The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 1:5-9, “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This was one of the earliest passages we were to translate when I was studying Greek. It was in this

passage that I also learned how the New Testament related to the Old Testament. Greek is arguably

the most exact language known to man. It expresses exactly what the writer wants to say; and if the

reader is careful, it is virtually impossible for him to misunderstand what the writer wants to convey.

Nothing in the physical realm is so diverse as light and darkness. They are exact opposites. God is

Perfect Light. He reveals perfectly everything He wants us to see and understand. The little word if

appears four times in these five verses. If signals something conditional. (“If I tell you, will you promise

not to tell anyone else?”) John states four conditional situations for our consideration: 1) “If we say” we

are in good standing (are having fellowship) with the LORD, but are walking outside and away from His

Light, we’re not living as He desires. 2) If we are walking in His Light, we are having fellowship with Him

and with others (allos; others like ourselves). 3) If we say that we just don’t sin, we’re lying to ourselves

and to others. 4) But if we confess (agree with what His Word says about us) that we are sinners, He

will forgive (aphiemi, send away, wipe out) all of our sins and cleanse us from all (pas, all or every)

unrighteous (adikia, wrong, evil, wicked, impurity).

Are you in good standing with the LORD? Do you always walk with Him in His Light? Do you regularly

confess your sins to Him? If you do, you’re walking with Him in His Light. Your conscience is free, and

you don’t feel guilty for anything because He has forgiven you. This is the way to live! His way is the

joyful way. There’s nothing to fear from Light –only from darkness.

We love and pray every day for His Light to shine on you,

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.”