1 John 2 (NASB)
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Growth is the evidence of life!
John, Cardinal Newman-Growth is the only evidence of life. There is either growth or decay. It is not possible for a living organism to be totally stagnant.
Think about it. You plant a seed, and it grows into a tree, You birth a child moms, and he or she grows without to much involvement on your part, into an adult, that’s life, that’s how it works! Where there is life, there is growth, where there is growth, there is life!
Physical growth is something that primarily happens naturally. Yes there is the feeding and nurturing aspect to it but basically it is a series or a cycle that mainly consists of 6 stages. They are simply; foetus, baby, child, adolescent, adult and old person. Let’s talk about each of these stages in detail.
Ovum period – First two weeks after fertilization
Embryo Period – Weeks 2 through 8
Fetus Period Weeks 9 through 40
Infancy period – Birth to the end of weaning which takes about 24-36 months
Early Childhood period - From 24-36 monts to 7 years
Later Childhood period -From 7 years to puberty
Adolescence period - From puberty to about age 20
Young Adulthood period-20 to 30
Middle age period – Lasts from roughly the mid-30s to the mid-60s.
Older adulthood period - That begins in the mid-60s and lasts until the end of life.
And this all happens kind of naturally, just like the seasons do spring, summer, fall, winter, they just come whether we like it or not!
When it comes to our spiritual life and growth, it doesn’t come quite as unconsciously and naturally:
1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, 3 for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? – BSB
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. - NIV
Ephesians 4:14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place.- CEV
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. -NIV
Anyway the title of my message to you this morning from the book of 1 John is..
The Stages of Spiritual Life According to 1 John.
My proposition to you this morning from this passage is this:
A study of The Stages of Spiritual Life set forth in 1 John 2:12-14 will inform us as to what they are, and will instruct us on how spiritual growth comes about!
Can’t assume it!
Job 32:9 The abundant in years may not be wise, Nor may elders understand justice.- NASB
You must pursue it!
Hebrews 6:1 Let us move onto maturity...
Let begin by considering:
I. The Concept of Stages to our Spiritual Life set forth by 1 John.
A) Classes - Three
1. Children
2. Father’s
3. Young men
B) Clarification:
1. Remember that although the scriptures are written with masculine pronouns; this applies to woman as well.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus.- NASB
C) Concept in scripture?
1. Threefold stages of growth?
Mark 4:3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.- ESV
2. Threefold degrees of reward
1 Peter 1: 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. -ESV
a) Each Christian will receive measure of praise from God!
1 Corinthians 4: 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. -NIV
b) Servants will be honored
John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.-NKJV
c) Shepherds crowned!
1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.- NIV
3. Threefold means of growth:
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,-NIV
a) Milk
John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.-ESV
b) Bread
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.-KJV
c) Meat
D) Call in this passage of 1 John?
1. Maturity!
Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. – NIV
Colossians 1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ- NIV
James 1:4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - NIV
2. Mature - The state or quality of being mature; ripeness; fully developed.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,-ESV
3. The goal of God for our spiritual lives is maturity!
II. The Comprehensive Stage of Spiritual Life set forth by 1 John?
A) Comprehensive – all inclusive stage
1 John 2:12a I am writing to you, little children, -NASB
1. Little children -te???a (teknia)
a) A new born, a little child, an infant.
b) My little children (teknion diminutive of teknon) is literally My "born ones"
2. John addresses ALL CHRISTIANS AS– LITTLE CHILDREN!
B) Clarification:
1. There are two different words John uses for children that will clear things up for us!
2. John does in his letter however, address all Christians as little children!
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;-NASB
1 John 2:28 Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming. ;-NASB
1 John 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; ;-NASB
1 John 3:18 Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. ;-NASB
1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ;-NASB
1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols. ;-NASB
3. Jesus referred to His disciples as little children!
John 13:33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” -NKJV
C) Cause for calling all Christians little children?
1. Apostolic authority?
a) Paul
1 Corinthians 4: 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. -NIV
2. Apostolic affection?
William Barclay - The first thing to note in this passage is the sheer affection in it. John begins with the address, "My little children." Both in Latin and in Greek diminutives carry a special affection. They are words which are used, as it were, with a caress. John is a very old man; he must be, in fact, the last survivor of his generation, maybe the last man alive who had walked and talked with Jesus in the days of his flesh. So often age gets out of sympathy with youth and acquires even an impatient irritableness with the new and laxer ways of the younger generation. But not John, in his old age he has nothing but tenderness for those who are his little children in the faith. He is writing to tell them that they must not sin but he does not scold. There is no cutting edge in his voice; he seeks to love them into goodness. In this opening address there is the yearning, affectionate tenderness of a pastor for people whom he has known for long in all their wayward foolishness and still loves.
Benson Commentary - It is a tender and affectionate appellation, denoting paternal authority, love, and concern, which, in the character of an apostle
D) Conversion!
