Auburn SDA Church
Why John Wrote
  • Holy God, We Praise Your Name

      • 1 John 2.12-13NKJV

      • 1 John 2.14NKJV

  • One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and then yelled "Hey Dad!" I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk. When I found my voice again I gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???"
    He responded with remarkable calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt because I could be trusted. Isn't this even more true for a Christian?
    Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, Word Books Publisher, 1987, pp. 46-47.

    Little Children

    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    Epistle is written to
    little children:
    9 times!
    1 John 2:1 ESV
    My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    … I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    1 John 2:18 ESV
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
    1 John 2:28 ESV
    And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
    1 John 3:7 ESV
    Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
    1 John 3:18 ESV
    Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
    1 John 4:4 ESV
    Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
    1 John 5:21 ESV
    Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
    It appears that
    “little children”
    is his general audience.
    He also refers to
    the readers of epistle
    as “beloved”
    5 times.

    τέκνον

    The word τέκνον
    is children.
    John uses slightly
    different word here:

    τεκνίον

    What is the difference?
    it is the diminutive
    form of the word.
    Duck vs. Duckling
    Cat vs. Kitty
    Dog vs. Doggy
    Spanish
    Libro (book) -> librito (small book).
    mesa (table) -> mesita (small table).
    Mamá (mom) -> mamita (mommy).
    abuela (grandma) -> abuelita (dear grandma)
    What lesson can be
    learned from John’s choice
    to call all of us little Children?
    Here we sense the
    affection in voice
    of John the Elder
    speaking to us.
    That is why some versions
    translate τεκνίον as:
    “Dear Children.”
    Your Sins Are Forgiven
    What does he say about
    the "little children”
    (us)
    in verse 12?
    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    What applies to
    all believers,
    regardless of age?
    sins are forgiven...
    This is perfect tense.
    A Handbook on the First Letter of John 1 John 2:12

    The perfect tense indicates a situation in the present that is the result of an event or act in the past.

    We are currently
    living an experience of
    something that has
    already been accomplished.
    Our sins
    are forgiven...
    because they
    have been forgiven...
    Paul has many
    famous lines.
    One that he repeats frequently
    is the phrase:
    “Once for all”.
    Hebrews 10:10 ESV
    And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    Romans 6:10 ESV
    For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
    Hebrews 7:27 ESV
    He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily... since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
    What Christ has done
    does not need to be
    accomplished again.
    The merits of the cross
    continue in perpetuity
    for any who believe.
    You Know the Father
    Each group is given
    two commendations.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    First,
    they are encouraged
    for having their sins forgiven.
    Now they are commended
    for knowing the Father.
    John could have
    said that the Children
    are commended for
    knowing Jesus.
    But I believe that
    the metaphor continues
    best in this manner.
    Who do the
    little children know?
    They know the Father.
    John continues
    this theme of
    affection
    intimacy.
    Little Children
    know their daddy.
    Do you see God
    as an affectionate Daddy?
    Or as,
    a stern disciplinarian?
    Many people struggle
    to see God
    any differently than
    they same their
    earthly father.
    If your dad was
    affectionate and loving
    You see God that way.
    If your dad was
    mostly firm and unaffectionate
    you see God that way.
    Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.
    Silas Shotwell, in Homemade, September, 1987. 
    As Fathers,
    we must be both
    firm disciplinarian
    caring daddy.
    25% - 50% of all Americans Homes
    Have no Father present!
    Inner Cities - 80%!
    Largest in the world!
    The impact of Fathers
    on our children is staggering.
    Poverty: Children in father-absent homes are 4 times more likely to live in poverty.
    Education: Children without fathers are 71% of high school dropouts.
    Behavioral/Crime: Studies show 85% of youth in prison and 90% of homeless/runaway children are from fatherless homes.
    Health: Fatherless children are twice as likely to suffer from mental health and behavioral problems, and twice as likely to commit suicide.
    Teen Pregnancy: Girls are four times more likely to get pregnant as teenagers.
    There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
    Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, p. 13.
    Fathers have been
    drastically underappreciated
    in our society.
    Every TV show
    dad is an idiot.
    mom is witty.
    Men, you are needed.
    Men, You are valued.
    Men listen to me...
    We can solve half of
    all society’s problems
    by being present leaders
    God called us to be!
    If you have no kids
    in your home.
    Find some kids
    without a dad.
    You are desperately needed.
    A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father--a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, "The Law of Trusts." "Do you remember your father?" asked the magistrate. "I remember him well, your honor," came the reply. Then trying to probe the offender's conscience, the judge said, "As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?" There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. "I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, 'Run along, boy; I'm busy!' When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying "Run along, son; this book must be finished!' Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend." The magistrate muttered to himself, "Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!"
    Homemade, February, 1989.
    To our kids
    we somehow model
    the picture of God
    they grow up with.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    Men,
    Let’s be
    balanced fathers.
    Mothers,
    let us be
    what God
    called us to be.
    It is different than you
    That's good!
    We compliment each other.

