For The Church At War – Part 2
1 John 2:12-14 (13-14)
February 20, 2022
We started looking at this passage last time, and when I started studying it
I had every intention of covering the whole thing in one sitting,
But I was enamored with that marvelous statement in verse 12.
“I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.”
It is a remarkable thing to contemplate forgiveness
And it is certainly a wonderful thing to know why it was offered.
We rest in our forgiveness and in the security of that forgiveness
Because it is done for the glory of God.
But I realize in stopping at verse 12
That it left the idea of the passage hanging just a little.
I titled this text “For The Church At War”
And I told you that THE PURPOSE of these 3 verses is
To bring some encouragement to the soldiers
Who are currently caught in the middle of the struggle.
They are facing LIARS & DECEIVERS.
John has already called out several liars.
• One who says he has fellowship with God and yet walks in darkness.
• One who says he knows Christ but doesn’t obey Him.
John has exposed several who are deceived.
• Like those who say they have no sin
• Or those who say they have not sinned
• Or those who say they know Christ and yet hate their brother
There is clearly an evil infiltration that is occurring.
And we talked about last time how THIS IS DETRIMENTAL.
Any time the truth is distorted the casualties are many.
CERTAINLY IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE LOST
• Jesus came to forgive and save sinners.
• But if a man denies that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness then obviously he can’t be saved.
IT IS ALSO DETRIMENTAL TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE CHURCH.
• When the gospel is distorted then assurance is the casualty.
• If you don’t know that you are saved or why you are saved it is very difficult to enjoy the benefits of salvation.
AND IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE GLORY OF CHRIST.
• If you remove sin and forgiveness from the gospel you remove the glory of Christ.
• And salvation is for His name’s sake.
So John is on a mission to bring much needed clarity.
You are aware of the clarity that he has brought thus far.
It is so direct and black and white that it is impossible to miss.
John has drawn clear lines in the sand for evaluation.
• Do you deny your sin or do you confess it?
• Do you obey Christ or do you disobey Him?
• Do you love your brother or do you hate your brother?
These are really clear distinguishing marks
To determine if genuine salvation has occurred.
But as we said LAST TIME,
Such a direct letter seems to have motivated a question.
“Why are you writing like this to us John?”
• I mean, you really came out of the gate swinging.
• You’ve written some direct stuff regarding who is saved and who is not.
• You’ve written some direct stuff regarding what salvation is and what it is not.
WHY DID YOU WRITE THIS LETTER LIKE THIS JOHN?
That question is not mentioned, but it is answered.
In fact in verses 12-14 John uses the phrase 6 times.
“I am writing to you…because”
It’s as though John has said, “I hope you don’t think this is strange that I would write such a direct letter to you, there is a reason.”
Now last time we looked at the first two reasons.
#1 CORPORATE ASSURANCE
1 John 2:12a
John said one of the reasons that I am writing to you is because
I want all of you, who are in the Lord, to know that you are forgiven.
When these deceivers come in a blur up the lines
It runs the risk of robbing genuinely saved people of their assurance.
I wrote to clarify what salvation is and what it is not.
I wrote to clarify who is saved and who is not.
And I did that because I want those who are saved to know it.
Sometimes the temptation is to leave the lines of salvation a bit blurry.
• You take a man who lives in sin…
• You take a man who doesn’t obey Christ…
• You take a man who hates his brother…
But you say, “Well, I wouldn’t say that you’re lost…”
You may think you’re being compassionate when you do that.
But in reality what you are doing is fueling his false assurance.
AND you are confusing those who are saved.
John wanted to set the record straight.
• He wanted those who are saved to know they are saved.
• He wanted those who have been forgiven to know they have been forgiven.
You’ll also remember, I told you that verse 12 is for all the redeemed.
• I told you that “little children” in verse 12
• And “children” in verse 13 is two different groups.
• It is even two different Greek words.
We are all those “little children” who have been forgiven.
John is being direct to help us see that.
We also looked at the second reason that John has been so direct.
#2 CLARIFIED WORSHIP
1 John 2:12b
John wanted the redeemed to know they are forgiven
And he wanted them to know why.
It is “for His name’s sake.”
We have to be clear about the truth of the gospel and salvation
• Not only for the sake of the lost man who must be convicted,
• Not only for the redeemed man who should be comforted,
• But also for the sake of Christ who must be glorified.
