Sin’s antidote

So those who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own heart; but those who do not believe God, have made a liar of him, because they have not believed what God has said about his Son. The testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (verses 10-12)

Read 1 John 5:1-12

If you were bitten by the deadliest snake in the world, you’d be foolish not to seek medical attention. The only thing that would save your life would be the administration of an antidote to counteract the deadly poison injected in the bite. To refuse the antidote would almost certainly be fatal.

The deadly poison of sin is attacking and destroying our lives, and we are in danger of death – eternal death. But God has given us an antidote to counteract the evil in our lives. In his Son, Jesus, we have sin’s antidote, for he overcame sin and eternal death in his own death on the cross for us.

It’s really so simple: ‘God has given us eternal life and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has this life.’

Now we need have no fear. Sin’s antidote is always at hand for us; all we need to do is ask. And we refuse it at our eternal peril.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me your Son, Jesus, sin’s antidote and my life-giving Saviour. Amen.

By Grace Bock, in “Refreshment for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers (2003)

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