The Church And The World Series

Scripture

False teachers were spreading heresy about knowing God. In his First Letter, John wrote to encourage the church regarding their assurance of salvation. John had been coming down hard on the false teachers. He had also given clear tests about how one could be sure that one has fellowship with God. Then, it seems that John realized that he needed to encourage believers in the church about their walk with God, and also to give them a command about the world.

Let’s read about the church and the world in 1 John 2:12-17:

12 I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

13 I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

14 I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil 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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:12-17)

Introduction

In the past few years, I have been reading biographies of military and political leaders. I am currently reading the biography of Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885). He was the Commanding General of the Union Army that was victorious over the Confederate Army in 1865. In 1869, Ulysses S. Grant became the 18th President of the United States and served until 1877.

During the Civil War, several armies were fighting in different locations. To be successful, the Commanding General had to deploy his various armies to the places where they were most needed to achieve victory. One of General Grant’s great strengths was the clarity of his aural and written commands. Grant’s biographer repeatedly notes that his statements were never ambiguous. They gave his officers clear instructions about what was to be done.

As I consider John’s letters, I am reminded that John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives similarly clear instructions. John knows that there is a great battle between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. He knows that God has deployed his church throughout the world and that we are engaged in a battle that will ultimately result in defeat for the kingdom of Satan and victory for the kingdom of God.

At this point in his First Letter, John wants to reassure the church and to give a clear command regarding the world.

Lesson

First John 2:12-17 teaches us about the church and the world.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Encouragements to the Church (2:12-14)

2. Enjoinders about the World (2:15-17)

I. Encouragements to the Church (2:12-14)

First, let’s look at encouragements to the church.

John’s encouragements are given to the church in verses 12-14. Commentators differ on several issues regarding these verses. However, regardless of how one resolves the differences, the final result is essentially the same. So, I don’t think too much should be made about the differences.

First, in verses 12-14, John addresses children, young men, and fathers. Since he is writing to the church, I take these to be spiritual categories and not simply natural categories.

Second, another question commentators wrestle with is whether John is writing to one, two, or three groups. This is where the differences all seem to produce a similar result. For my part, I am going to suggest that there are three groups.

And third, John changes the tense of “I write.” In the first three instances, he uses the present tense (“I am writing”), and in the second three instances, he uses the aorist tense (“I write”). I am inclined to view the aorist tense as what is known as an “epistolary aorist.” The New International Version takes this view by translating all six instances as “I write.”

Having addressed some of the differences that commentators have with these verses, let us turn our attention to them. John wants to encourage the church by reminding them of their relationship with God. He addresses each of the three groups in the church in terms of their spiritual maturity.

A. Spiritual Children Are in the Family (2:12, 13c)

First, we learn that spiritual children are in the family.

John writes in verse 12, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.” He also writes in verse 13c, “I write to you, children, because you know the Father.” We need to keep in mind that John is an old man, perhaps in his nineties when he wrote this letter. “Little children” is one of John’s favorite expressions for his beloved flock. He also uses it in 2:1, 2:28, 3:7, 4:4, and 5:21. John is not using the term so much in terms of their age but rather in terms of their spiritual maturity.