The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 2:1-3, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

Not that you care, or that it’s any of your business, but I take about 10 pills every morning. Only four are perscriptions from my doctor. Why on Earth does he prescribe meds for me? My guess is that he wants to keep me from getting sick. Does that seem right to you? Seems logical to me.

Well, the same answer can be given to us spiritually. The Scriptures act like pills to keep us out of spiritual trouble. Remember, too, that Simon Peter is not “talking down” to his Jewish believers when he calls them “my little children.” Paul called Timothy “his child” (teknon) when Timothy was grown and accompaning Paul on his missionary journeys. Child is used for adults as a term of endearment.

Peter writes to encourage his people “not to sin.” It’s better to get that idea into their hearts and heads before they sin, rather than after. You will recall that the Greek word ein (if) introduces a conditional sentence that has an indefinite outcome that means, “maybe you will; maybe you won’t.” So Peter wants them not to sin, but allows that some may anyway. And if they do sin, they are not without help. They have an Advocate, someone called along side to help them; a lawyer, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Still, Jesus is more than a Spiritual Legal Advisor; He is the ilasmos, the Atoning Sacrifice that is our only means of forgiveness for sin. What’s more, He is the Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world –not automatically, but for those who turn away from sin, ask the LORD’s forgiveness, and commence a living walk with Him. And how do we know with certainty that we are His and He is ours? We follow His instructions for living the Christian life! The LORD is not looking for those who can “talk the talk,” but for those who can and will “walk the walk.”

Now, how about you? Do you need His Spiritual Advice? We all do! Have you accepted His Atoning Sacrifice for your sins? Are you “walking the walk” of a truly born-again believer? I do pray that you are!

The world is drowning in the slime of sin. But those who are drowning need those who can swim to help them. We have to be prepared to rescue others. Read your Bible daily! Don’t jump and fumble through the Scriptures. Follow a pattern; read through a whole book. Pray daily! Start and end every day with prayer! Our LORD will be glorified, and you will be amazed how your days and weeks will be filled with joy!

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.”