1. WE MUST BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN - IN ORDER TO BECOME CHRISTIANS!
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.- KJV
Joseph Excell - Except ye be converted st?af?te); i.e. turned from proud, ambitious thoughts of worldly dignity. The conversion here spoken of is confined to a change in the present state of mind - to a new direction given to the thoughts and wishes. The apostles had shown rivalry, jealousy, ambition: they must turn away from such failings, and learn a different lesson. Become as little children.
a) Repentance
i. Repent -µeta???sate (metanoesate)
a. To think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider.
Luke 18:17 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." -NIV
b) Receive - d???ta? (dexetai)
i. To take, accept, welcome.
c) Faith - p?ste?? (pisteos)
i. Belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.
Joseph Excell - Christ points to little children as the model to which the members of his kingdom must assimilate themselves. The special attributes of children which he would recommend are humility, unworldliness, simplicity, teachableness, - the direct contraries of self-seeking, worldliness, distrust, conceit.
E) Characteristics of little children, ie. Christian’s?
1 John 2:12a I am writing to you, little children because your sins have been forgiven you…NASB
a) Basis of our Christianity!
i. It starts here - with the forgiveness of our sins!
ii. Foundation of our eternal life!
Matthew 1:20b “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”- NIV
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. - NIV
Act 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - NIV
Act 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. - NIV
Act 13:38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. - NIV
Act 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ - NIV
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace - NIV
John Phillips - That's where family life in the household of God begins—we are born into the family as little children, yet the most simple, basic, and elementary concept we have as children of God is that of forgiveness of sins.
b) Bottom-line of the gospel!
Romans 4:5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”-NIV
F) Covenant?
Hebrews 8:8b “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. -NIV
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”-NIV
Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more - NIV
Psalm 103: 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; - NIV
Colossians 2: 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross..-NIV
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! -NIV
Hebrews 7:27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.-ESV
Hebrews 9:26b he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. -ESV
Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.-ESV
1. Hebrews emphasizes the - “once for all” aspect of our forgiveness!
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven- NIV
2. Jesus said on the cross:
John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit -NIV
G) Confusion?
1. If it is finished, if all my sins are forgiven, then why must I continually confess my sins ?
1 John 1:6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. - NIV
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - NIV
a) Restoration of fellowship!
i. Fellowship -???????a -koinonia
a. Association, communion, joint participation, intercourse, intimacy.
Dr. Charlie Bing - We are forgiven judicially the moment we believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life ( justification). We are forgiven experientially when we confess subsequent sins to God on a moment by moment basis (1 John 1:9). If we do not confess our sins on an ongoing basis, we may hinder our experiential fellowship with God.
Meg Bucher - When we sin, our connection with God starts to cut out like a bad wifi signal. When we confess our sin, God, true to His promise to forgive and restore us, repairs the signal.
b) Repairs our relationship!
i. So a Child knows that their sin is forever forgiven.
c) Sound too good to be true?
H) Cause?
1. Basis for our ever flowing forgiveness?
1 John 2:12b on account of His name. -NASB
a) HIS NAME’S SAKE!
Psalm 25:11 For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. -NIV
Psalm 79:9 Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. -NIV
Psalm 23:3b He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. -NIV
Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. -NIV
Albert Barnes -The idea here is that God would do this on His own account, or for the honor of His own name. This is a reason, and one of the main reasons, why God ever pardons iniquity. It is that the honor of His name may be promoted; that His glorious character may be displayed; that he may show himself to the universe to be merciful and gracious.
H. Melvill, B. D.- Consider the comfort derivable from this great truth, that it is "for His name's sake" that God forgives sin. And we may here say, that since God forgives sin for His own sake, there is no room whatever for fear that our sins are too great to be pardoned. We may even go so far as to declare, that if it be always for the sake of His own name that God acts when pardoning iniquity, then the greater the iniquity the greater the reason why He should forgive!
I) Correct?
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? - ESV
J) Concept
1. Paul!
1 Timothy 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.-NIV
1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. -NIV
K) Confidence?
1. Assurance!!!
a) Can’t move forward in your spiritual growth if you are not assured of the forgiveness of your sins!!
