MESSAGE – GOD’S GROWTH SCALE ? LITTLE CHILDREN TO FATHERS 1John 2:12-14
Let us have a look at just three verses this morning. They are written by John when he was about 96 years old to the Christians of his time, but they are just as important for us today. In fact, God’s truth is eternal so relevance is just normal for God.
1John 2 v 12 "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 1John 2:13 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. 1John 2:14 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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."
In one way, John comes to the reason for his letter. He uses “I am writing” three times and then “I have written” three times. He is writing to them because of their standing in Christ. This is an important passage we are looking at. Seducers were trying to lead them astray, for we read in {{1John 2 v 26 “I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”}} I found it distressing on my trip through the Pacific Islands in 2013, from Australia to Hawaii, to see the proliferation of cults, and so many false teachers who were making ground in these simple island nations. On my previous journey through, four years earlier, there were not so many.
The spread of cults is being done with American money, huge amounts when compared with the simple means of the Pacific islanders. It is a great travesty, a shame to the cause of Christ. It might be best that I don’t name those cults (in written form here for posting) but they are three of the major ones and I think any decent Christian might be able to guess successfully.
I was a bit surprised to find there is a great deal of discussion among commentators as to exactly what John meant by “children, fathers and young men.” The great Expositor F B Meyer says, “According to the true construction of the sentences, the readers addressed fall into two groups. In each group, first all Christians are addressed as “little children”, and after that, a special message is given to the older and the younger members of the church.” Some point out that the term “little children” is an inclusive term John uses like “sheep”, and they mention {{John 21 v 5 - ESV [Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”].}}
Matthew Henry puts it this way – “As Christians have their peculiar states, so they have peculiar duties. The youngest, sincere disciple is pardoned - the communion of saints is attended with the forgiveness of sins. Those of the longest standing in Christ's school need further advice and instruction. Even fathers must be written unto, and preached unto. None are too old to learn. But especially young men in Christ Jesus, though they are arrived at strength of spirit and sound sense, and have successfully resisted first trials and temptations, breaking off bad habits and connections, and entered in at the straight gate of true conversion.”
Anyway, two weeks ago I got a message from the Lord on these verses that I felt was for you, and it does not matter what the commentators think. I will speak and put down what I was given.
There are 4 classes mentioned in the verses and we all fit into one of those classes unless you have never invited the Lord into your life as your Saviour. Those classes are children, little children, fathers, and young men. John makes a comment for each class and then repeats some comments except for the group “little children”. What is he saying here?
[A]. LITTLE CHILDREN
Verse 12. Little children are told their sins have been forgiven. They are forgiven for His name’s sake, which we will mention shortly. The forgiveness of sins is the basis for the Christian life and is the first experience in a walk with God, a walk in the Light, as John points out often in this letter. When we start with God we are little children, “little faith children”, just taking our first step. Peter speaks of new born babes desiring the milk of the word. These babes are the little children John addresses, just starting out in the faith.
What does he want them to know? That their sins have been forgiven. That is so important, and the word we use is “assurance”. Assurance overcomes doubt. Doubt is unsettling. Assurance gives confidence, and confidence gives hope. If God leads us to bring someone to the Saviour, DO NOT bypass conviction of sins and repentance. Too many speak of making a decision for Christ – a spurious gospel of “just come to Jesus” - but omit the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction and repentance. This is a counterfeit gospel. It is an evil one, for it eliminates the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement to come; and it places salvation on the plane of human decision-making.
If salvation is done properly through the steps of conviction and repentance, then it is really vital the young Christian is given the armour of assurance, because he will be instantly attacked by the evil one to doubt the step he has taken. Never lessen the importance of assurance in any Christian life, especially regarding a young Christian. If you leave them without assurance, you leave them vulnerable.
