The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 1:1-8, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

James, the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the author of this epistle. One commentator said, “It was written by a Jew to Jewish Christians, and there is a great deal that is distinctly Jewish in its style and spirit.” Not many believers, however, can live by James’ directive. Jewish believers were passing through severe trials and temptations, and James was writing to comfort and encourage them. How much that encouragement is needed today!

James emphasizes faith that is tested and wards off the temptations that believers experience. Simultaneously, faith is demonstrated by sincere words and works. It is also visible in the lives of true believers. One writer said, “Faith in Christ and His coming will lead us to a patient suffering of evils we cannot avoid.”

The key to overcoming cruelty and worldly wrong is earnest prayer, coupled with a constant trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must faithfully live and ask without doubting—all according to His directive. Only then are we spiritually prepared to receive His blessing. I’m working on this; I trust that you are, too.

Please pray for Israel. The Lord has graciously placed a godly Christian pastor in service as America’s ambassador. He, too, needs and covets our prayers.

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,

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.”

The author of Hebrews is clearly unknown. Scholars, however, like Eusebius, Campbell Morgan, and C. I. Schofield (to name but a few) lean, however, to the Apostle Paul as the author. The emphasis of the epistle is that the LORD Jesus Christ is greater than the prophets (1:1-3), greater than the angels (1:4-2:18), greater than Moses (3:1-19), or Joshua (4:1-13), or Aaron (4:14-10:18).

“Owing to bitter persecution, the Jewish Christians were beginning to think they had lost everything by embracing the cause of Christ. They had begun to undervalue Christian privileges and were becoming absorbed with their own sufferings. Without question, they were in a backsliding condition.

The clear message for those people is that inasmuch as Jesus Christ lived and died and arose again for them, they should live and work heartily for Him. Is not the same true for us?

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,

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