Revelation 12: 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11a They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; -NIV
Hebrews 9: 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!-NIV
2. A CHRISTIAN SHOULD NEVER LOSE THE SENSE OF ASSURANCE, AWE, WONDER, APPRECIATION AND APPROPRIATION OF THE FACT THAT THEIR SINS ARE ETERNALLY, FULLY, FINALLY FORGIVEN!
l) Construction (of stages):
1. WE DON’T LEAVE ONE STAGE, RATHER ONE STAGE BUILDS UPON ANOTHER!
III. The Classifications or Stages of Spiritual Life set forth by 1 John
A) Comprehensive
1 John 2:12a I am writing to you, little children, -NASB
1. Little children -te???a (teknia)
a) A new born, a little child, an infant.
b) My little children (teknion diminutive of teknon) is literally My "born ones"
i. I will always be a child in the sense that I will always be a child of my parents.
ii. We will always be because we are born of God – children of God!
c) Johannine term:
John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. -NIV
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. -NIV
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. -NIV
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. -NIV
1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. -NIV
1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. -NIV
B) Classification -#1:
1. Children -pa?d?a (paidia)
a) Strong's Greek 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.
b) One that is in training, being disciplined still growing.
c) One that is still under parental instruction!
2. Characteristic?
1 John 2:13b I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.-NASB
a) Know the Father
i. Essence of eternal life.
John 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3a And this is eternal life, that they know you-ESV
J. I. Packer - Knowing God- “You sum up the whole of New Testament teaching in a single phrase, if you speak of it as a revelation of the Fatherhood of the holy Creator. In the same way, you sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, it means that he does not understand Christianity very well at all.”
Galatians 4:6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” -NIV
Wayne Barber -One of the beautiful things about my children—and they are in their 30’s—when they call me and they are hurting—that’s not beautiful—but when they call me they say “daddy,” they always say daddy. If they aren’t hurting it’s “dad,” and that’s more respectful and that’s more adult. But when you’re hurting you cry out for daddy, you cry out for daddy. And that’s what you have in the relationship.
ii. Jesus did!
Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”-NIV
B) Classification - 2?
1 John 2:13a I am writing to you, fathers, -NASB
1. Fathers?
C) Confusing?
1. Shouldn’t he go from childhood, to young adulthood, to fatherhood?
a) Sensible sequence?
b) There may be a sensible reason for it which I will point out:
D) Characteristic of a father?
1 John 2:13b because you know Him who has been from the beginning. -NASB
E) Concept?
1. Father figures out the - Eternality of God!
a) His Personhood
b) His Plan
c) His Purposes
1. Abraham the father of us all:
Romans 4:16b Abraham. He is the father of us all.-NIV
b) Called on a God who is Eternal!
Genesis 21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.
2. Moses a friend of God:
Exodus 33:11a The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
a) Called God:
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’ -NIV
Psalm 90 (NIV)
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3. David, a man after God’s own heart related to God, as an Eternal God!
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. -NIV
4. Paul the apostle saw the Christian life in the light of eternity:
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Co 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
5. Peter preached the Eternality of God!
Acts 2: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.-NIV
Acts 2:23 This Man’s destiny was prearranged, for God knew that Jesus would be handed over to you to be crucified and that you would execute him on a cross by the hands of lawless men. Yet it was all part of his predetermined plan.-TPT
1 Peter 1: 18 For you know that your lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes, 19 but the precious blood of Christ—who like a spotless, unblemished lamb was sacrificed for us. 20 This was part of God’s plan, for he was chosen and destined for this before the foundation of the earth was laid, but he has been made manifest in these last days for you.-TPT
6. Point is – A Father knows, relates to, walks with, understands, and complies to, and is in fellowship with a God who from the beginning, a God who is working out and His eternal plans and purposes with meticulous detail!
a) The will, ways, plans and purposes of the Eternal God is not a mystery to a Father!
Ephesians 1:9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. -NIV
b) He understands
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
c) His life is not one of worry but worship!
i. He is familiar with and trust the character of God!
7. Also a Father reproduces himself!
a) Father - pat?? -pater
i. A pro-generator or male ancestor
b) A Father is a soul-winner and a discipler
1 Corinthians 4:15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. -NIV
c) A Father models for others a consistent, victorious Christian life!
1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. -NIV
F) Confusion?
1. Why did John jump from a child to a father, a finished product?
IV. The Catalyst for going from one Stage to another as it is set forth by 1 John
A) Catalyst?
1 John 2:13b I have written to you, young men, -NASB
a) Can be found in plumbing the depths of:
B) Classification?
1. Young men -?ea??s??? (neaniskoi)
a) A young man, youth, an attendant, a servant.
C) Characteristic?
1 John 2:14b because you are strong,-NASB
1. Strong -?s????? (ischyroi)
a) Mighty, powerful, vehement, sure, forcible, firm, sure.
2. Strong –?s?????- ischyros
a) Strong's Lexicon G2478 – ischyros - One who has strength of soul to sustain the attacks of Satan, one who is strong and therefore exhibiting many excellences
1 John 2:13b I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one -NASB
3. Overcomers-????? - nikao
a) To conquer
b) To carry off the victory, come off victorious
c) To be victorious over all His foes
d) To hold fast to your faith even unto death against the power of our foes, temptations and persecutions!
D) Concern?