Not only forgiven, but forgiven for Christ's sake. “His name’s sake” means for the sake of His name, and no other Name has been given under heaven whereby we all must be saved. Everyone saved, has been saved through Calvary; and, for the sake of the Saviour’s Name, the Father forgives us our sins. Christ's Name is supreme in the universe, and for that reason, he who blasphemes that Name, by taking the Lord’s Name in vain, has a severe judgement. In our verse, what it is inferring, is that the Father forgives our sins, because sins’ penalty was paid for at the cross. It is somewhat parallel to the verse that says, {{(2Corinthians 5 v 21) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”}}
[B]. FATHERS
We have just looked at the beginning Christian. Now in verse 13, it is fathers who are addressed, then young men. We will look at fathers just now. What does a father mean in this verse? In a way, it is self-explanatory. John says, “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.” The word “beginning” is the key word. It means they have progressed way beyond the “little children” of verse 12, into a spiritual maturity. As the word “father” denotes physical maturity in normal usage, then in this passage, it too, should denote spiritual maturity. Alas, the churches are full of mature infants! Mature in the physical sense, but infants in Christ. It’s like asking some of them, how long have you been feeding from the bottle. Answer, “20 years”, “30 years”. Never grown up in the Christian life. Not spiritual fathers, but spiritual infants! That is a disgrace in our churches, but the churches are full of people like that. I can give you the reasons, but not in this message. We are not saved to be spoonfed all our lives; we are to strive for maturity in Christ.
How do we do that? Physical maturity comes about through food and exercise. Our spiritual food is the bible. Don’t just listen to others speaking about the bible. Peter says, {{1Peter 2 v 2 “like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”}} Peter writes to those he desires to become mature in Christ, but we must not miss what he wrote in the verse before that one – {{1Peter 2 v 1 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,”}} and that must come first and if it doesn’t, then verse 2 does not work. Paul wrote to Timothy – {{2Timothy 2 v 15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”}} Too many are too lazy to do that. Study and read the bible for yourselves. It is distressing to see, week after week, in most churches, especially the bigger ones, people who come for an hour on Sunday, and listen to some neutral message, hardly relating to the Christian faith, then go home and have nothing to do with the bible until someone reads from it the following Sunday at church.
What have we come to? The early Christians risked their lives to be wholly sold out in their desire to grow into spiritually mature Christians. Through the ages, men and women were executed and burnt because they tried to put the bible into the hands of the ordinary people. Now that we have the bible freely among us, men and women neglect it, and as a result, they flip around in the shallows of spirituality, like a fish in a draining pond. It is a disgrace, and ministers in churches are accountable. I would challenge all of you to make special effort to make the word of God your top priority in your lives, for it will teach you of the Saviour; of God’s will and plan for you; and build you up in your most holy faith into full maturity in Jesus Christ.
The fathers John addresses here, are the Christians who have passed way beyond infancy, mature Christian men and women (“fathers” is inclusive in understanding). John explains why he is writing to the fathers, “because you know Him”. Life’s walk has been with Jesus walking beside them, as He did on the Emmaus Road. They know the Lord. Not just know something of Him, but actually KNOW Him as life’s companion. “All the way my Saviour leads me”. Little children look forward; fathers look back. Through life’s joys, trials, and circumstances, the Lord has been faithful, and now in spiritual maturity, they can acknowledge that. Isn’t it wonderful when we can look back and see how God has kept us, and grown us into Christ. Yes! There have been times we have wandered off the track, or the world may have hammered us, but the Shepherd of the sheep chased after us and restored us. This is why John writes the way he does. He confirms this fact of their maturity. It is a challenge to us to fight the good faith, and build ourselves up in our most holy faith. There is no excuse whatever for an under-developed Christian, one spiritually starved, even as it is in many churches in Christendom, for God’s command is this {{2Timothy 2 v 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.}} This word “diligent” means to make every effort, to hasten, to be zealous, applying oneself fervently in commitment. Are you doing that?
