The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 3:2, “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?”

Did you ever try to get information from a wiggly kid? It’s worth than pulling teeth! They “hum

and haw” around, squirming all the while, but giving none of the desired information. The root cause is undoubtedly natural, allowing their age.

The Galatians’ nature was very much the same. They were “on-again, off-again,” sometimes hot, sometimes cold. That’s precisely why Paul had such trouble with them. And in situations

like those of the wiggly kid or the “hot-and-cold” Galatians, the best situation is to ask one salient question.

Paul’s question was, “…did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Today, we might ask someone, “Have you had a personal experience with the LORD Jesus Christ, or are you just a church member?” With most churches, it’s easy to become a member. You just say, “I want to join,” and the church says, “Good; you now belong.” But church doors are not the doors to Heaven. Heaven’s door had a secret lock –secret until Carroll Roberson revealed it when he wrote, “Prayer is the key to Heaven, but faith unlocks the door.”

It’s not difficult to become a Christian, and living the Christian life is a joy! Love, joy, hope, peace, fellowship –all of these words and many others go with the Christian life. Unrest, worry, frustration, doubt, uncertainty – these words lie outside of the Christian life. They’re words known by those who are without Christ and they work against everything good in life.

I had the opportunity of a Christian home. My parents and grandparents were all true believers in Jesus Christ. We had “law” in our family, but none of us were saved by keeping it; we were saved by trusting that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Promised Messiah, as in the Bible. And when I asked Him to forgive my sins and come into my life, He did! I was only seven years old. That was many years ago, and His Holy Spirit still lives within me. Give Him the opportunity to forgive you and the same Spirit will take up residence in your life. When you come to know Him, you’ll want to share Him with others. God bless you abundantly!

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 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Nobody said it would be easy”? Well, that’s true for just about everyone: that first day in school; that first day on the job; that first surgery (for the surgeon and the patient); and for some of us, that first day in the pulpit, where everyone, I am certain, suffered in abundance!

Yet, the absolute truth is that none of us have suffered anywhere close to the absolute torture that Christ Jesus suffered. Today’s news tells of a literal door-to-door slaughter of Christians in a foreign country. Yet, the very nature of “slaughter” seems more instantaneous than a “grievous,” long-suffering death. Even the Apostle Paul’s sufferings, listed in Second Corinthians 11:23-28, as intensive as they were, lacked the vehement nature of Christ’s sufferings.

History, both secular and Christian, is replete with the sufferings of those “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). They were beheaded, burned alive at the stake, and publicly ridiculed while simultaneously being encompassed by the jeering hatred of unbelievers. None of us have ever encountered such vitrial; few in modern times have ever witnessed such.

All that being said, we should never shy away from suffering when it comes in the face of our witness for Christ! Paul here turns our thoughts away from suffering to the comfort that comes

from the One who is and provides aid and encouragement to us. Interestingly, the Greek word for “comfort” is ??????????, paraklesis, and relates closely to parakletos, Paraclete – the Holy Spirit! He is the Spiritual Doctor, who knows all and possesses all the ingredients needed for

our time of greatest suffering.

Memorize this verse from Psalm 55:22,

“Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

May His eternal blessings be yours in every trial of life that you encounter!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please feel free to pass this Letter along to those you know need the Holy Spirit’s comfort.

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 1:2, “…to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours…”

Ancient Corinth was a religious city. It was not, however, a city centered on the LORD Jesus Christ. It was a city of paganism, a city of idol worshippers. The Church that worshipped Jesus Christ, however, was the one, bright beam of hope for the entire city. Many had turned to faith in Jesus. They were called “saints,” along with others, who had trusted Him as LORD and Savior. Their new nature existed; yet, as with us today, there was adequate room for improvement.

The outline of this Letter (attached) indicates that the Corinthian Church had its troubles. Nor was this Paul’s first letter to that church. It is the first letter we have, but in chapter 5 and verse 9, Paul says, “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people…”; then he modified his words, saying,

“I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world…; for then you would

have to go out of the world. 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any

so-called brother if he should be an immoral person…” (1 Cor. 5:10-11).

Unfortunately, there are some people in our churches today that identify with the immorals.

Paul teaches that we need to be loving and prayerful toward them, but not to associate (“mix up together”) with them, lest we become identified as particapating in their evil ways.

