Beware Of The World Series

A Study of the Book of 1st John

“Back To the Basics”

Sermon # 5

“Beware of the World”

1 John 2:12-17

John has been talking about how one can know that they are saved. Having established that one is saved John begins to talk about progress in the faith or spiritual maturity. Far too many seem to think in terms of salvation as a goal. But salvation is not a destination it is the beginning of a lifetime journey. In fact the New Testament is full of the idea of progress. In Hebrews 6:1 (NLT) we read, “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” The Bible very clearly teaches that the goal of Christ’s coming is not merely to bring people to salvation but also to bring them into full maturity.

But sometimes when we compare ourselves with what we read of the spiritual maturity of those who have done get works for God, we feel almost despondent. We feel like the great Christian song writer Amy Carmichael when she wrote, “I feel that I shall never be like that. But (we forget that) they won through step by step by little acts of the will - little denials of self - little inward victories by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment…” [Amy Carmichael as quoted by: Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, (Dallas: Word Books Publisher, 1987) p. 130.]

John now turns his attention from tests to determine whether one is saved to encouragement to continue growing once we are saved. In verse twelve, John says, “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. (13) 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. (14) I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from gthe beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have over-come the wicked one. (15) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

There are three things that John wants to reinforce with his reader, there is some-thing to remember, something to resist and reasons to resist.

First, Remember To Grow (2:12-14)

“I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. (13) 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. (14) 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 over-come the wicked one.”

John begins by talking to three different groups of individuals; little children, young men and fathers. The question is; “Are these words directed to three age groups or is John talking about three stages of spiritual growth?” I believe that it is the latter. These categories have nothing to do with age or gender. It is possible for someone to be sixty or even seventy years of age and still be spiritually a child and it is possible for a female to be a “father” in the sense of being spiritually mature.

I believe that the three groups are: Spiritual Infancy – “little children” – (paidia) little child, refers to one who has just been born. It’s great to have spiritual children around, but we don’t want them to remain children. Our goal for children both physically and spiritually is for them to grow up. Here John says that all believers no matter where they are in their journey of spiritual growth have been forgiven of all their sins; Spiritual Adolescence – “young men” – This term is used in a generic sense meaning both young men and young ladies. John is speaking to those whose theology is pretty much in place and who have a mature love for the truth; Spiritual Maturity – “fathers” speaks of a level of maturity at which believers do not merely understand doctrine intellectually but they have come to know (ginosko) it from experience. These are believers who have been through the fire and come out still trusting in God’s goodness and grace.