There is something extra in this address to fathers. John says “because you have known Him from the beginning”. What does he mean by beginning? John starts his gospel with “In the beginning” and this focuses on the eternal age in the past, but here I don’t think he means that. I think he means “from the beginning of your Christian life”, that is, from the start when they were the “little children” he speaks of in verse 12. In plain language, “Fathers, you have known Him who has been from the beginning of your Christian lives.” Of course, the truth of both beginnings is true. Like this - “Fathers, you have known Him who is the Eternal Son from the beginning of all time, and the One who has walked with you from the beginning of your Christian walk in the current time”. And let me say, He will be known to us in all eternity to come. Let us all be mature, and strive for more and more maturity in the time allowed us. Don’t squander your opportunity
[C]. YOUNG MEN
John now speaks to the young men. These are the ones who are growing and are heading to full strength. It is always a delight to see young Christians who are developing maturity in the walk with the Lord. Truly these are the days when we need Christians with the strength of young men. Australia is a post-Christian country, and has become more and more anti-Christian, dramatically so in the last few years. We need men and women of strength who will stand up and overcome the evil one. Overcoming is victory. We must be victors, and Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this when he told them to put on the whole armour of God. Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God, prayer, and being alert with perseverance are all the necessary items that must be connected with our persons.
May we all be mature and strive in developing maturity. It does not happen from breathing the air or from some special endowment. I mentioned earlier how maturity grows. I won’t repeat that. If I could leave just one thing with you, “”grow up into Christ””. Time is short. The days are closing. The finishing line approaches. Let us not to be found as sleepers in the kingdom of God. Dark days are times for the gospel light to shine with increased vigour.
[D]. CHILDREN At the end of verse 13, John writes to the children. I think these represent those who can walk and run and who have developed an understanding of the faith. That is really good. You don’t get fruit until you first have the flower; you don’t get the flower until you have the bud, and before the bud, there must be the branch, and before that, the trunk or stem must first grow from the seed. We all begin our Christian lives as seeds. However we see then, that Christians are all over the place in growing with the Lord. Some are just growing the trunk, others, branches, others, buds and flowers, and others, fruit. Be fruitful for the Lord. Let us not be slack; not lazy, or like those who live in the past with some blessing from the past, who tell you stories from the past, and have no present blessing from God or walk with God. As we draw to a close, we look at verse 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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
There is some repetition here, and when the Bible repeats, then it is to be noted very carefully, for God is placing emphasis on it. Fathers are reminded again they have known God from the beginning, the God who has been faithful all through their lives. However in speaking to younger men: John adds two more things. Firstly he says they are strong. It is fantastic to know we have strong Christians, strong in the power of God. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Again, take the whole armour of God. Secondly John says the word of God abides in them and this is the fundamental secret of a walk with God. The Bible must be paramount, of the greatest importance. We must know it, read it, study it, and it will grow us. Be great students of the word, for the word will make you great men and women for God. It is nothing magical. It is working to build yourselves up into Christ. (This was delivered in January). As we stand at the beginning of a new year, I don’t believe in resolutions, but let us determine to take the whole armour of God on us, especially the sword of the Spirit.
In these days we must contend for the faith as never before in our lifetime. The Christian faith is under such attack everywhere, that it may well happen that what we are now doing and believe, may be deemed illegal in the not too distant future. We must not be soft on false teaching or dismissive of error, or of people with ambition for control and ruination of churches. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
I don’t know if any among us can be counted as children, beginning Christians, just starting out on the walk of faith, but many have the maturity of fathers that John talks of, and the strength of young men in working for Jesus. May I encourage you in the Lord to be strong and to keep strong for His name’s sake.
A SPECIAL WORD
I think I would be writing here (after the message) to three groups. The first would be committed Christians who are surrendered to the Lord. The second would be Christians who are failing in their walk because of tragedy, laziness, worldliness, or selfishness. The third group are those who have not been saved.
For the second group, recommit your lives to the Lord for the time is short. For the third group, once the Church is taken away in the Rapture, horrible times will be coming on earth. You need to be saved. Jesus is our Deliverer from the wrath to come and you need to be saved, to be delivered. Accept the Lord today as your own Saviour.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
