Children, Fathers and Young Men

1 John 2v12-14

1^st May 2020

1 John 2:12-14
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

As we saw last week, although John writes to"children", "young men" and "fathers", he's not excluding young women or mothers. He just uses male terms and trusts us to understand that the male includes the female.

This is a very stylistic passage. It's almost poetry. I think John wrote it this way so that it would be memorable. He makes it different from the rest of the letter, so it stands out, so it makes us think. I don't think John is making any profound theological point with the style; he's just grabbing our attention in a poetic sort of way so we really go deep into the Word.

John addresses three categories of Christian person: baby Christians, mature Christians and young adult Christians. He addresses them twice each. Sometimes he says different things, and sometimes says the same things. He's teaching us about Christian maturity.

Considered from a worldly perspective, we can say that a baby can only drink milk. You can offer a two-year-old child steak and chips, but he can't eat it. A young adult has grown up, has put on some muscles and done some study, and he wants to achieve stuff. He goes into the world and makes a living, and makes a name for himself. He might be a little arrogant, but at least he's achieving something. An old person is supposed to me a mature person, but not all old people are mature. Fir a mature person, ego doesn't matter very much any more. Even achievement doesn't matter much. What matters most is peace and quiet.

But how do we apply this to Christians?

To baby Christians John writes: "I write to you because your sins have been forgiven you on account of Jesus' name". About the first thing a young Christian learns is that his sins have been forgiven. Glory to God! You're included amongst God's Holy people! You're adopted as his child! You're filled with his Holy Spirit! You're guaranteed destiny in heaven for all eternity because your sins have been forgiven! I hope we never lose our sense of joy and gratitude.

John says "I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning." The basic mark of the mature saint is that he knows God really well. He's studied the Scriptures. He's prayed. He's worshipped. He's suffered. He's served. He's sacrificed. He's forgiven those who have sinned against him. He's communed with God in the breaking of bread. He's walked with God for decades. He's learnt to pray, not just daily but more or less all the time. He knows his Bible. But most of all, he knows God.

The most important thing for a mature saint is his relationship with God. Church matters. Mission matters. The well-being of our brothers and sisters in Christ matters. But what really matters to the mature Christian is his relationship with God. He's still willing to do stuff, still trying to help. He still prays for the younger Christians rushing around trying to achieve stuff. But he really want to get back in prayer with Jesus and enjoy His company again. He wants to read God's Holy Word, not to prepare a sermon but just because Father wrote it. He wants to know God.

And then John says: "I write to you, young men, because you've overcome the evil one". Young men are not just on the milk diet (Hebrews 5v12-14). They can eat steak and drink wine. They can do all sorts of things they couldn't do when they were young. They've put on some spiritual muscles. They can achieve stuff for Jesus. They're no longer just taking, like a little baby who receives, receives, receives. A young Christian adult can make a difference. He can put in more than he takes out. He can give more than he receives. He can serve the church and the world, powerfully through the Holy Spirit. He's grown up enough that he can get out there and make things happen.

John says that what transitions you through your spiritual teenage years - from being a little child to being a grown adult who can make a difference - is victory over Satan. Are you a baby or are you a young adult in the Holy Spirit? It depends whether you have victory over Satan. What does that victory look like? We could say all sorts of things here. Here's a few:

You're not just saved; you know you're saved, and Satan can't talk you out of it.
You're committed to God, to his ways, to his church, and to his mission.
You're putting your sin to death. You've taken seriously the need to stop doing bad things and do good things.

There's a tussle in the hearts of Christians who are becoming young men in God. Are you really going to give up your old ways and your old attitudes? Are you really going to read the Bible, believe what it says, and obey it? Is there any major sin you haven't dealt with? If that case, you're still a baby. You haven't overcome the evil one.

So, may I ask you to consider, is there any significant sin you're not dealing with? None of us lives a sinless life, but have you by and large put to death the sinful actions and inactions in your heart and in your life? In which case, congratulations, you are a young adult in the Holy Spirit. You're not a baby any more. We no longer need to change your spiritual nappies for you on a regular basis.

And then John begins again.

He says, "I write to you, dear children, because you have known the father". Every Christian has some relationship with heavenly Father. Almost every baby has some relationship with his mother. He doesn't know much about what she likes and dislikes, but he knows where the milk comes from. He knows who's likely to change him when he needs it. He knows that if he screams enough, she'll come running. In the same way, although baby Christians don't really understand Father yet, they at least know this: He is our Father. This is the second great revelation of the Christian religion:

your sins are forgiven,
God truly is your Father.

Some of us have had good fathers and some of us have had bad fathers, but you've got the perfect Father. and every baby Christian knows that, although not as well as they will know it as they mature.

Then John says, "I write to you, fathers, because you've known him who is from the beginning", which is exactly the same thing that he said last time. He says it twice because the most important thing about being a mature Christian is your relationship with heavenly Father. Have you reached that stage where you don't care very much what you look like? Where you don't care very much if you get criticised? Where you're just as happy if somebody else is the centre of attention? Are you secure in who you are as one of God's people? Is what really matters now whatever Father wants. Or do you still worry about what others might say? Mature Christians have a good solid, lasting, secure, passionate, rich relationship with God.

And then John says, "I write to you, young men, because you are strong". In the flesh, that's fairly obvious. Both babies and old people know that young men are much stronger than they are. But in the Spirit, the parallel breaks down a bit, because mature saints are stronger than young ones. We're strong in the Holy Spirit, strong in God, not in our own strength. Part of becoming an adult Christian is realising that all our strength comes from Him and not from ourselves. Paul, one of the great mature saints of history said, "when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12v10).

Adult Christians have some strength in the Holy Spirit. They have the ability to achieve stuff. They can stand still when the pressures come, and not run away. They have stickability. Baby Christians lack stickability. Adult Christians don't. Adult Christians are in church week after week. They pray day after day. They study night after night. They don't get pushed around, because they're strong.

John also tells young Christian adults that "the word of God lives in you". A major transition between baby Christians and adult Christians is that the Word of God is more active, creative, and restorative in adult Christians. Have you reached the stage when Scriptures come to your mind and you know it's God saying, "Go this way, go that way, stop doing this, don't worry about that, I've got it sorted"? The Word of God, which you've learnt through Bible study, is speaking to you, leading you, correcting you and nurturing you. You're not a baby any more, you're an adult Christian.

And then John repeats, "and you have overcome the evil one", because it's important. An adult Christian doesn't listen to the evil one. He's learnt to ignore what satan tells him. When the devil says, "Oh, go on, a little bit of sin won't hurt. You deserve it. You've been good for so long, and that person was so rotten to you, you need a bit of comfort", an adult Christian doesn't listen. When the devil says, "Isn't that person a stinker? Why don't you be horrible to him? Go and shout at him. Complain about him behind his back" adult Christians don't listen. They do the right thing regardless of the pressure.

God inspired these words because He loves you, because He's your Father, because He wants you to mature, to become strong, to overcome the evil one, and to know Him deeply. Whatever happens, whatever anyone says, He will be always love you. Sometimes He'll correct you, because He loves you. But you are His precious child. Perhaps you're still a baby in Christ. Perhaps you're one of his fighting fit young men and women. Perhaps you're one if his aged, wise, mature, contemplative, prayerful fathers and mothers in God. You are loved.