The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 2:13-15, “And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”

Death is rarely a good word. I say, “rarely,” because there are instances where it is preferable to suffering. Still, death is of various kinds. It can relate to the lack of freedom. It can mean a forever loss of seeing or hearing. In its usage above, it relates to sin –the involvement of activities that debase the LORD’s intention for us as His created beings.

When we trangress the Laws of God, intentionally or otherwise, we display a spiritual deadness within ourselves. It is so, because Christ alone can and does make us “alive together with Him.” His Life replaces our deadness, when we confess (agree) that we have sin and ask Him to erase it and fill us with new meaning and purpose and love.

In ancient times, personal debts were displayed publicly for all to see. But when a debt was paid-in-full, a spike was

driven through the display for all to see as well. Mankind is indebted to Almighty God for having transgressed His Law. That debt –our debt—was so weighty that it could seemingly never be paid. Therefore, the LORD Jesus Christ Himself offered to pay our debt by simply forgiving it. The Father then allowed men’s spikes to pierce His hands, so that they and we might be forgiven. What stood against our fellowship with God, “He has taken…out of the way” through the death of His Son, Jesus the Messiah.

Those demons (“rulers and authorities”) that plagued us, can plague us no longer! They are forever disarmed! Their power that held and bound us to sin no longer has its strength! What’s more, our LORD’s “public display” of the

death of His Son, encourages those still captive to know they can be free! A serious and complete confession of sin,

and an honest, faithful acceptance of Christ’s death for that sin, drives a stake in the public newsboard that He has

paid our debt. Paid in full, it need never be paid again. Have your sins been forgiven? Only the Hands of Jesus, pierced with Roman spikes can avail for your sin. You can be born anew! Born again! Born from Above! It is triumphant! And then you can teach others of Him.

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,

Colossians 2:8-10, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,

10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…”

To engage in an African safari generally carries with it the idea of capturing or killing an animal. It doesn’t have to mean that, but it often does. Words vary according to the cultures and the eras in which they are used. “Philosophy” in the verse above refers to the whole concept of Judaism. But the words “captive” and “empty deception” have the same meaning in each generation and culture. Some people simply delight in taking other people “captive” to their own way of thinking. It’s a pride thing. Men give their opinions on biblical and theological subjects in books that are sometimes revered more highly than the Scriptures themselves. We have to be extremely careful!

Paul is swift to shine a divine light on these “capture culprits.” We are not to follow philosophical traditionalisms. We are to follow Christ and His teachings. He alone is the One in whom the “fullness of Deity dwells.” Why are so many seeking the ways of popular celebrities? Why does it matter which Hollywood “star” or pop singer believes this or that? Even stopping to read and understand their thoughts on spiritual matters is truly a waste of precious time.

Christ Jesus is the “fullness of Deity.” There is no philosopher in any age who can compare with Him. He is the Author of salvation –our salvation! He has made us “complete.” He is the Head, the Authority over all things! All we need to know with clarity is what He says in His Word, and follow His instructions implicitly. His Word, the Scriptures, are without error. It is our responsibility to immerse ourselves in His Word and then share what we learn with others. Is this not what we expect of our pastors? Do they, then, not have the right to expect the same of us? And when a pastor says something we don’t understand, we should ask him to explain it to us. When we understand it, we can explain it to others. What’s more, Christ Himself will then be glorified through us. Remember, it’s always all about Him!

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,

Colossians 1:28, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.”

One thing I learned in college English class that I shall never forget: the verb is the most powerful word in any sentence! In most cases, the verb is the action word and defines all other words in the sentence. Paul uses four verbs in this second-to-the-last verse in this first chapter.

1. “We proclaim Him!” The word for “proclaim” is kataggello. The word is a present, active, indicative verb, with the connotation of a broad dissemination. Paul was not one to mince words or hide them from the hearts that needed them. We are to be active as we share the Gospel, and we are to be continually sharing it. Of course, the sharing has many and varied ways. Sometimes, it will be just a word, dropped into the conversation. Sometimes, it will be a full-blown and informative “how-to-be-saved” discussion, ending with prayer for the LORD to change a life.

2. “…admonishing every man…” The word for “admonish” is nouthetountes, meaning giving counsel and instruction to us that we might avoid inappropriate conduct. We probably all need that admonition, even if we have received the LORD Jesus as our Savior. Perhaps, the word means that, while we have been saved, we have yet to allow Christ to be LORD of our lives in every area and in every situation.

