The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 3:14-16, “I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself
in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the
world, Taken up in glory.”

1 Timothy 4:10-12, “10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on
the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
11 Prescribe and teach these things.
12 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.”

Young Timothy was born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father. Converted as a young man (some
say, age 15), he was long the companion of the Apostle Paul. When Paul left Ephesus, he left Timothy
in charge of the work. In his first epistle, therefore, he gave Timothy careful instructions. It is worth noting
that the three epistles, I and II Timothy and Titus, called Pastoral Epistles, are the only writings of Paul
what were not addressed to a congregation.

Not surprising, Paul’s foremost emphasis is the imperative of Sound Doctrine (1:1-20). If there is no
adherence to sound doctrine, there is little-to-no-reason for the ministry overall. Noteworthy, too, is the
fact that Paul speaks of practical godliness. Put another way, we have to be something before we can
do anything in the service of the LORD. Further, we have to become nothing before we can become
anything that glorifies Him.

Imbedded in Paul’s instructions to Timothy is the nature and order of public prayer: for what and how
are we to pray? Prayer is to be open to the LORD’s will for ourselves and for the church. His pleasure,
His desire, His provisions are to be foremost (2:1-8) in our praying. Paul also emphasizes Spiritual
Oversight in each life, in the families, and in the public arena. Paul takes nothing for granted. He includes
the entire scope of the ministry, even the adornment of women (2:9-3:16). Quite a chore, I would say,
for anyone –especially for the teenage boy, Timothy.

Paul concludes his epistle emphasizing the Spiritual Duties of pastors and workers (4:1-6:21). It’s not
easy to be a leader of any Biblical Church. The larger the congregation, the more intense is the
ministry. Thus, Paul’s closing word to Timothy is applicable to all who serve in spiritual leadership:

“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter
and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge “– 21 which some have
professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you” (1 Tim. 6:20-21).

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 Thessalonians 1:5-10, “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.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed– for our testimony to you was believed.”

There are always those who want to be “first” in everything! “I was the one who first told you that.” “I was the first to arrive.” “My car was first in the parade” –and on and on it goes: first in this, first in that; just always first! Preachers, too, are among those who always want to be first. One wonders if those who are hungry to always be first, would be as anxious if the line led to execution! And pastors, most of all, need to employ caution in what they declare, because their proclamations register more highly, due to their position in the community.

Well, someone in the Thessalonian Church wanted to be first –and he was! – first in spreading the error that they all were then and there living in the Tribulation era. He was wrong, but he stirred and swayed the church nevertheless. Just another mess left for the Apostle Paul to clean up!

Paul’s argument employed four basic truths: first, the Coming of the LORD would be a Comfort to those who would be persecuted (1:5-7). Second, His Coming would be a horrible terror to the unconverted (1:8-9). Third, there will be a falling away from the Truth of the Word. The Coming of the LORD for His Own true people will reveal the “Man of Sin,” the Antichrist, while, simultaneously, the LORD’s Coming with His people will destroy the “Man of Sin.”

All of this was intended to comfort those who had been misled about the Coming of the LORD. It also opened some unique opportunities for the church to engage in some services. They (and we, as well) should show loyalty to Him; evangelize the world; pray for His servants; exercise patience while waiting for His Return; continuing to live separated lives; and exercise tenderness toward those who are slipping away from the Truth of the Gospel.

It was A. J. Gordon who said, “The mystery of godliness is God humbling Himself to become man; the mystery of iniquity is man exalting himself to become God.” May the LORD teach all of us humility and patience.

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