Tags

, ,

1 John 2:12-14 (NET) 12 I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one. 14 I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

———-

Context:

John has been providing challenging tests for those who say they have fellowship with the light/God:

Do you walk in the light?

Do you keep His commandments?

Do you love your fellow Christian?

Now John affirms believers of three different spiritual maturity groups: children, fathers, and young people.

Expositors’ Greek NT says…

The Apostle has been setting forth searching truths and is about to make an exacting claim; and here he pauses and with much tenderness reassures his readers: “I am not addressing you as unbelievers or casting doubt upon the sincerity of your faith. On the contrary, it is because I am assured thereof that I am writing this letter to you and wrote the Gospel which accompanies it”.

Phrases:

I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name-

• John affirms the new believers, which he calls little children. Through faith in Jesus their sins have been forgiven. He could also mean actual children based on age. Others believe when addressing children he means all the believers as mentioned in 2:1 and 2:18.

• ‘Because of His name’ is referring to Jesus mentioned earlier in v6 and v8. This shows that God saves through the name of His Son.

Discussion Question:

• What pitfalls usually characterize a new believer?

• Do you remember when you first trusted Christ for forgiveness? Do you remember your thoughts and feelings after trusting in Him?

I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning-

• John affirms fathers in the faith. It is evident that they know Jesus by their maturity in obedience and love as mentioned earlier.

• ‘Him that has been from the beginning’ is still referring to Jesus as mentioned above. This verse supports Jesus’ divinity.

• Micah 5:2 (NET) (5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah – from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.

• John 1:1-2 (NET) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning.

Discussion Questions:

• Can you name some pitfalls that may accompany those long in the faith.

• Can you name some fathers in the faith that you personally know? What good characteristics stand out to you?

I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one-

• John affirms those young people in the faith. Meaning those between children and fathers.

• ‘You have conquered the evil one means two things.

• First, their faith in Christ has given them victory over condemnation.

• Second, these believers are victorious over Satan’s many temptations of their flesh and faith. They are blameless. This does not mean they have never sinned or lost a battle to temptation, but means there is no sin in which they are continuously rebelling against God without repentance. Indeed, there may be sin that reoccurs, but they are continually repentant, and they are trusting in forgiveness through Jesus Christ. They have overcome the trying if their faith. When bad things happen, they persevere in trusting God and his plan instead of getting angry and forsaking Him.

Discussion Questions:

• Can you name some pitfalls related to those young in the faith.

• Can you name some young people that have overcome the evil one? How have they overcome?

I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father-

• Keener’s Bible Background Commentary says ..“I am writing” is probably not intended to convey a sense different from “I wrote”; it was common to vary style to make one’s writing more interesting. One could write “I have written” in a letter one was presently writing; grammarians call this convention an “epistolary aorist.”

• John again affirms the little children, but here he just calls them children.

• Before he said their sins are forgiven because of the name of Jesus, but now he affirms that they also know the Father.

I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning-

• John again affirms the fathers. He uses the exact same affirmation as earlier.

I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one-

• John again affirms the young people that they have conquered the evil one.

• But he affirms two new characteristics: they are strong, and the word of God abides in them.

• They are strong is not referring to their physical strength, although young people are stronger than children and elder fathers, but this means they are strong in grace which motivates them to use their strength for good works and resist evil.

• The ‘word of God abides’ in them is referring to Jesus. Though many believe it could also refer to scripture.

• 1 John 1:1 (NET) This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life –

• 1 John 4:4 (NET) You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

• John 1:1 (NET) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.

Discussion Question:

• Which maturity group do you see yourself?

• What roles do you see of those in each group?

• How do you see yourself doing or did do in your current or past maturity group? How do you see yourself being in your future maturity group?

————

Listening Prayer method – a method where you write what you think God would say to you after meditating and studying a Bible passage.

————-

How Old Are You?

Bob

Do you remember when you first came to believe in My Son? You were a child in the faith. You were forgiven, and you felt free. You felt ready that you could now die. You knew Me. You loved My Bible, and you absorbed it much. Many sins you immediately forsook.

Do you remember being a young man in the faith. You struggled with deeper seeded sins. You yielded to sin often, but you never gave up thinking and resisting. Then, your faith was tested like never before. As a child you had faith in My existence, but through this great trial you had to have faith in Me and in My plan for you. This was the defining moment of your faith. You even turned against Me briefly, yet I gave you good friends to help you through.

Now you are entering the father years. Your faith is stronger yet your body is starting to get weaker. You still know Me. Now, you have more wisdom and knowledge to disciple those I bring your way. Be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. Don’t get lazy and enjoy the world too much. Keep pursuing Me as you did as a child in your faith. Remember My great commission.