And so John says the reason I’m writing to you is because
I want Christ to be glorified for forgiving you.
BUT THIS MORNING WE MOVE ON
To the third reason for John’s bold and direct writing.
Corporate Assurance, Clarified Worship
#3 CALM CHILDREN
1 John 2:13-14
This is really an interesting couple of verses.
• Granted, when you first read them you can come away wondering what in the world John is talking about.
But once we do understand it, his point is very reassuring.
John is seeking to encourage various people in the church
In regard to their relationship with God
And in regard to their role in this war which is being fought.
Every soldier in battle needs encouragement.
Every soldier in battle needs to know his role.
JOHN IS CLARIFYING THAT.
Now, what you clearly see as we read these two verses is that John identifies 3 types of people.
• We see “fathers”
• We see “young men”
• We see “children”
FIRST you should understand that we are NOT speaking here in a physical sense, but in a spiritual one.
As many have pointed out, these can be clearly categorized as levels of spiritual maturity.
• “fathers” would be the most mature.
• “young men” would be the next level down.
• “children” would be new converts or those whose faith has never grown.
And so you also then understand that
• “fathers” is NOT a term limited only to men, it can also be a reference spiritually to mature women of faith.
• Likewise “young men” is NOT limited just to young males, but can also be a reference to those women who are at this level, and really it is believers of any age.
This is a spiritual analogy, not a physical one.
He is using figurative language to make a point.
Now, in that let’s discuss for a moment these 3 levels that John brings up.
1) THE SUSCEPTIBLE
These would be the “children”
These would be those whom we would call “babes in Christ”
Now there is some Biblical precedent for this also being those who have been saved and never grown or matured.
FOR EXAMPLE we have the writer of Hebrews:
Hebrews 5:11-14 “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”
We have Paul to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,”
So there is a precedent for saying that “children” here
Could be those who have for some reason refused to grow spiritually.
But I don’t think John is here seeking to rebuke lazy believers.
John’s point is to encourage and therefore it seems obvious
That he is merely referencing new believers.
AND THERE IS NO REBUKE FROM JOHN HERE TO THEM
John is referring to those who have recently been saved.
John references them at the end of verse 13
And says, “I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.”
This is a wonderful reality.
These are babes in Christ.
These are the newly converted.
• They don’t have a handle on deep theology.
• They can’t debate the truths of Christianity.
• They aren’t real sure about many things in the ministry.
But they are sure of one thing.
They “know the Father”
Think about an actual infant or child.
• A 2 year old child doesn’t know what his dad does for a living.
• That child doesn’t understand what his dad does all day.
• That child doesn’t really even know a lot about his dad.
• He doesn’t know about his passions or much about his abilities.
• He doesn’t know what makes his dad tick.
• He still has a lot to learn about his dad’s likes and dislikes.
Really and truly a 2 year old is pretty ignorant about who his dad truly is.
But one thing that baby knows – HE IS DAD
That he gets.
And this is rung 1 of Christian maturity.
EVERYONE STARTS HERE.
• These are the new converts in a church who have a whole lot to learn yet.
• These are the spiritual babes in our church who don’t know a whole lot about who their Father is.
They know God is their Father,
But they may not know a whole lot more than that.
And what is John’s point?
Well, as you will see, these are those who ARE SUSCEPTIBLE.
These are the ones who are in the greatest danger
Of being deceived and discouraged and led astray.
Like an actual baby, their discerners aren’t fully operational yet.
• They don’t yet know you can’t drink the Drano under the sink.
• They don’t yet realize that the oven door will burn you.
• They aren’t ready yet to handle the full blown heresies of Gnosticism.
• They are susceptible to those deceptions.
They are “children”
Now, one thing I find particularly interesting
• John mentions “fathers” and “young men” twice,
• He only mentions “children” once.
And, if you’ll notice, he sort of sandwiches them in between.
If there is a word picture going on here
Then it is certainly one of protection and spiritual care.
But just understand that in the church there are always “children”
Who are saved and who are forgiven
But who are more susceptible to the deceiving lies of the enemy.
Now there is a second group.
2) THE SOLDIERS
This is those “young men”.
They are the next level up on the spiritual maturity chart.
You see them twice.
(13) “I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the devil.”
And again:
(14) “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.”
These are the soldiers.
• They have moved beyond the milk that infants drink and they have begun to digest the meat of the word.
• They have developed their theology.
• They have solidified their doctrine.
