1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13: I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14: I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Introduction

In the verses we read this morning, the apostle John uses three designations in addressing his readers, namely, fathers, young men, and little children. Bible commentators agree that John is not referring to physical age but spiritual development. As John Stott says, “God’s family, like every human family has members of different maturity.” Two Sundays ago, we saw that one of the great blessings of being made part of the family of God is the reality of forgiveness. We saw that all of God's children have been forgiven of their sins—past, present, and future and that God grants full and complete forgiveness to believers, not because of their work or own worthiness or merit, but for His name’s sake. Now, although God's children have been fully forgiven, not all of God’s children are of the same spiritual development. Some are infant in their faith, others young men or young women in the faith, and others are fathers or mothers in the faith. As I have promised, we are going to look at these three groups today. And as we look at each group, I want us to see the message that John has for all Christians regarding these three stages in spiritual life.

I - Little Children

1 John 2:13c ... I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Who are the little children?

If you remember, last time I pointed out that there are two Greek words that John uses for little children, namely, “teknia” and “paidia.” In verse twelve, John uses the word “teknia,” which is a general title for all believers. It’s a term used for all the children of God regardless of their age and their spiritual growth. The second word that he uses is in verse thirteen, the Greek word “paidia.” In this verse John is referring to those who are infants in the faith. Those who are new Christians. Those who have just been saved. They are considered babes in Christ, not in a negative sense, but just a way of identifying them as those who have just come to the Lord. They are new in their faith and new in their walk with the Lord. They are young in experience, and in need of training and discipline. They are of need guidance from the young men and from the fathers.

What does John say about the little children? 

What does he say about those who are young in the Lord?

1 John 2:13c ... I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Here, John reminds the little children that they have known the Father. The little children know that they have a relationship with the Father. This is another one of the basic things we come to know when we become a Christian, we have a heavenly Father. A person may not have an earthly father or may have come from a broken family, but having been brought into faith, God has put His Spirit in our hearts whereby we cry Abba, Father. As with the forgiveness of sins, so knowing God as your Father is foundational to your Christian walk. In his classic book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer wrote, “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”

As God’s children, we need to be encouraged by the fact that we have come to know the Father. The word “know” here speaks of experiential knowledge, not simply a head knowledge. The children know the Father in a personal way through Jesus Christ. Christians, mature and immature, have come to know the Father. But their knowledge of Him should grow and deepen with the years. Also, understand that not everyone has the right and privilege to address God as “Father,” for not everyone is a child of God. Only those who have become members of His family through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has the right to call God as “Father.” John explains in John 1:12, that “as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power [right] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”

From the earliest stage of our Christian life, we should know and understand that God has become our heavenly Father. He loves us and cares for us far greater than any earthly father ever could. As John will go on to say in 1 John 3:1a, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” Knowing that God has forgiven all your sins and that He is your Father are foundational to your Christian life. Never forget these precious truths!

II - Young Men

1 John 2:13b ... I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one... 14b: I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Who are the young men?

“Young men” doesn’t mean only the younger males in the congregation, but those who are young Christians, men and women, who have been saved for a while and who are growing in grace. They are not newborn babes in the faith but also not yet old in the faith. They are in the middle of their stage of life.  These are those who are making progress toward maturity.

Now what do we learn from these “young men?”

What does John say about the young men?

1 John 2:13b ... I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one... 14b: I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

What John says about the young men is that they have overcome the wicked one. Here, John refers to Satan as “the wicked one,” which is an accurate description of Satan. The term “the wicked one” clearly shows his nature as cruel, injurious, and destructive. It describes him as absolutely evil. Since his fall, Satan’s whole purpose of existence is pure evil and wickedness. His goal in life is to oppose God and all that is good, right, and true. His mission is to destroy mankind with doubt, confusion, and accusations. The weapon he uses is wicked deception and subtle lies. But John reminds the young men, that they have overcome the wicked one. Notice that John does not say the young men have overcome temptation, but they have overcome the “Tempter” himself.

The word “overcome” is in perfect tense, which indicates a past completed action with continuing effect. In other words, our victory over the wicked one is permanent. This does not mean that there is no more conflict, that the battle is over. No, it means that having encountered the enemy, we now stand as assured of victory. As Henry Alford rightly remarks, “Whatever conflict remains for them afterwards, is with a baffled and conquered enemy.” Satan is a defeated enemy. He was defeated by Jesus Christ on the cross.

While John was focusing on the young men and women in this section, understand that the truth that Satan has been overcome clearly applies to all believers.

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Every child of God can be assured of overcoming the enemy.

How did the young men overcome the wicked one? John, in verse 14, also describes the young men as strong. How were they made strong that they overcome the wicked one? John tells us, “the word of God abideth in you.” John connects the strength of the young men with their intake of the Word of God. Hiebert says it this way, “The source of their strength is not innate but has been imparted to them.” The way to overcome the evil one is not by physical strength, but spiritual strength. The way to develop moral and spiritual strength that will enable us to overcome the wicked one is to let the Word of God abide in us. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16).  In Ephesians 6:16, the apostle Paul exhorts us to take up the shield of faith to be able to quench or to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the wicked one. But remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ.

David understood this truth when he asked, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” How can a young man keep his way pure and not fall into sin? The answer is, “By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:9-11)

The Word of God, richly dwelling and abiding and residing in their hearts, together with the power of the Holy Spirit, is that which gives these young men victory over Satan and his temptations.