1. WE ARE CALLED TO BE OVERCOMERS!!
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God- NKJV
2. WE MUST BE OVERCOMERS!!!
Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”?-NKJV
Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”? -NKJV
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”? -NKJV
Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—-NKJV
Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. -NKJV
Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. -NKJV
Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. -NKJV
Revelation 21:7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. -NKJV
a) OVERCOMING IS NOT OPTIONAL!!!!
E) Composition?
1. Fatherhood is a composite of all three stages
2. But Fatherhood is not a right of passage!
3. To enter Fatherhood – YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE YOUNG MEN STAGE VICTORIOUSLY
4, YOU MUST OVERCOME, IE, VICTORIOSLY WAR, AND FIGHT FOR IT!!
E) Channel, means, agency through which this comes?
1. THE WORD OF GOD ABIDING IN YOU!
1 John 2:14c the word of God remains(abides, lives) in you, and (result) you have overcome the evil one.-NASB
Guy King - Here is one of the big secrets for the development of moral muscle and spiritual sinew. All big Christians have been Bible Christians; all who have been greatly blessed to others have been themselves steeped in the Scriptures!
Acts 18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. -NASB
Guy King -He was able, with eloquence, and with fervent enthusiasm, to teach and help many. Such a grasp of the Bible is not to be acquired easily, or quickly; to begin the day with the, sometimes hurried, reading of the day's portion is not enough . That is good so far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. Time must be found, and stuck to, for a regular weekly period of real study so that gradually as we begin to grasp the Bible, and the Bible begins to grasp us!.
F) Call?
Colossians 3:16a Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things]-AMPC
Hebrews 5 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.- KJV
1. Call is not only to let the Word inform you
2. Call is to let the Word transform you
3. To let the Word incarnate in youl
Grant Richison - The word dwell means to keep house. We should live in the Word of God like we live in our homes. We are familiar with our home where all the closets are, where we have items stored. We must thoroughly acquaint ourselves with the Word. The Word should become so familiar to us that we know it like the back of our hand. The idea is to let the Word of God dwell inside and live at home in our lives.
Psalm 119: 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 I have treasured Your word in my heart,So that I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, Lord; Teach me Your statutes. -NASB
G) Call of a young man?
1. Combat!
Ephesians 6:1 0 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
a) To put on the whole armor means to believe in, and rely on all that Jesus has done for us, and to live it out in daily life!
b) It means to live out our salvation, to live it out in the power of everything that God has done for us in Christ, in every area of our life!
2. Soldier that stands!
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, _NASB
a) Swing’s the Sword!
i. Speaks the Word!
ii. The Sword is the only OFFENSIVE WEAPON there is!
Q: How did Jesus defeat the temptation of Satan?
A: By taking up the Sword of the Spirit – Speaking the Word of God!
Matthew 4 (ESV)
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
And “‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
H) Conflict look like?
2 Corinthians 11: 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. – NIV
1. Deception!
2 Corinthians 11: 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.-NIV
2 Corinthians 10: 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – NIV
2. Demolition!
a) Strongholds - ?????µ?t?? (ochyromaton)
i. A fortress, strong defense, a castle.
ii. A false idea fortified by satan!
b) Arguments- ???sµ??? (logismous)
i. Reasoning, thinking, computations
ii. Incorrect conclusions drawn
c) Pretension/Presumption -???µa (hypsoma)
i. Altitude, attitude, or barrier.
ii. Presumption – An assumption, an idea that is taken to be true, although it is not known for certain.
Matthew 4: 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” -ESV
3. Please note- The battle did not stop there!
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” -ESV
I) Cover this in 1 John 2:15-17
i. Lust of the flesh
ii. Lust of the eyes
iii. Pride of life
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.-ESV
V. Concluding thoughts on the Stages set forth by 1 John
A) No condemnation for the Christian – the little children!
Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus-NASB
1. The stage I am in has nothing to do with my standing before God!
Colossians 2 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10a and in Him you have been made complete -NASB
Romans 8:33 Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
The Message - Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way!
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.-NKJV
2. God loves the children, as much as He loves the young men and the fathers!
John 13:1 Now before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that His hour had come [and it was time] for Him to leave this world and return to the Father. Having [greatly] loved His own who were in the world, He loved them [and continuously loves them with His perfect love] to the end (eternally).-AMP
B) Call to growth is for God’s glory, our good, the good of others!
1. Child?
a) Your sins are forgiven, and you know God as, “Abba.”
b) Growing?
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: - KJV "
2. Father?
a) You know Him who is from the beginning!
b) You understand His Eternality!
c) You understand that history is – His -Story!
d) You not only understand His plan – you understand your part!
e) You trust and know His Heart!
3. Young man?
Proverbs 20:29 The glory of a young man is his strength!
1 Timothy 6: 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.-NIV
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.- KJV
a) Children are more emotional
b) Young men are doctrinal
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,- NKJV
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. -NKJV
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.-NIV
