruption (2:1-2); and doctrinal corruption likewise leads to moral corruption. You can’t do wrong and get by! Peter urges his readers (ourselves included) to be steadfast both morally and doctrinally (3:17-18). Engage in regular self-checkups! Just as you would resist impure food for your body, resist those who would feed you impure doctrine! Stay in the Word! Hold fast in prayer! Jesus is Coming! “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Lk. 18:8). To ask the question is to answer it. Yield yourself to Jesus today!

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,

1 Peter 2:18-21, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…”

Have you ever listened to a speaker who overused a word? Perhaps it was a word that could have had more than one meaning. He hadn’t defined the word, so you strained to understand just what he meant by using it.

There was no misunderstanding of Peter’s use of the word precious. It is but one of Peter’s key words in this first of his two epistles. He uses it seven times, enabling the reader to know “…that the proof of (his) faith, (was) more precious than gold…” (1:7, et al). Hope is another of Peter’s favorite words. The LORD Jesus “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1:3).

Peter never used the word “vicarious”; yet, he specified the death of Christ as vicarious, when he said, “…you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1:18-19).

The key word used by Peter was the word “suffering.” This word and others of equivalent nature appears 21 times in his First Epistle. Peter undoubtedly suffered from his denial of friendship with Christ, after His arrest. Yet, Peter never suffered the equivalent of Christ’s suffering on the Cross.
Just think of how you have suffered from just witnessing the suffering of a loved one.

It was Christ Jesus’ suffering on the Cross that made salvation available to us. Peter longs that we should suffer innocently to the LORD’s glory, for in that suffering we have fellowship with Him.
As suffering draws us closer to loved ones, it also draws us closer to Christ Jesus. Those who know Him are drawn even closer through suffering. They may even count their suffering to be a blessing. Do you know Him? He suffered and died for you. Trust Him now in the midst of your suffering.

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

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