1 John 2:12-14
Have
you ever repeated yourself, said the same thing more than once, felt it was
necessary to emphasize something by saying it again? Parents often end up
telling their children the same things multiple times daily! I wonder what
would happen in we got in the habit of telling our teenagers one time, and then
letting the consequences of not obeying come down on them. I think they would
probably learn to listen more intently.
When
older people tell us the same stories repeatedly we wonder if their memory is
intact. Sometimes it is a way for them to stay connected to themselves and the
world they know while living in a world in which so much is changing. The
stories help anchor them to reality.
We
too often don’t repeat ourselves enough when we talk up the positive in our
relationships, especially our marriage relationships. We need to express
appreciation much more than we do. We could us a bit more repetition.
Our
text today has some of this encouraging repetition. He wants to emphasize that
they, his readers, have accepted the message, are living in the light and are
being obedient through love. He has painted a pretty stark picture of the
dividing line between Jesus-followers and others. Jesus-followers have benefits
of the relationship. Non-Jesus-followers don’t have those benefits.
As
you read you might think John is addressing three groups of people, children,
fathers and young men. But he is in fact only addressing two. When John uses
the word “children” he is speaking of the whole congregation of believers. We
know this because everywhere in 1 John it is used when speaking to the whole
group (2:1, 2:28, 3:7, 3:18, 4:4, & 5:21). He then addresses two subgroups.
We don’t know if physical age or spiritual maturity is referenced.
So
what does he say to the whole congregation? He tells them that they are
forgiven and that they have a personal knowledge of the Father. Forgiveness is
the starting point of our spiritual journey. It marks the beginning of the
restoration of relationship. And this restoration is made possible for you by
our good friends at the Cross Foundation, the life poured out people. The
reason we can have forgiveness is due entirely to what Jesus did.
Then
John addresses two groups of people. We don’t know if he is pointing at
chronological age or spiritual maturity when he addresses fathers and young
men. Both would make sense. The fathers, those who are physically older, might
well have been personal witnesses to Jesus life and ministry. That is why John
can say they know Jesus, the one who is from the beginning.
But
maturity would fit as well, since we all can know Jesus through the power of
the Holy Spirit. And this is one of the distinctions of the Christian faith. We
can know the LORD. Not just
intellectual ascent. We don’t just memorize facts. We can know Him in a
personal, experiential way.
As
for the young men, they are addressed because they have used the Word in their
battle against Satanic forces. They either didn’t witness Jesus’ life and
ministry personally, or they came to know Christ in a time of persecution, thus
needing to master the offensive weapons of the Word and prayer. They overcame the evil one. This is something
that happened in the past and it is still true in the present. They won the
battle and maintained the captured territory. They haven’t fallen back into old
sinful behavior.
Have
we won the battle through the tools He has provided? Do we use the Word and
prayer to defeat Satan’s attacks and our fleshly desires? Do we remain strong
in Him?