“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is 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. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is 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.” 1 John 2:12 – 14
John wants to make sure that those receiving this letter understand that it is for everybody, and not merely for church leaders. John also wants to make sure that his readers understand that he respects their faith, no matter the level. “Fine,” you say, “but if that’s the case, why isn’t John mentioning women? Why address fathers and not mothers as well?” And that is a fair question. Does John hate women or is he deliberately ignoring them?
Here, John is using these male terms to refer to three different age groups of believers: the new believers, “little children,” the more mature and vigorous believers, “young men,” and the mature believers, “fathers.” John assumes that those receiving this letter and reading it or hearing it read will understand these distinctions without becoming offended. Certainly the annals of the early church are full of mentions of strong female believers such as Lydia and Priscilla. John spent much of his life traveling, except for the time of his exile on the Island of Patmos. During those travels, John must have enjoyed hospitality from a number of Christian women. It is impossible that someone encouraging people to be loving would be so ungrateful as to ignore the women who had welcomed him into their homes. So, laying aside that concern, let’s look at this list. John wants to encourage believers at all levels without accidentally omitting anybody.
New believers: “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name.” “I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.” Our first step as believers must be to confess that we are sinners and that we cannot help ourselves and must trust Jesus Christ for salvation. Once we have taken that step, we are trusting God the Father to forgive our sins.
More advanced believers: “I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” “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.” As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of God, we find ourselves fighting many spiritual battles. Anybody who tells you that becoming a Christian solves all your problems is crazy! When I rededicated my life to Christ in 1978, I was haunted by recurring dreams in which I was on a dry and arid planet – perhaps Mars – and being pursued relentlessly by Satan with no hiding place. I had to learn to call on the Name of Jesus to stop the dreams and to gain deliverance. Although I had read the Bible through many times before that, the Bible became important to me in a new way; I NEEDED those verses to combat the evil that was rising up against me! But we must fight spiritual battles, for if we do not, our faith will remain weak and helpless.
Mature believers: “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning.” The interesting thing is that John later repeats this statement, as if to emphasize it. What does it mean to “know God?” I have friendships that have lasted since my primary school days. I not only know my friends, but I have also known their parents and grandparents. I was amazed not long ago to see a profile photo one of my friends posted. Why? Because as my childhood friend has aged, she now closely resembles her grandmother, a neighbor lady whom we all greatly loved. I love that photo because I never thought I would get to see that face again until heaven. Knowing God means that we know who He is, what He can do, and have sufficient experience with Him that we trust Him to act perfectly. Such knowledge only comes after years of experience with God; there is nothing instant about faith.
No matter where you stand in the community of faith, be encouraged that God sees your problems. God knows your concerns, and if you will trust Him, he will answer your prayers far abundantly above all that you can ask or think.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for loving us and for accepting us as your children. Help us to grow in our faith. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment