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In Christ, Mark
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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.
I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.
1 John 2:12-14 NLT
This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.
If you’ve ever sent a letter or card (or in this electronic age, an email or text), you typically do so with a specific purpose in mind and usually communicate that purpose in the written communication.
As we turn to a section of scripture found in chapter 2 of John’s first letter, we find one such place in the Bible where the writer, in this case John, conveys reasons for writing to his audience of brother and sister believers. Look again at his words here:
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.
I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one. Vv.12-14
Note here that in addressing his Christian readers (to include us today), John is providing wonderful reminders of what makes their faith so unique and special, set apart from the world and its beliefs. We see that he divides Jesus followers into three segments, one all inclusive and the other two focused on mature and young believers. Let’s look at all three, starting with the mature and young.
1. Mature Christians.
I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
Here we find John talking to those who have been in the faith for some time, those who would have experience and tenure in their Christian walk. His letter is being sent to them because they know Christ and have an established relationship with Him. They are more informed by the scriptures and would have known through John’s Gospel book that Jesus had existed from the very beginning, before anything was created. He was the Word who was with God from the very start and this Word, Jesus, had been made flesh to walk among the people (John 1:1-2, 14).
In most bodies of Christ, you will find a mix of those who have spent many years in the faith and those who are new in their belief. John makes sure he covers both as we now look at the younger Christians.
2. The young in faith.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one.
I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.
As I sit here today, in my mid-60’s and well down the road in my faith journey, I find myself lacking the benefits of youth I had when I first came to faith in Jesus. What I lacked in experience and maturity, I gained in strength, stamina, and vigor.
Here, we find John commending the young Christians for being strong, strong to withstand the attacks of Satan who surely wastes no time in going after anyone who chooses to believe in Jesus as Savior, those who have not yet been able to get firmly rooted in the Word and Holy Spirit.
John reminds these young Christ followers that their life in Him was a “battle with the evil one” but it was a battle that they had already won through their faith in Jesus who had already gained the victory over Satan. It serves as a wonderful reminder for all Christian believers, young and old, one that should always conjure up a spirit of thanksgiving and praise, each and every day this side of Heaven.
Now, this would have been enough in its own right if John had stopped there but as we see, he had special words of remembrance for all brothers and sisters in the Lord, whether young or old.
3. All God’s children.
I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
The moment a person believes in Jesus, they receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and it’s this indwelling that makes a Christian a child of the God Most High (Romans 8:14-17).
So every Jesus believer is a child of God. That’s the first reminder found here and one we should cherish for God truly is our Heavenly Father and a day is yet to come when we will live with Him forever in the glory of Heaven (Revelation 21, 22:1-5).
This future, permanent change of address is only possible because of what Jesus did on Calvary’s cross to save us. Bearing the sins of all mankind, He purchased the pardon of every sinner who would place their belief in Him, bringing justification (a fancy word that simply means making us as if we had never sinned). Through His shed blood, He cleanses from unrighteousness, rescues us from the penalty of Hell, and makes us suitable to inhabit the sinless domain of the Kingdom of God.
In these verses, Christians are reminded that it is Christ Jesus who defines who they are and what they are to be thankful for as John shares blessed reminders for all Jesus believers. Thanks be to God for the gift of His Word!
Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.
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