• They have studied and grasped and understood the gospel.
And they are putting their knowledge to the test on the battlefield.
• They are challenging heresy.
• They are challenging false assumptions.
• They are warring for the truth.
We see such references in Scripture.
1 Timothy 1:3-4 “As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”
1 Timothy 1:18-20 “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.”
1 Timothy 4:11-16 “Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
2 Timothy 1:6-8 “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,”
2 Timothy 2:1-7 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”
Timothy is a great example of what we’re talking about.
These “are strong, and the word of God abides” in them.
• They’ve read the Bible.
• They let the word of Christ dwell within them richly.
• They know the truth.
• They preach the truth.
• They defend the truth.
• They war for the truth.
This is that next step of spiritual maturity and growth.
You get saved and you immediately start your growth
• Those infants are born again into the kingdom and they immediately enter fellowship with the Father.
• But then they begin to eat the meat of the word to learn all about who their Father is.
• And as they grow in the grace and knowledge of the truth they grow in spiritual maturity.
You see them also in a congregation.
• These are those soldiers, those “young men”
• And certainly in a battle for truth disillusionment can set in.
It’s hard to fight battles over and over and over.
Soldiers become weary
And the 3rd group
3) THE STRONG
This would be those John calls “fathers”
Twice John mentions them and he says the same thing both times.
(13) “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.”
(14) “I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning.”
This is a different kind of knowledge than the child has.
They don’t just know God is their Father,
They know who their Father is.
• They have spent countless hours communing with God in the word.
• They have spent hours communing with God in prayer.
• They have spent days and nights walking with God.
We might say that the child knows who God is.
We might say that the young man knows about God.
We might say that the father knows God.
He understands God in His eternal and sovereign reality.
He knows “Him who has been from the beginning.”
He is not the slightest bit derailed by the modern distortions.
He does not get confused by the latest fads and notions of God.
HE KNOWS GOD.
It is solidified and concrete.
I think of men like R.C. Sproul when I think of this or men like Oswald Chambers.
We are NOT talking here about the old folks in a congregation.
You can be a senior adult and still be a child in the faith.
These “fathers” started as children
• But they then devoured the word until they comprehended the mysteries of the faith.
• They fought many battles and they begot many spiritual children.
• But their knowledge went beyond mere knowledge and became the very essence of their walk.
They are not simply socially mature, they are spiritually mature.
1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”
When you read of elders in the Bible, you see this theme emerge.
1 Peter 5:1-4 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
Paul describes them in his letter to Timothy
1 Timothy 3:1-7 “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
These are the men who know God
And who know therefore what the church is to be
And how she should conduct herself.
So John here clearly identifies these 3 levels of spiritual maturity.
He DOESN’T REBUKE them for the level they are in,
In fact, if anything he unifies them
By reminding them in verse 12 that they all are forgiven.
The purpose of John here is
• TO REVEAL that in the church some are weak and some are mature.
• And TO ENCOURAGE each person in their walk and purpose.
For example take the children, those who are babes in Christ.
John writes to: REASSURE THE SUSCEPTIBLE
“I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.”
Imagine being a 3 year old child
And one day a strange man walks in the door and looks at you and says, “I am your Father.”
Is that kid going to say, “Oh, ok, wow you look different, but if you say so.”?
No, that kid is going to say, “No you’re not, I know my dad, and you’re not him.”
In fact little kids love to say to other people who are giving them direction,
“You’re not my dad!”
How does that coincide here?
Well, you’ve had a church infiltrated
By people who are distorting who God is.
And John rights to reassure these spiritual babes,
“You know better than that. You know that is not your Father.”
That is one of the reasons John has been so simple and direct.
He is simply reminding these spiritual infants what they know to be true.
• It’s what we’ve called Christianity 101 several times.
• It’s basic stuff.
John is writing to remind even the spiritually immature of what they know.
• You know your Heavenly Father dwells in Light.
• You know your Heavenly Father is holy.
• You know your Heavenly Father is love.
YOU KNOW THIS.
So don’t let someone walking in darkness act like they know your Father.
Don’t let someone living in sin act like they are in fellowship with your Father.
Don’t let someone who doesn’t love tell you they are from your Father.
Does that make sense?
That is why John is writing.
He is writing to REASSURE THE SUSCEPTIBLE.
But John is also writing to that next group – THE STRONG; why?
John is writing to REAFFIRM THE STRONG
Look at what John told them.