3. “…teaching every man with all wisdom…” The word “teaching” is didaskontes; and “wisdom,” sophia, while not a verb, couples with “teaching” to say that we are to take into careful account how much we are to say in our witnessing. Sometimes, we lose the person by talking too much about what they already don’t understand. We’re not witnessing to show how much we know; we’re witnessing of the One who will be most meaningful to their lives.

4. “…that we may present every man complete in Christ.” The word “present” is parastesomen, and

has a relationship with the concept of sacrifice. No person is “complete in Christ” until he has expressed sorrow for his sin and yielded his life to Christ, as fully and completely as he knows. It is

a “self-sacrifice” of the person to the will of the LORD Jesus. When we do that, we are “complete in

Christ.”

Now, knowing all of the above, don’t you see how important it is for us to reach the lost for Jesus? And

CHRISTmastime is the very best occasion of the year to get started. With all of the tinsel and lights, more people are thinking about Jesus than you know. Now is the time for us to think about Him, too!

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,

Colossians 1:24-26, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,

26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints…”

There’s nothing new about suffering. It’s been with us since Cain complained that his punishment was “greater than (he) could bear.”

What’s different is having someone to rejoice in suffering –his own suffering! Yet, Paul viewed his suffering as for the Church at

Colosse. It’s reliably reported in today’s news that Christians, more than any other religious people, are encountering suffering.

Minister today are themselves involved in suffering. One has but to read Christian publications to become aware of the various kinds.

Not many, however, are rejoicing in it as was the Apostle Paul. Paul viewed his suffering as beneficial to the Church. In no way was

Paul intimating that Christ was lacking in afflictions. He simply was willing to bear suffering for the Church as Christ did at the cross.

Multiple pressures fall upon pastors today. Sometimes, just listening to the problems of parishioners becomes suffering in itself. Then, there are those committed to the pastors’ care that stray from the faith and get themselves into various troubles. To be sure, they suffer. But so do all who employ the instruction of the Spirit in the effort to bring them back to the foot of the cross in surrendering in faith to the LORD Jesus Christ.

Paul seems to suggest in the last verse (v. 26) that it is time for Christians, who are not pastors, to commit themselves to the help of

believers who have strayed from the faith, as well as sharing the plan of salvation to those who are without Christ in their lives. There

is no better time than the CHRISTmas Season to share Jesus with others. CHRISTmas is a time of love and devotion. Share love with

those with whom you come into contact. There’s so little love in the world today; and there’s NO LOVE like the LOVE of JESUS!

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,

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding,

2 For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction.

3 When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

4 Then he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you.’”

I had a conversation with a friend at church today. Some troublesome problems had invaded the life of a

friend. “Parents” and “parenting” soon entered the conversation, and I suggested that either his father had

not led him in the right way or he had self-determined to “do his own thing,” which resulted in the trouble.

Solomon’s father, David, was certainly not a perfect father. He wasn’t even a perfect man. Yet, in these

verses he gave sound advice to his son. “Now, you listen to what I’m telling you! Do you hear?” Haven’t

you had your dad say that same thing to you? “Give attention,” he says, knowing that if his son doesn’t

learn to pay attention to his father, it is likely that he won’t listen to other instruction given to him in life.

It would be easy to imagine verse two as having come from the LORD Himself; ultimately, however, it is

the sound teaching the writer has received from his own father. There can be no doubt that the instruction

essentially came from the LORD. Wisdom is knowing what to do and how and when to do it. In my lifetime,

I’ve often known what to say, but not when to say it or when not say it. In other words, I lacked wisdom.

Wisdom is like understanding in that both must be acquired.

Most of these verses read and sound as if they were intended for young people. Well, they are! But they

are also instructions to parents. You can say, “Well, my kids just don’t listen to me.” But that does not

release you from the responsibility to instruct them! The LORD will hold parents accountable, just as He

does their children. May God richly and abundantly provide for you in and through His love!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. As a small CHRISTmas gift, I am attaching a digital copy of my book, Alive In The Spirit. I am excitedly thankful to be able

to tell you that has gone worldwide into 25 countries, on all continents (except for Antarctica ). It’s too cold there for the

pages to turn –even in digital.) I hope you will find it helpful.

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.”