    Fathers

    Speaking of Fathers...
    John addresses them
    directly now.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    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.
    This does suggest
    two groups of people.
    older vs. younger
    mature vs. immature
    leaders vs. disciples
    Young men = everyone else.
    How does John
    commend the Fathers?
    He says:
    “you know Him.”
    Same as children?
    In fact,
    I mentioned that
    each group of people
    Little children
    Fathers
    Young Men
    commended twice.
    The second commendations
    toward the fathers
    says the same thing:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning...
    Exact same commendation.
    We have already
    talked about this word
    “to know”
    γινώσκω
    in previous sermons.
    It means to know
    someone or something
    in a personal way.
    In a experiential way.
    The fathers
    (and mothers)
    of the body...
    (patriarchs and matriarchs)
    know God experientially.
    Like a couple
    that has been married
    for 50 years.
    Husband and wife can
    finish each other’s sentences.
    This reminds me of
    Philippians 3:8 ESV
    Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
    To know Christ is
    all that matters
    in this life.
    Sacrifice anything that
    stands in the way.
    God is calling
    for more spiritual fathers.
    1 Corinthians 4:15 ESV
    For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
    One startling bit of research conducted by the Christian Business Men's Committee found the following: When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent.
    Keith Meyering, Discipleship Journal, issue #49, p. 41.
    Back to key passage.
    What about Young Men?

    Young Men

    1 John 2:13 ESV
    … I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one...
    For what does God
    commend the young men?
    Because they
    “overcome the evil one.”
    This concept struck me.
    For some reason
    in my mind,
    I thought he would have
    spoken about the Fathers
    as the overcomers...
    I imagined the young men
    just learning and trying
    but not overcoming until
    they are experienced “Fathers.”
    Not so,
    according to the passage.
    In fact,
    the verb tense
    helps imply clarity.
    Once again,
    the verb is in the
    perfect tense.
    The perfect tense indicates
    a situation in the present
    that is the result of
    an event or act in the past.
    Notice the wording
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    you have overcome

    The meaning is clear.
    Overcoming the evil one
    is not a future experience.
    Not: “you will overcome the evil one.”
    John says clearly:
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    “you have overcome the evil one”

    It is not even simply
    a present experience.
    It is something that
    has already happened
    and continues to happen!
    What an amazing
    gift God is given
    even to those who
    are young in faith!
    Though it may be true
    that sanctification is
    the work of a lifetime.
    This passage seems to
    also indicate that
    victory in Christ
    can also be a
    present experience.
    To me,
    this is a huge promise
    waiting to be claimed!
    The next verse
    seems to bear
    reiterate and explain
    this passage.
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    ... 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.
    Once again,
    John addresses young men.
    Once again,
    they are affirmed for
    having overcome the evil one.
    But John adds
    two more commendations:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    ... because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you...
    Here John explains
    how the young men
    experience victory
    over the evil one.
    Firstly,
    They were strong.
    This spiritual strength
    reminds me of
    God commanding Joshua
    to be courageous:
    Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
    Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
    Joshua was about to
    got to war in Canaan.
    The Young Men
    in this christian walk
    know that they
    are at battle.
    To all of us
    but especially the young
    (young in faith)
    Be strong!
    Fight for God!
    It is interesting that
    the verb tense of
    overcoming is perfect
    but the verb tense
    of being strong
    and abiding in the Word
    are present tense.
    In Greek,
    the present tense denotes
    ongoing or continuous action happening now
    Example:
    "I am losing."
    You could rewrite
    the verse to say:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    I write to you, young men, because you are [staying] strong, and the word of God [continuously] abides in you, and you [have been overcoming] the evil one.
    The Young men
    have overcome
    and continue to overcome.
    Why?
    Because they do
    two things continuously:
    stay strong
    continuously abide in the word
    Do you want victory
    over Satan
    brothers and sisters?
    Here is the power
    be strong
    allow the word to abide in you.
    John talks
    frequently about
    this idea of
    abiding with the word.
    1 John 2:24 ESV
    Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
    John 8:31 ESV
    So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
    2 John 9 ESV
    Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
    Jesus says,
    speaking of Jewish leaders:
    John 5:38 ESV
    and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
    John is going back to
    His major theme
    in this book.
    Being a Christian
    is not about
    intellectual knowledge.
    If you know the teachings
    but they don’t
    “abide in you”
    it is not enough.
    How is it that teachings
    of God’s word can
    “abide in us”?
    I believe there is
    any easy way to tell.
    A few days ago
    I woke early to
    Spend time in God’s Word.
    Raluca kept interrupting
    my devotional time.
    I became very rude
    asking her to
    please say what she wants
    and stop talking...
    Clearly,
    I missed the purpose of
    devotional time
    with my God.
    If God’s word
    abides in us
    then it changes us
    and we become
    more like Him.