Our Lord says that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Spiritual strength that leads to victory over sin and temptation come from digesting the Word of God, by meditating on it day and night and treasuring it in your heart. It is only when you allow the Word of God to abide in you that you will overcome the wicked one’s subtle ways. Our Lord overcame the tempter, not just because He is the Son of God, but because He relied on and obeyed the Word of God.

III - Fathers

1 John 2:13a ... I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. ... 14a I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning...

Who are the fathers?

“Fathers” doesn’t mean those who are over 65 years old crowd in the church. No, the apostle John is addressing those who are spiritually mature in the faith. Those who have been saved and have known the Lord for a long time. They have the experience, they are mature, and they have been walking with the Lord for a long time. Van Gorder suggests that the term implies that they were “believers in Christ who themselves had grown in grace and had begotten children in the gospel.” So, these are those who have spent time with the Lord, reading His Word, serving in ministry, praying, seeking to bring others to Christ.

Now what can we learn from the fathers in the faith?

What does John say about the fathers?

Fathers have known Him that is from the beginning. Who is “Him” in this verse? God, but more specifically, Jesus Christ as indicated in ...

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Notice, in describing the “fathers,” John says, they “have known him that is from the beginning,” and he said this twice. He repeats the same exact words about the fathers. Why does John use repetition? John is a good and excellent teacher, and being a good and excellent teacher, he knows the value and effectiveness of repetition. In the mind of John, what he is saying to the fathers is very important that the must repeat them twice. As a good teacher, he used repetition to drive home truths that are foundational and crucial in the Christian life. I also strive to be a good teacher. Some people may criticize me for repeating myself many times, but I believe in these days where we are distracted with many things, and on top of that, we are prone to forget, repetition is necessary to drive home a very important point.

The apostle John describes the mature believers in the Lord, as those who have known the Lord Jesus Christ who has been from the beginning. The word “know” implies not just mere head or intellectual knowledge but an intimate, personal relationship between the fathers and the Lord Jesus Christ! Having walked and fellowship with the Lord for many years, they have grown into deep and intimate personal knowledge of Him by experience. There are many people who know facts about Jesus, but they do not have a real, personal relationship with Him. But the “fathers” that John was addressing, know Him that which was from the beginning by experience. They have a personal experience with Him. They have come into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

By the way, it is possible to have been a Christian for many years, and yet not be a father in the faith, that is, spiritually mature. Henry Ironside spoke about this, “There are many who have been saved a great many years but are spiritually dwarfed because they give so little attention to spiritual things. They give so little time to the Word of God, are so seldom exercised in holy things, and know so little of the blessedness of prayer and communion with the Lord, that they do not grow. But when the apostle spoke to the fathers, he was speaking to those who through long years have availed themselves of their Christian privileges, learned to love the Word of God, sought to walk with Christ, labored for the blessing of others, and learned experientially to know the blessed Lord in all His fullness. When John said, “Ye have known him [that is] from the beginning,” he did not mean, “Ye have known concerning him,” or “known about him,” but “ye have known him.” Spiritual fathers have lived in fellowship with Him, walked with Him, and talked with Him. He has become dearer and nearer and more real to them than any earthly friend.”

Oh, how we need more “fathers and mothers in the faith” in our churches today, who will guide and teach the little children in the faith and the young men and young women in the faith.

Closing Thoughts

If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Saviour, God says that your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake. He says that you have come to know Him as Father. He wants you to grow strong by abiding in His Word, in order for you to overcome the evil one. As you do, you will grow into a mature believer, and become a father in the faith, who knows Him who is from the beginning. There are stages of growth and development in the Christian life. Don’t be content with where you are at, but seek to grow. Daily strive to know the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ better and grow to maturity. “When you are young, you think you know so much more that you really do. When you are old, you realize how much you still do not know.” May this saying challenge us to make sure we listen and learn from those older in the faith than us. Let us be learning and ever learning from each other.

As John uses the family terms, little children, young men, and fathers, may it remind us that the church is a family and as a family, it is important that we work together to accomplish God’s purposes for us as His children. God’s plan for every child of God is to grow and develop into maturity; that we would all grow from little children to young men and women and then on to become fathers and mothers in the faith. Let the children in the faith learn from the young men and the fathers. Let young men be instructed and encouraged by the fathers. I don’t know where you are in the stage of Christian life, you may be an infant or a young man or young woman, or a father or mother in the faith, but no matter where you are at, remember what God has done in your life, and that you have a role to play in accomplishing the purposes of God in the church.

Let me speak to those who are not sure of their salvation. As I have said a while ago, there are many people who know facts about Jesus, but they do not have a real, personal relationship with Him. This begs the question dear friend; do you know Him or just know about Him? Your answer has implications not only in this life but in the life to come! Your answer to this all-important question will determine where you will spend eternity.

The great apostle Paul’s greatest desire and earnest prayer was for deep and intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Intimate knowledge of Jesus Chris starts with knowing Him as your Saviour. It starts with believing Him to be your Substitute, believing Him to be the One who suffered and died in your place. Have you put your faith in Him as your one and only Saviour? Oh, I pray today that you would call upon His name for forgiveness and salvation.

AMEN!