The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 2:13-15, “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

John, the author of the verses above, is also the author of the Revelation. He was a close contemporary of our LORD Jesus Christ and the author of five New Testament books. In this first letter, John emphasizes both the joyful and victorious life of knowing the LORD Jesus Christ.

The first century of the Christian life was indeed glorious, yet somewhat unstable in that there were few believers. Letters such as this one contributed well to the stabilization of that faith. As noted in the text above, Satan, the “evil one,” was alive and well in his effort to suppress and eliminate the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ.

First-century believers in Jesus Christ differed little from believers today in that both require support for that which is new. This epistle (letter) was not John’s first, however. He had previously written both the Gospel and this first of three epistles, intending to fortify with the Revelation those who had already committed their lives to Christ, as well as those whom he prayed would soon join their faithful number. Notice that verses 13 and 14 above reaffirm the faith already accepted, while verse 15 is a strong admonition to reject “the world (and) the things in the world.” Simply stated, while we are in this world, we are never completely, thoroughly free from the tentacles of sin.

The “fight,” therefore, is always upon us! We believers can never “sleep” because sin is always on hand to harass us; especially is that so because we are additionally charged with winning others to Him and encouraging them to embrace Him wholeheartedly! Simultaneously, we are presenting Him to others who are lost. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit indwells us with encouragement and strength. How are you doing spiritually? I’m praying for you. Please pray for me!

Heartily in Christ,

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