The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 9:13-14, “For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those

who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience

from dead works to serve the living God?”

As I’ve studied these two verses, I have become even more aware of how POWERFUL the blood of

Jesus Christ is! The Old Testament Jews has a myriad of laws to be obeyed. They also committed

sins against the LORD that might have required more sacrifices of “goats and bulls” than we could

imagine to assuage the wrath of God. The “ashes of heifer,” therefore, was sprinkled in water and

preserved for a sacrificial offering that was acceptable to God. What neither the ashes nor goats or

bulls could cleanse, however, was the conscience of the offender.

You’ve undoubtedly heard someone say, “Well, I’ll forgive, but I can’t forget.” What they are really

saying is, “I’ll forgive, but I won’t forget.” Many people have that problem with themselves. When

we first moved to Australia, we lived in the upper level of a house owned by an British pastor. He

prayed aloud –so loud that we could not help but hear all he said to the LORD. He had apparently

committed a sin which plagued his conscience –a sin he simply could not forget! And his prayers

constantly sought the LORD’s forgiveness. Looking back on that situation, and with the understanding

I now have of what the Bible teaches about His forgiveness, I am confident he had already been

forgiven. He had simply not allowed the LORD’s forgiveness to reach his conscience.

The Old Testament people had that problem, too. God could forgive sin –and He did! But, the

sacrifices those people offered could not reach their consciences. The Blood of Jesus Christ

reaches our consciences. We may have difficulty totally forgetting our sins against God, but He

is competent through the power of His shed blood to erase even the conscience of our sin. Don’t

worry and fuss over your past sins. Confess them genuinely to Him and forget them! He promises,

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12).

Our love and prayers are offered for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 8:10-13, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them

upon their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. 11 “And they shall

not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’

For all shall know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. 12 “For I will be merciful to

their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,”

He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is

ready to disappear.”

Anyone who doubts that the Apostle Paul wrote Hebrews, has either not read or not

understood the writer’s comprehension of the Old Testament Law. In the Old Testament,

priests ministered before the LORD and taught the people the meaning of His Law. But

when the LORD introduced His new Law in the New Testament, He put that Law “into

their minds,” so that there was no need for instruction from others (Rom. 1:19). No one

has taught you everything. Some things you just know instinctively.

The latter portion of our verses above really spoke to me, when it says, “…whatever is

becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.” Only yesterday, Matt and I

were discussing computers and he noted how obsolete some things were in the electronic

industry, Computer boards are becoming faster and easier to install (plug ‘n play), and

some older boards are no longer available. I’m like that in that I am growing older and will

one day disappear. I will then no longer be writing these letters. Nor will I then need to

consult the Greek or Hebrew languages or the writings of others for a clearer and better

understanding of the Word of God. Still, Paul is not thinking of himself here; much less,

would he be thinking of me! He’s talking about how Christ Jesus replaced the Law of

Moses and became the Savior of mankind.

Those of you who are yet to be married and eventually become parents will one day look

to the instruction you have received from your parents (and grandparents!). And that

will be the basis of the instruction you will give to your children. Parents and grandparents

will be gone, and you will stand on your own with Christ and His Word. As we look at

you now, it is almost impossible to believe that you were what our pictures show you

to have been. Be strong in the LORD. Trust His Word to be your unwavering guide.

You are our love and delight –every one of you!

With immeasurable love we pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Can you recall an instance in your life where you disobeyed your parents? You knew you had

done wrong and feared facing them. If you understand what that was like, you understand why

you sometimes don’t want to read the Bible.

Paul describes the Word of God as “living” (???, the essence of life), “powerful” (???????, able to cause

something to happen). The Word “pierces” (??????????, penetrates, goes through) the deepest areas of

our minds, resurrecting old forgotten sins –sins that we wanted to forget, but need to confess that we

might be forgiven. Still wondering why you often don’t want to read the Bible?

