The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

2 Thessalonians 1:5-8, “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.

6 For after all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,

8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

Have you ever had a situation where something you had said was later misquoted and you were required to set things straight? That is exactly what was occurring here! Paul had taught the Thessalonian Church that certain things would have to occur before the Lord Jesus Christ would return.

Then, someone gave the Thessalonian Church instruction that the Lord was coming right away! Obviously, this upset the church, and Paul had to write and straighten things out.

Whether the one whose statement upset the church and contradicted Paul did it purposely, we are not told. Nevertheless, the entire congregation was upset, and Paul had to remind them that numerous things had to occur before the Lord Jesus would return.

We often find ourselves beclouded by false information. It often comes from one who mistook what someone else had said. Sometimes, however, false information comes from someone who wants to procure a following. There is no substitute for following the Word of the Lord! Jesus is always correct! When you find a “Paul,” you can follow him. Just be certain that the Paul you are following is the one following Jesus!

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 Thessalonians 1:1-8, “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.”

This First Epistle to the Thessalonians was written by the Apostle Paul from Corinth around 35 A.D. He had learned from Timothy that the church was experiencing rapid spiritual growth. They were in sorrow over those who had died, expecting them to have joined with the full church body at the soon coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Everything in the apostle’s greeting to the church may be summed up in the word “hope.”

The church was immersed in the hope of the second coming of the LORD Jesus Christ.

Churches today would do well to encourage their members regarding the LORD’s coming! Encouragement requires prayer and a faithful adherence to the Scriptures. We have an intense desire for our pastors to share the word concerning our LORD’s return. Should we not also be encouraging each other as we see the day approaching?

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,

Colossians 2:8-12, “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 fullness 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;

11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in

the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;

12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

I will be clear and concise at the beginning: I have never been in jail! When we examine the Scriptures, however, we learn that while

there are some who ought not to have been there, there are some who ought to be there, but are not!

Paul was not the founder of the Church in Colosse. As a matter of fact, he was a prisoner in Rome when heresy attacked the Colossian congregation. “Flesh is essentially evil…” Heresy prevails when people

leave or ignore the Scriptures and allow human thought to prevail. Here in Colosse, we have a mixture of Judaism, Gnosticism, Asceticism with a ‘dash’ of angel worship.” (Imagine what kind of messy Church that would have been!)

I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have remained there long. Paul, however, knew that unless things were straightened out, other churches would be infected with the same thing!

Thus, Paul preached doctrine in chapters 1-2, and doctrine’s practical results in 3-4. It wasn’t long, but he bathes his words in love and solemnly warns the Colossians with clear, practical teaching. It’s a message every true church needs and should heed.

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,

Philippians 4:1-7, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If ever there were an epistle that ought to be greatly valued by Gentiles, it is the Letter to the Philippians. It was written to the first Church founded in Europe. While Philippians is hardly the deepest, it is one of the sweetest letters ever written by the Apostle Paul.

While there is not a solitary quotation from the Old Testament in the epistle, the words “joy” and “rejoice” are found in every chapter. Notice that only three times is the Holy Spirit mentioned, yet the entire epistle contains more praise than any other writing.

Then dissension broke out within the church, threatening the peace that the Word of God had planted and cultivated within the church.

Two of the leading women experienced confrontation, leading to a virtual split within the church. Paul worked hard to revive unity, without which the church would ultimately fail. Instead of reproving the women for their opposition, Paul worked to fill their minds with the greatness and love of the Lord Jesus Christ! How wise he was! Unity is possible when we lose sight of “self” and rest our eyes on the Scriptures! May the Lord help us all.

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