    Appeal

    Experience forgiveness of sins.
    Know the Father.
    Know the one who is from the beginning.
    Be an overcomer.
    Stay Strong.
    Allow God’s word to abide in you.

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • 1 John 2:1NKJV

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:18NKJV

      • 1 John 2:28NKJV

      • 1 John 3:7NKJV

      • 1 John 3:18NKJV

      • 1 John 4:4NKJV

      • 1 John 5:21NKJV

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • Hebrews 10:10NKJV

      • Romans 6:10NKJV

      • Hebrews 7:27NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • Philippians 3:8NKJV

      • 1 Corinthians 4:15NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • Deuteronomy 31:6NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • 1 John 2:24NKJV

      • John 8:31NKJV

      • 2 John 9NKJV

      • John 5:38NKJV

  • In the Heart of Jesus
  • I Will Sing of Jesus' Love
  • How Great Thou Art
  • Rejoice, the Lord Is King!
  • Holy God, We Praise Your Name

      • 1 John 2.12-13NKJV

      • 1 John 2.14NKJV

  • One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and then yelled "Hey Dad!" I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk. When I found my voice again I gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???"
    He responded with remarkable calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt because I could be trusted. Isn't this even more true for a Christian?
    Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, Word Books Publisher, 1987, pp. 46-47.

    Little Children

    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    Epistle is written to
    little children:
    9 times!
    1 John 2:1 ESV
    My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    … I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    1 John 2:18 ESV
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
    1 John 2:28 ESV
    And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
    1 John 3:7 ESV
    Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
    1 John 3:18 ESV
    Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
    1 John 4:4 ESV
    Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
    1 John 5:21 ESV
    Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
    It appears that
    “little children”
    is his general audience.
    He also refers to
    the readers of epistle
    as “beloved”
    5 times.

    τέκνον

    The word τέκνον
    is children.
    John uses slightly
    different word here:

    τεκνίον

    What is the difference?
    it is the diminutive
    form of the word.
    Duck vs. Duckling
    Cat vs. Kitty
    Dog vs. Doggy
    Spanish
    Libro (book) -> librito (small book).
    mesa (table) -> mesita (small table).
    Mamá (mom) -> mamita (mommy).
    abuela (grandma) -> abuelita (dear grandma)
    What lesson can be
    learned from John’s choice
    to call all of us little Children?
    Here we sense the
    affection in voice
    of John the Elder
    speaking to us.
    That is why some versions
    translate τεκνίον as:
    “Dear Children.”
    Your Sins Are Forgiven
    What does he say about
    the "little children”
    (us)
    in verse 12?
    1 John 2:12 ESV
    I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
    What applies to
    all believers,
    regardless of age?
    sins are forgiven...
    This is perfect tense.
    A Handbook on the First Letter of John 1 John 2:12

    The perfect tense indicates a situation in the present that is the result of an event or act in the past.