I once had a secretary, who just could not understand how the Bible could “judge the thoughts and

intentions of (her) heart.” She was young in the faith at that time and the limit of her understanding

could be overlooked. She knows now and has for many years!

Pastors and Bible teachers often touch those “sore spots” in our lives –those places we don’t want

to remember. Has someone told them about you? No, their study of the Word alone and the

leadership of the Holy Spirit to preach and teach that Word is what is occurring. I’ve often been

accused of preaching something I’ve learned about someone’s life. The truth was, however, that I

was simply presenting a message I had learned from my study of the Bible. That’s why we need

pastors who do careful study and why we need to take seriously what they say.

The way to be eager to hear your pastor is to confess to God your known sins before the pastor

Preaches. You’ll find the Bible easier to read, too. It is the LORD’s spiritual food prepared daily

for our consumption. Now, let’s all eat!

You are loving kept in our daily prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 3:12-14, “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil,

unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day

after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the

deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the

beginning of our assurance firm until the end…”

The very early translators of Scripture held to the Pauline authorship of Hebrews. Over

time, however, some insisted that someone other than Paul was the original author.

We know that Paul was the designated apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter was the

designated apostle to the Jews. It is often overlooked that Paul was to be an apostle

to the Jews, too (Acts 9:15). As the primary apostle to the Jews, Peter should have

written Hebrews. But he lacked the theological training that Paul had (Acts 22:3). I have

come to believe that Paul wrote Hebrews anonymously, so as not to embarrass Peter.

All that being said, these verses warn us not to get careless with regard to our spiritual

lives. Just because we are saved does not mean we cannot give the devil a place in

our hearts and lives. Many people who have been truly saved, give in to worldliness

and withdraw from the LORD and His will for their lives. Paul warns, too, that sin is

deceitful (deceptive). It gives “a false sense of pleasurable security (that is) seductively

generated” by the devil himself.

We are strongly admonished to be encouragers of others “day after day,” and for long

as we have opportunity. Our encouragement of others to receive the LORD Jesus

Christ and to live for Him is proof-positive that we ourselves belong to Him. Heaven is

for Eternity –and so is Hell! What little time we have here on Earth must be spent in

sharing Christ with those who do not know Him. Pray today that the LORD will lead

someone to you for your encouragement. And don’t be surprised when He does!!!

Our love for you will never lessen and we pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:11-15, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously

and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory

of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem

us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous

for good deeds. 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one

disregard you.”

If you knew that something big was about to occur, what would you do? Say it was a

hurricane or and earthquake –what would you do? Take cover? Yell at others to do

the same? Paul knew two big things were coming. One, he was nearing the end of

his life, and two, the LORD Jesus was coming soon for His own. Both of those truly

momentous moments could occur at any time. He saw the need to instruct Titus in

what could be his last opportunity to do so.

The grace –the blessed favor of God—had come through the Cross and Resurrection!

All mankind could now be saved and for eternity. Paul’s instructions were both positive

and negative. There were things Titus and all believers were to deny (refuse; say ‘no’ to).

And there was a way to live, while time was on their side. They were to ever and always

to be aware of the Return of the LORD Jesus Christ. The one who gave Himself on the

cross for our sins, did so that He might buy us back (pay our ransom) from sin, so that

He might cleanse us for Himself. Stop for a minute and think of some useful things you’ve

found, except that they were dirty, rusty, and in need of cleansing. Instead of throwing

them out, you cleansed them and made them reusable. That’s exactly what Jesus did in

and through His death on the cross. He cleansed us from sin in order that we might be

useful to and for Him.

We who are saved are to speak (talk about) and exhort (encourage) and reprove (expose

and convict) with the authority He has given us. Don’t allow anyone to disregard (despise)

you or what you say. Jesus is Coming! And the events that are current in world affairs

are like dark clouds that indicate heavy rain. Be prepared! And help bring others to safety

in our LORD Jesus Christ.

We love immensely and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”