The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 2:1-8, “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.”

Generally speaking, we live our lives in judgment of others. I like my neighbor because _____. I loathe my neighbor because______. It’s interesting how we can forgive ourselves for being judgmental, but we will not forgive our neighbor. What’s more, we live judgmentally while we simultaneously acknowledge that the LORD’s judgment falls upon everyone, including ourselves.

Vinegar is not productive. Neither is a “vinegareous” attitude. In fact, Paul warns us that a judgmental attitude stores up wrath against everyone who judges his neighbor! That probably leaves most of us living in jeopardy!

A close friend of mine tells of having spilled some very hot coffee in the lap of a visiting speaker. Instead of issuing a rebuke (which my friend truly expected), the speaker spoke kindly to him as if nothing-at-all had occurred. The loss of the coffee was not important. That the man had to speak, standing before his audience in soiled clothes, seemed insignificant, also. Perhaps that man remembered the verse that said the LORD “will render to each person according to his deeds” (v. 6).

Those last two verses are diametrically opposed with respect to how God will judge us. We would do well to ponder carefully what the LORD is intending to do. So often, we prioritize our focus on others’ judgments when we would do better to focus on the LORD’s judgments that pertain to us.

Incidentally, I live among some very gracious, Christian neighbors for whom I thank the LORD!

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 1:26-32, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

“Just go ahead; just go ahead and do it!” These are not words of true allowance. They are words of disciplinary allowance. They are the words of an exasperated parent, whose child has begged and begged to do something the wise parent had previously and numerously forbidden. From the parent’s point of view, what the child will learn by disobedience will now be the better teacher.

I understand quite well what I’ve just written in that previous paragraph. It’s a comment on a personal experience of many years ago. Thus, when I read what God’s Word says in the verses above, I understand that He knows what I will ultimately escape by obeying His voice.

Yet, those of whom Paul wrote had to learn everything the hard way. Reading Paul’s words above seem strangely similar to reading the daily newspaper or hearing a current newscast. We have abandoned everything that is “natural,” and substituted language and activities that suit and depict the raucous lifestyle of this generation. We know better; we simply do what we please, anyway. There is no thought about what it will cost.

I have decided not to elaborate on the meanings of the coarse thoughts, words, and attitudes depicted above. Rather, I will remind the reader of these lines that “God is not mocked; whatever one sows, he will ultimately reap” (Gal. 6:7). Yes, God is a loving God; and as a loving parent weeps over the necessity of punishing a wayward child, God also weeps as He punishes. Yet, to fail to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:6), is not the method of a loving and just parent. Nor is it the way of the LORD.

The neglect to meet out justice only encourages the proliferation of wickedness. And God, who is just will not forget. A nation that runs wild and evil without restraint, such as we have today, requires the justice of Almighty God! Even His patience has a limitation. Pray for our nation! Practice personal, godly living! We cannot do wrong and get by!

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 1:21-25, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Whom do you know, and how do you know them? In one sense, I can say that I know the governor of my state. I knew him before he was governor. We have met on more than one occasion, shook hands, engaged in short conversations. Thus, I know the governor of my state. But do I know him really? Have we engaged in the kind of conversations that reveal what each of us is to the other? No, we have not. So, do I really and truly “know” him? Pushed to the wall, I would have to say, “No.”

Those of whom the Apostle Paul speaks in our verses above “knew” the LORD about as much as I know the governor. The word “knew” (??????? ginosko) suggests “inception or progress” in knowledge (Vine). Had they truly known Him (oida), they would have honored Him and given Him thanks for His many indescribable gifts. Instead of honoring Him, they substituted images of pagan deities for His glory. I once observed a picture hanging on the wall of Christian home. I summarily suggested that the lady of the house remove it because it contained a “message” she did not understand.

Honoring anything that dishonors the LORD leads us away from Him, step-by-step. And it is those who “exchange the truth of God for a lie” that do not know Him. We who do know Him are responsible to share Him with others. Does not the Scripture say that Jesus is to be the object of our worship and praise? –the only object of our worship and praise!

If you have not committed your life to Christ Jesus, pray and trust Him today. We are all loving and trusting something or someone. Just shift your love to the One who in love gave Himself on the Cross for your sins. He is your start to a new and glorious Life!

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 1:16-20, “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.’
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

Have you ever been ashamed? I have; and I am certain you have, too. Sometimes we’re ashamed for what we have done; sometimes we’re ashamed for what we have not done. Paul certainly felt that way. Prior to his own conversion, he had committed Christians to jail and even to death (Acts 8:1ff), all the time believing he was doing the will of God. Oh, how wrong he was!

Yet, there was one thing of which Paul was not ashamed: it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the midst of Paul’s rebellion, the LORD revealed Himself to Paul. His life was changed forever! And from that time onward, he was a messenger of and for the LORD Jesus Christ!

Having raged so violently against the Truth, Paul came to understand that “which is known about God is evident within them…” God reveals Himself to every person in a way they can understand. So those without Christ are also those without an excuse. Why? It is beause “since the creation of the world (the LORD’s) invisible attributes…have been clearly seen and understood” through creation itself. Therefore, no one is without excuse! God has implanted in all people the understanding.

Thus, the only thing for which all humanity has to be ashamed is the failure to trust Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior! But when you’ve become a child of the LORD through faith, you need only to be ashamed of not sharing Him with others.

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 1:1-7. “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,
3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our LORD,
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His Name’s sake,
6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.”

According to the dictioonary, a “magnum opus is the greatest or most important work produced by a writer…” That being said, Paul’s Letter to the Romans is without a doubt his magnum opus. And while he would undoubtedly disavow that distinction, conservative Bible scholars throughout the ages have labeled it as such. In his own thinking, however, Paul saw himself as simply a “bond-servant of Christ Jesus.” It is well that we view ourselves no more than that.

Those who have been led according to the Scriptures emphasize Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. Jesus was a Jewish descendant through the lineage of David, but it was the Holy Spirit who placed Him in the womb of the young girl Mary. Yet, how do we know that Jesus was truly the Son of God? He’s the only one who ever raised Himself from the dead!

Further, it is through Jesus Christ alone that we have hope of eternal salvation; and it is to us alone that He has committed the proclamation of that salvation. Think of the responsibility of a mere mayoral assistant, or guberinatorial assistant! Yet, our responsibility weighs far more greatly, for we are charged with sharing Him with others! We are to reach Jews and Gentiles with the message of salvation in Jesus Christ!

When Paul cites some Romans as “beloved of God,” he designates them as “saints.” He had spent his time in Rome well, because he had led some residents there to believe in the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. That is precisely what you and I are charged to do! When was the last time you spoke to someone about salvation in Jesus Christ? When was the last time you prayed for someone who is living apart from Christ?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. The tract attached should not take the place of personal conversation; yet when sometimes time is scarce,
or a friend lives far away it can be helpful.

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