The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 3:1-6, “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain– if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

You can call me what you like, but there are some people that just cannot stay in their lane of traffic.
The Galatians were just that sort of people. In fact, they were “harum-scarum” in all aspects of life.
An Asiatic people, they accepted and adopted the ideas of every religious system that came their way.

The Apostle Paul became ill during his second missionary journey, and it was then and there that he came into contact with the Galatian people. So it was there that he preached to them Christ. With their character trait of accepting every and all new ideas, they accepted Paul’s Christ. For a while, it appeared that these Galatians were “all in” for Jesus. Then, suddenly, they broke with Paul’s Christ and took on another religion, this one pagan.

If you have ever encountered a person who was “all in” for Jesus and the Christian faith one day, and
all in for some pagan faith the next, you have a good example of the nature of the Galatians. Is it any wonder then why Paul calls them “foolish”? It was undoubtedly due to their indecisive approach to the Gospel. Oh, the Galatians had proffered a belief in Christ, but they didn’t stick with it. Did you ever meet anyone like that? Have you ever been like that yourself? You had best trust Jesus alone.

The Scriptures all soundly contend that man’s justification before God is by faith alone in Jesus Christ! Don’t subscribe to anything or anyone outside of the Christ of the Holy Scriptures! He alone delivers us from sin.

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 Corinthians 1:1-7, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”

Did you ever have a sound spanking when you were still quite young? To ask that question is to answer it. We had a “weeping willow” tree in our back yard. And it was years before I knew that name designated the tree. Oh, I knew it was a tree, but I was equally assurred that I was the “weeping” part. Believe me, it was no laughing matter.

In his first letter, the Apostle Paul soundly scolded the Corinthian Church. Here, Paul teft Ephesus awaiting Titus’ appearance at Philippi. Paul’s first letter soundly excoreated the Church for her wrongdoing. Unlike the first, this second letter is tender and loving. Such tenderness, in fact, led the the Corinthian Church not only to reverse her demeanor, but to engage in a contributuib to the needs of Macedonian churches.

Isn’t this the way it ought to be? Should we not learn from those who knew the LORD and had been
appointed by Him to be His disciples? Should we not live to love and cooperate with thos who had come to know Christ Jesus as LORD? Thus, Paul gives an Explanation (1:1-7:16) of why he was so stern in that First Epistle.

Further, Paul now exhorts the newly-recharged congretation to perform some good deeds both in their community and in other regions of the world. They accepted the challenge and that’s why he praised them to the churches in Macedonia (8:1-9:27).

In a strange almost reversal, and a bit of sternness, the apostle vindicated his apostleship and proved his right to their love and respect (10:1-13:14), How is your church doing? Conceivably, she needs a spanking and a dose of what Paul gave the Corinthians. Just remember that even the harshest discipline can result in blessing if it’s administered with a spoonful of love.

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 Corinthians 4:1-5, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.
4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
5 Therefore, do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”

As sure as air pervades the earth, problems invade the Church. Paul labored many months in structuring this Corinthian Church. Yet, virtually as soon as he left, trouble invaded it. It’s not a lot of difference from what’s occurring in churches today. It’s only that some churches have been established on a business model instead of the spiritual model of the apostle.

It’s highly probable that none of this would have happened had Paul himself been present. That’s true even of well-founded churches today. A good pastor establishes a church “from scratch,” but view’s it crumbling under the leadership of another who is greatly concerned about being recognized as “superior” within the community-at-large. This was Paul’s discovery, and precisely why he wrote this epistle.

Did you notice from this Scripture that there were still some good people in this Corinthian church? It was they who reported the problems to the apostle. The church had fallen into disorder, and desperately needed correction! Immorality, too, had invaded the church –something that Paul resoundingly condemned! Immoralities such as divorces, eating meat offered to pagan idols, and consumption of alochol was evident among them.

Women were dressing immodestly; the LORD’s Supper was disorderly; confusion regarding spiritual gifts abounded –and the list goes on. Sound like some churches today? Is it any wonder why Paul so often cited the Coming of the LORD for His people? “Oh,” but you say, “years have gone by and He still hasn’t come.” That’s all the more reason we should be prepared. Are you prepared to meet Him? Isn’t it better to be prepared than not to be? Trust Him today! Confess your sins and believe Him when He say, “Come unto me…, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

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,

Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
Romans 16:23-27, “Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

We freely engage in those things that we most enjoy. If you love golf, it doesn’t take heavy persuasion to get you on the links. If you love chess, you’ve probably read Ben Hogan or Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. Still, it’s one thing to read how others do it; it’s another to embrace and fully engage yourself in carrying it out.

Saul of Tarsus was converted to Christ on the Damascus Road –the road he was traveling in hatred against all persons Christian, when he met and yielded himself to Christ and forever became Christ’s foremost advocate: Paul the apostle!

Romans is arguably the foremost biblical book on Christian doctrine. Written in
A.D. 58 from Corinth where Paul was residing temporarily in the home of Gaius, a wealthy Corinthian Christian businessman (16:23).

From chapters 1 through 16, Paul concerns himself in setting forth the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Anyone wishing to know what Christianity is and/or stands for, has only to read this 16 chapter book.

Chapters 12-16 point out the duties and responsibilites of all believers: first to God, never to the world (12:1-2), then to one’s self (12:2), to the church (12:4-8), to other believers (12:9-13), to the enemies of the faith (12:14-21), to the government (13:1-7), to our neighbors (13:8-14), to young, weak believers (14:1-15:7), and to everyone else who doesn’t fall into one of the above catagorie (15:8-16:27).

As complete as Paul’s stated doctrine is, it is not enough to simply know it – it’s the living it out before one’s fellowman that truly counts. Think about it! Are you a Christian? As it has been asked, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” We live in tough days. It’s getting late.
It is very close to “quitting time.” Make your move –and in the right direction.

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,

Acts 1:6-9, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’
7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

Did you ever start something you didn’t finish? a book … a movie… a letter…?
Of course, you have! But, have you ever read a book that wasn’t complete in itself? You have if you’ve read the Book of Acts.

Luke is the author of Acts –the same person who authored the third Gospel. Acts covers the LORD Jesus’ post-resurrection events, up to His Ascension into Heaven. There are three divisions of the book.

The first division is concerned with the LORD’s work in Jerusalem (1:1-7:60). The Holy Spirit descends and the Church is officially founded.

The second division widens the LORD’s work in Judea, reaching ultimately into Samaria. Saul of Tarsus, chief antagonist of the Christian faith, is himself converted through faith in Christ after the stoning of Stephen. Peter also continues his ministry (8:1-9:40).

The third division focuses on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church – an outpouring that led to Peter’s arrest and the LORD’s deliverance, Paul’s three missionary journeys, and ending with Paul’s imprisonment and death in Rome (10:1-28:31).

None of these true believers shunned sharing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Not everyone, of course, died as a result of his witness. But these early Christians believed witnessing to be their responsibility. And it was! Their witness rocked the
world! What does that say that you and I should be doing today? Are we what we ought to be, do we love Him as they did; or is the crowd sound of “Crucify Him!” still ringing frightfully in our ears?

Jesus is coming again! He is coming for His own. Will we be found faithful? Prepare for His coming by living daily in His Word and in prayer. Your heart will be
strangely warmed and you will be noticebly blessed!

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