The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 5:18-21, “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”

Don’t get excited about getting a “free ticket” to live like you want when you read verse 18! We are blessed to have the Greek New Testament available to us; otherwise, we might be tempted to slip back into the sinful ways from which our LORD Jesus Christ saved us. Further, if “no one born of God sins” were to mean that Christian believers in Jesus Christ were never fully delivered from sin, then what would be the purpose of Jesus’ death on the cross? No, it reads like this in Greek: “We know that no one who is born of God keeps on sinning (?????????, present active indicative, meaning “continuous activity in the present time”). When one is “born from Above” in Christ, Satan, “the evil one,” does not take hold of the Christian, as he does one who has not been born from Above. It’s another way of saying that a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior cannot ever be spiritually lost as he was before.

True believers are the ones seeking to change the world that currently “lies in the power of the evil one.” The LORD has “given us understanding in order that we might know Him…” He is true, and so is His Son. Our understanding comes from His Word. His Word exists to keep us from evil. When we commence to look like Him, He is glorified! Do you look like Jesus to others? Do I? Your Spirit that indwells us, LORD, is working to make us look like You! May we ever “hold still” and cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. As I was writing this letter, word came that Kevin, a friend whom I’ve never met, has cancer that has

metastasized. He and his wife and family are true, Christian believers. Please pray for Kevin and his family.

These are tough days for all concerned.

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.”