“I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
“I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
“I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
“I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
“I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known 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 wicked one.” (1 John 2:12-14 NKJV)
This interesting passage from 1 John is given to three very distinct groups of people: Little children, Fathers, and Young men.
We know by reading through John’s writings that he often refers to his readership as “little children” or “my little children.” We also know that there were many young people in his readership, as well as fathers. But many in the Early church believed that these three groups of people may represent the three stages in Christian growth:
Little Children = Babes in Christ;
Young Men = Those growing in the Lord
Fathers = Mature Christians
With this perspective, this thought-provoking passage has an important lesson to teach us. Let’s look at what John says to each group:
1. Little Children: “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake…because you have known the Father.”
John is commending the babes in Christ and reminding them of what is most important:
• Salvation
• Relationship with God.
In other words, what new believers need most is an intimate knowledge that their sins are forgiven and they are saved, and they need to begin working on a relationship with God!
Notice that John doesn’t talk about renouncing sin. He doesn’t talk about witnessing or about changing lifestyles or any of the other things that we so often tend to throw on people who are new in the Lord. His emphasis is on the basics: Salvation and relationship!
Perhaps it would be wise for us to remember this as we shepherd new believers in Christ. Once they are sure of their salvation and begin a relationship with God, God will be the One to guide them into all truth. Through that relationship, their growing love for the Father will lead them to the renouncing of sin, to witnessing, and to changing their lifestyles.
This life-changing work is God’s work, not ours. Sometimes I think we may need to just get out of the way!
2. Young Men: “I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one…Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you; And you have overcome the wicked one.”
As we begin to mature in Christ, we are commended at a different level:
• To be strong in the Lord
• To get into God’s Word and let it get into us
• To overcome the wicked one.
And this should be our emphasis as we work with people who are at this stage: They need encouragement to stand strong. They need encouragement to get into the Word of God and let it get into them. And they need to be encouraged to overcome the wicked one!
Of note is the fact that John mentions overcoming the wicked one twice. When something is repeated like this in God’s Word, it is because God is truly trying to get our attention. In other words, after a person is sure of their salvation and has begun a relationship with Him, then God says: “Now about those sins, it’s time to get rid of them. They are hindering our relationship!”
3. Fathers: “I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.” “I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.”
This is the final stage of growth: Fathers in Christ. In calling this group “fathers,” we could imply that producing spiritual children is vital at this stage, and that mentoring them in the Lord is of utmost significant. Yet this isn’t what John emphasizes. He emphasizes one point only, and he makes it twice: “Because you have known Him who is from the beginning!”
Friends, the most important thing for any Christian is knowing the Father! It’s having that close relationship with Him!
It is interesting that throughout this entire passage, doctrine isn’t mentioned a single time. Neither is the version of the Bible that we read or our interpretation of prophecy. Instead, it all hinges on relationship. From the baby stage, through the young men stage, and into the father stage, it’s all about knowing the Father.
Why? Because this is the basis of everything. It’s not a bunch of rules, it’s not about changing ones lifestyle or witnessing or mentoring or specific church beliefs. It’s about knowing the Father! Get to know the strong, firm love of the Father, and everything else will fall into place!
Want to show someone that their lifestyle hinders their walk with Christ? Show them the Father.
Want to help someone understand that the beliefs they grew up with may not be biblical? Show them the Father.
Want to encourage someone to witness? Show them the Father.
Do you want to grow in your own Christian life? Get to know the Father!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.