    We are currently
    living an experience of
    something that has
    already been accomplished.
    Our sins
    are forgiven...
    because they
    have been forgiven...
    Paul has many
    famous lines.
    One that he repeats frequently
    is the phrase:
    “Once for all”.
    Hebrews 10:10 ESV
    And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    Romans 6:10 ESV
    For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
    Hebrews 7:27 ESV
    He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily... since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
    What Christ has done
    does not need to be
    accomplished again.
    The merits of the cross
    continue in perpetuity
    for any who believe.
    You Know the Father
    Each group is given
    two commendations.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    First,
    they are encouraged
    for having their sins forgiven.
    Now they are commended
    for knowing the Father.
    John could have
    said that the Children
    are commended for
    knowing Jesus.
    But I believe that
    the metaphor continues
    best in this manner.
    Who do the
    little children know?
    They know the Father.
    John continues
    this theme of
    affection
    intimacy.
    Little Children
    know their daddy.
    Do you see God
    as an affectionate Daddy?
    Or as,
    a stern disciplinarian?
    Many people struggle
    to see God
    any differently than
    they same their
    earthly father.
    If your dad was
    affectionate and loving
    You see God that way.
    If your dad was
    mostly firm and unaffectionate
    you see God that way.
    Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly.
    Silas Shotwell, in Homemade, September, 1987. 
    As Fathers,
    we must be both
    firm disciplinarian
    caring daddy.
    25% - 50% of all Americans Homes
    Have no Father present!
    Inner Cities - 80%!
    Largest in the world!
    The impact of Fathers
    on our children is staggering.
    Poverty: Children in father-absent homes are 4 times more likely to live in poverty.
    Education: Children without fathers are 71% of high school dropouts.
    Behavioral/Crime: Studies show 85% of youth in prison and 90% of homeless/runaway children are from fatherless homes.
    Health: Fatherless children are twice as likely to suffer from mental health and behavioral problems, and twice as likely to commit suicide.
    Teen Pregnancy: Girls are four times more likely to get pregnant as teenagers.
    There's a Spanish story of a father and son who had become estranged. The son ran away, and the father set off to find him. He searched for months to no avail. Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper. The ad read: Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father. On Saturday 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers.
    Bits & Pieces, October 15, 1992, p. 13.
    Fathers have been
    drastically underappreciated
    in our society.
    Every TV show
    dad is an idiot.
    mom is witty.
    Men, you are needed.
    Men, You are valued.
    Men listen to me...
    We can solve half of
    all society’s problems
    by being present leaders
    God called us to be!
    If you have no kids
    in your home.
    Find some kids
    without a dad.
    You are desperately needed.
    A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father--a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, "The Law of Trusts." "Do you remember your father?" asked the magistrate. "I remember him well, your honor," came the reply. Then trying to probe the offender's conscience, the judge said, "As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?" There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. "I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, 'Run along, boy; I'm busy!' When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying "Run along, son; this book must be finished!' Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend." The magistrate muttered to himself, "Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!"
    Homemade, February, 1989.
    To our kids
    we somehow model
    the picture of God
    they grow up with.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
    Men,
    Let’s be
    balanced fathers.
    Mothers,
    let us be
    what God
    called us to be.
    It is different than you
    That's good!
    We compliment each other.

    Fathers

    Speaking of Fathers...
    John addresses them
    directly now.
    1 John 2:13 ESV
    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.
    This does suggest
    two groups of people.
    older vs. younger
    mature vs. immature
    leaders vs. disciples
    Young men = everyone else.
    How does John
    commend the Fathers?
    He says:
    “you know Him.”
    Same as children?
    In fact,
    I mentioned that
    each group of people
    Little children
    Fathers
    Young Men
    commended twice.
    The second commendations
    toward the fathers
    says the same thing:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning...
    Exact same commendation.
    We have already
    talked about this word
    “to know”
    γινώσκω
    in previous sermons.
    It means to know
    someone or something
    in a personal way.
    In a experiential way.
    The fathers
    (and mothers)
    of the body...
    (patriarchs and matriarchs)
    know God experientially.
    Like a couple
    that has been married
    for 50 years.
    Husband and wife can
    finish each other’s sentences.
    This reminds me of
    Philippians 3:8 ESV
    Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
    To know Christ is
    all that matters
    in this life.
    Sacrifice anything that
    stands in the way.
    God is calling
    for more spiritual fathers.
    1 Corinthians 4:15 ESV
    For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
    One startling bit of research conducted by the Christian Business Men's Committee found the following: When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent.
    Keith Meyering, Discipleship Journal, issue #49, p. 41.
    Back to key passage.
    What about Young Men?