We are never to be snobbish or avoid even speaking to them; we should just not be seen with them in their outside-of-church activities. The be what we ought and be concerned for those who need the LORD comes from prayerfulness. Witnesses have to make contact with those who need Christ. We simply must not become like them, lest our witness be weakened.

The LORD is our strength and wisdom as we share His love with others. Pray for strength and for wisdom. He will grant you all you need for every given situation.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

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.’”

It is Sunday as I write this Grands Letter, and characteristically, I listen to three or four select

preachers on Sunday, including my own pastor. Of the four I heard today, each focused on the theme of the Second Coming of Christ. I have to say, that although two of the men are now with the LORD, it made me wonder whether the LORD might not have arranged that theme specifically for today because His Coming is much closer than we suspect.

Allowing all of that to be true, the words of Paul in our verses above become all the more valuable. Prior to his Damascus Road experience, Paul hated and despised Jesus and His message of salvation. Since his conversion from Judaism to Christianity, however, Paul had never been ashamed or embarrassed in any manner by the Good News of Jesus Christ. He had experienced personal, undeniable contact with the Savior that had convinced him of the truths of Jesus’ message of salvation.

Moreover, this Gospel carried within it the very power of Almighty God! It is through God’s loving righteousness that He extends salvation to everyone who believes. The salvation is His gift to all mankind. Everyone’s name is on it, but the very nature of a gift requires both giving and receiving. It is possible for one to intend something to be a gift; but for it to be fulfilled and actually become a gift, it must first be received.

Were I to offer something to the readers of this Letter with the only requirement being they respond, saying “Thank you,” my offer of that “something” would simply be an offer. But when they actually received that “something” I returned, it would be considered a gift.

As the LORD Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He became the Ultimate Sacrifice for all of our sins. But for His Sacrifice to avail for your sins, you must trust His Word and receive His Sacrifice as for you. Have you done that? If not, please do it today. Just talk to the LORD, as you would to a friend. He always hears and He always responds –but only to those who call upon Him.

For those of us who have prayed and received Christ’s gift of salvation, we have an on-going

responsibility to tell others of His saving grace! He has a gift for His willing servants, too. When you share Him with others, He will make known to you how pleased His is!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

NOTE: If you need help in coming to know Christ, please email me. I would be delighted to help you.

If you have recently led someone to faith in Christ, please let me know. I will rejoice with you.

*Some Christian friends of mine are in a crisis in Europe. Please pray with me for them.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Acts 8:1-4, “And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a

great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered

throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.

3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and

women, he would put them in prison.

4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”

Some days ago, I saw a house for sale in a southern state. What was unusual? It was free!

When you read something like that, you’re probably at the top of the skeptical scale. But this was true –uh, to a point. The house had to be moved. What’s more, it was a two-story house. You just want to turn the page, don’t you? But suppose it were truly free! Suppose the owner agrees to move it at no cost to you? –and only “catch” is that you have to live in the house. That changes everything!

Saul was well aware of the freedom that early Christians claimed to possessed. But he was devoted to Judaism! Christians must be destroyed!! So, he did everything he could to destroy this new belief-system that claimed to supersede Judaism. He authorized the death of one Stephen and “ravaged the church!” What could the Church possibly do?

The last of our four verses above tells the story: “Therefore, those who had been scattered (due to Saul’s raiding homes and slaying believers) went about (everywhere) preaching the Word.” We’d be likely to say, “Well, you have to do what you have to do.” That’s what these early Christians said and they did it!

It would hardly be acceptable to say that the LORD put it into Saul’s heart and mind to persecute His own believers. Yet, He utilized the wrong to produce the right. Illness takes us to hospitals, but there we find doctors and nurses, some of whom don’t know Jesus. Debt drives us to banks to borrow money; but there are bankers who don’t know the LORD. Worry causes a wreck of the car; but the tow-truck driver and the automotive repair men and the insurance adjustors all need the LORD, too. Tragedies open opportunities! Look for the opportunity!

Let what appears to be an obstacle work for you in sharing the Bible’s Good News with others! Even when your message is rejected, it will be remembered. What’s more, in yet another tragedy, it will be resurrected and redound to the Glory of Almighty God! This is the LORD’s business. We’re just His messengers, “scattered about, preaching the Word.” As my Aussie Christian friends would say, “Give it a go, mate!” The “success” is up to the LORD.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,a

(Dado III)

NOTE: Attached is a paper on the logical arrangement of the first five books of the New Testament.

The LORD supervises the arrangement and placement of His Books. Take a look.

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