1 John 2:12-14

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

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 write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John seems to give us an interlude where he takes a break from his teachings about the two tests of genuine faith: obedience and love and addresses the church about stages of Christian maturity.  Just as in physical growth, there are stages of spiritual growth.  Unfortunately, there are believers who seem to be stuck in spiritual infancy.  By God’s grace there are believers who mature very rapidly.  Time is a factor in spiritual maturity but it is not a guarantee that maturity will occur.  

CHILDREN IN THE FAITH EXPERIENCE FORGIVENESS: The greatest need that every person has is forgiveness.  Our sin condemns us before a just and holy God.  We have no ability to save ourselves or to deserve forgiveness.  The means by which we are born into the family of God is by forgiveness through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  John writes to these new believers who have just entered the church and experienced forgiveness.  They have trusted Christ and through Jesus now know the Father.  Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and does that by taking our sin upon Himself.

PARENTS IN THE FAITH EXPERIENCE INTIMACY: John writes to the mature believers in the church and highlights their knowledge of the Him who is from the beginning.  This is likely a reference to Christ or the Trinity as a whole.  Maturity in the faith comes through increasing knowledge of God.  We will grow in our knowledge of Him for eternity.  His glory, wisdom, greatness, and holiness are limitless.  Our maturity as believers will be proportionate to our knowledge of God.  While this does take time, it also takes intentionality in the disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers.  Time is not a guarantee of maturity, but it is a necessary component.

YOUTH IN THE FAITH EXPERIENCEY VICTORY: Between infancy and maturity in faith there is the youth phase that involves victory over sin.  Our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ.  However, freedom from our sin is a process through which believers must grow.  Forgiveness is the result of salvation.  Freedom is the result of sanctification.  The Spirit of God empowers us to overcome temptation and the evil one who seeks to destroy and deceive.  The strength for this victory comes from the Spirit of God and the abiding power of the Word of God in our lives.  We can fight off the lies of Satan with the truths of Scripture and the presence of the Spirit.  The path from forgiveness to intimacy is marked by victory over sin.

APPLICATION: Rejoice and be thankful for the forgiveness of sin that we have in Christ.  Grow in intimacy with God through the knowledge of Him by prayer, study of the Bible, and relationships with other believers.  Strive for victory over sin in dependence on the Spirit of God and abiding in the Word of God. 

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