    Young Men

    1 John 2:13 ESV
    … I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one...
    For what does God
    commend the young men?
    Because they
    “overcome the evil one.”
    This concept struck me.
    For some reason
    in my mind,
    I thought he would have
    spoken about the Fathers
    as the overcomers...
    I imagined the young men
    just learning and trying
    but not overcoming until
    they are experienced “Fathers.”
    Not so,
    according to the passage.
    In fact,
    the verb tense
    helps imply clarity.
    Once again,
    the verb is in the
    perfect tense.
    The perfect tense indicates
    a situation in the present
    that is the result of
    an event or act in the past.
    Notice the wording
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    you have overcome

    The meaning is clear.
    Overcoming the evil one
    is not a future experience.
    Not: “you will overcome the evil one.”
    John says clearly:
    English Standard Version Chapter 2

    “you have overcome the evil one”

    It is not even simply
    a present experience.
    It is something that
    has already happened
    and continues to happen!
    What an amazing
    gift God is given
    even to those who
    are young in faith!
    Though it may be true
    that sanctification is
    the work of a lifetime.
    This passage seems to
    also indicate that
    victory in Christ
    can also be a
    present experience.
    To me,
    this is a huge promise
    waiting to be claimed!
    The next verse
    seems to bear
    reiterate and explain
    this passage.
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    ... 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.
    Once again,
    John addresses young men.
    Once again,
    they are affirmed for
    having overcome the evil one.
    But John adds
    two more commendations:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    ... because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you...
    Here John explains
    how the young men
    experience victory
    over the evil one.
    Firstly,
    They were strong.
    This spiritual strength
    reminds me of
    God commanding Joshua
    to be courageous:
    Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
    Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
    Joshua was about to
    got to war in Canaan.
    The Young Men
    in this christian walk
    know that they
    are at battle.
    To all of us
    but especially the young
    (young in faith)
    Be strong!
    Fight for God!
    It is interesting that
    the verb tense of
    overcoming is perfect
    but the verb tense
    of being strong
    and abiding in the Word
    are present tense.
    In Greek,
    the present tense denotes
    ongoing or continuous action happening now
    Example:
    "I am losing."
    You could rewrite
    the verse to say:
    1 John 2:14 ESV
    I write to you, young men, because you are [staying] strong, and the word of God [continuously] abides in you, and you [have been overcoming] the evil one.
    The Young men
    have overcome
    and continue to overcome.
    Why?
    Because they do
    two things continuously:
    stay strong
    continuously abide in the word
    Do you want victory
    over Satan
    brothers and sisters?
    Here is the power
    be strong
    allow the word to abide in you.
    John talks
    frequently about
    this idea of
    abiding with the word.
    1 John 2:24 ESV
    Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
    John 8:31 ESV
    So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
    2 John 9 ESV
    Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
    Jesus says,
    speaking of Jewish leaders:
    John 5:38 ESV
    and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
    John is going back to
    His major theme
    in this book.
    Being a Christian
    is not about
    intellectual knowledge.
    If you know the teachings
    but they don’t
    “abide in you”
    it is not enough.
    How is it that teachings
    of God’s word can
    “abide in us”?
    I believe there is
    any easy way to tell.
    A few days ago
    I woke early to
    Spend time in God’s Word.
    Raluca kept interrupting
    my devotional time.
    I became very rude
    asking her to
    please say what she wants
    and stop talking...
    Clearly,
    I missed the purpose of
    devotional time
    with my God.
    If God’s word
    abides in us
    then it changes us
    and we become
    more like Him.

    Appeal

    Experience forgiveness of sins.
    Know the Father.
    Know the one who is from the beginning.
    Be an overcomer.
    Stay Strong.
    Allow God’s word to abide in you.

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • 1 John 2:1NKJV

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:18NKJV

      • 1 John 2:28NKJV

      • 1 John 3:7NKJV

      • 1 John 3:18NKJV

      • 1 John 4:4NKJV

      • 1 John 5:21NKJV

      • 1 John 2:12NKJV

      • Hebrews 10:10NKJV

      • Romans 6:10NKJV

      • Hebrews 7:27NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • Philippians 3:8NKJV

      • 1 Corinthians 4:15NKJV

      • 1 John 2:13NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • Deuteronomy 31:6NKJV

      • 1 John 2:14NKJV

      • 1 John 2:24NKJV

      • John 8:31NKJV

      • 2 John 9NKJV

      • John 5:38NKJV

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Auburn SDA Church
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