(14) “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.”
What a great statement!
These are those warriors on the front lines fighting the battles.
And John reminds them:
“you are strong” – in other words, you can do this. This battle is not beyond you.
“the word of God abides in you” – in other words, you are right! In this debate, you have the truth, not them. Don’t let their arguments sidetrack you.
“you have overcome the evil one” – in others words, you are winning!
The Greek word there is NIKAO
It’s were the shoe company Nike gets its name.
It means “to conquer or to prevail”
John said that he was writing to these young men
Because he wanted them to know that they are doing well!
Romans 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”
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.”
When you are constantly fighting battles
And constantly being hit with debate and opposing arguments
IT CAN BE EASY TO BEGIN TO SECOND GUESS.
He wrote this letter to reaffirm to those spiritual soldiers
That they are right and should keep going!
Think about the things John has said just in a chapter and a half.
• John has emphatically stated that if you walk in darkness you don’t know God.
• John has emphatically stated that if you aren’t obedient you aren’t saved.
• John has emphatically stated that if you don’t love you don’t know God.
Why do you suppose John has been so forceful and dogmatic?
He was writing that way to encourage those young men
Who had been on the front lines preaching the gospel.
• If you are one of those people who has actually confronted a sinner…
• If you are one of those people who has actually exposed a lack of obedience…
• If you are one of those people who has actually exposed a lack of love…
You know that when you expose such things
It can often bring a whirlwind of opposition down on your head.
Not only will the sinner often attack,
But even many who claim Christianity
Will rebuke you for being wrong and unloving.
It is hard to stand for truth in a culture that loves sin.
But what does it do for your faith when you read something like this from John that is so clear and bold?
John wrote so direct and forceful and bold because
He was seeking to reaffirm that soldier
Who has been preaching the same thing.
How encouraging it must have been to read that letter from John
If you had just been preaching that in the world.
He wrote to reassure the susceptible – you know who God is, don’t be deceived.
He wrote to reaffirm the soldier – you are fighting correctly, and you are winning!
And John wrote to: REMIND THE STRONG
He said it twice “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who was from the beginning.”
What was John reminding them of?
Of their responsibility.
John is writing this letter to the church,
He is leaving a blueprint for the other “fathers” to follow.
Those “fathers”; those spiritually mature who know God
• They should be reassuring the children as John is.
• They should be reaffirming the soldiers as John is.
They knew Gnosticism was heresy.
They knew it was wrong.
And they could not just sit back silently.
The church needed these spiritually mature
To rise to the forefront and help the rest.
There were spiritual infants who were really confused,
• These spiritually mature needed to reassure them as to who God is.
There were soldiers on the front lines getting attacked for their gospel preaching,
• These spiritually mature needed to reaffirm them and stand beside them.
THAT IS WHY JOHN IS WRITING.
SEE, THIS IS A CHURCH AT WAR.
• The soldiers needed to be strengthened.
• The soldiers needed to be encouraged.
• The soldiers needed to be made clear as to their roles.
AND JOHN IS WRITING TO DO JUST THAT.
So do you see why he has been so direct?
Do you see why he has been so bold?
This letter is for the benefit of the church.
It is for the benefit of the whole church
The mature and the immature.
He wants them to know the truth.
• To know they are forgiven.
• To know who God is.
• To know the gospel they preach is right.
• To know they are victorious.
And that is a GREAT BLUEPRINT for us.
Let me ask you,
Where are you on that spiritual maturity chart?
But wherever you are in that chart, do you now see your role?
If you are child in the faith,
• Cling to your Father and don’t let someone tell you He is someone He is not.
• Get in the word and learn more about Him.
• Grow in the grace and knowledge of the truth.
• Prepare to become a soldier.
Are you one of those soldiers on the front lines?
• Then keep fighting, you are strong, you are right, and you are winning.
• Don’t let the enemy discourage you, keep up the good fight.
• Fight off the heresies and defend the purity of the gospel.
Are you a spiritual father?
• Then take what you know of God and start encouraging those soldiers.
• Take what you know and start comforting those children.
• Help make the gospel clear as John has.
• Quit blurring the lines, quit softening the truth.
• If it is sin, call it sin like John does.
• That brings clarity to the church.
• If it is a fruit of salvation then say so, and if it is not then say that too.
• The gospel demands such clarity.
This is why John wrote and it is so comforting to us.
We are in a war and we must serve the right way.
