|
| A. |
First, a child--vv. 12-13.
| 1. |
The first characteristic of little children
is that they know their sins are forgiven because of
Jesus--v. 12.
| a. |
The overview.
| 1) |
This person is called an infant in Christ,
or a newborn baby--I Cor. 3:1; I Pet. 2:2. |
| 2) |
This forgiveness of sin puts us in
fellowship with God and each other--I Jn. 1:7,9. |
|
| b. |
The positive view. As infants in Christ,
their chief focus is that their sins are forgiven. |
| c. |
The negative view. In their spiritual lives,
this new believer will act like all natural
children with all the marks of immaturity, e.g.,
instability, gullibility and they will also need
constant assurance and care. |
|
| 2. |
The second characteristic of little children is
that they know the Father--13c.
| a. |
This is not necessarily a thorough knowledge
of God, but like babies, they know their father. |
| b. |
This is a knowledge of God because we
have accepted the work of His Son and thus should have a knowledge of the doctrines of salvation, i.e., the significance of the cross, justification, sanctification, atonement, etc. |
| c. |
This knowledge of the Father may also imply
a knowledge of His character and attributes. |
| d. |
This is such a revelation to so many new
believers, because they have only known the God of the universe; the God of judgment;
but now they find out they have a spiritual parent - God
the Father--Eph. 1:3-6. | |
|
|
Caution: They must relate to all God's family, not just Him. |
| B. |
Second, a young man--vv. 13b-14b.
| 1. |
The first characteristic of a young man is that he has overcome the evil one--v. 13b.
| a. |
This victorious stand against the enemy is
a mark of emerging maturity. Explanation?
|
| b. |
This characteristic implies an understanding
of how to handle temptation, i.e., not just II
Tim. 2:22; but also James 4:7 and I Pet. 5:9. |
|
| 2. |
The second characteristic is that the Word of God lives in them--v. 14b.
| a. |
This is more than a few salvation verses. |
| b. |
They stand in the test with statements that
begin with: "It is written..."--Matt. 4:4. (See also Ps. 19:10; 119:103; II Tim. 3:14-15.) |
| c. |
Therefore, a young adult in the Lord is one who loves the law of the Lord--Ps. 119:97,101.
| 1) Do you love the Scriptures? 2) Do you have a regular program of memorization and meditation of Scripture? (See Acts 20:32.) 3) How do we get the Word to live in us? | |
|
| 3. |
The third characteristic of this young person
is really a result of the second - they are
strong--v. 14a.
| a. |
They are strong in the Word and Spirit. |
| b. |
This is obviously not their own strength.
| 1) |
First, they have learned to use the strength
of spiritual discipline, of prayer, the study of the Word,
etc.--Eph. 6:17b; Heb. 4:12-13. |
| 2) |
Second, this strength comes from the Spirit
of God, others, trials and grace--Eph. 6:10;
Luke 4:18-19; Rom. 1:11-12; II Cor. 10:4; 12:7-10; Eccl. 4:10-12; Rom. 15:1; I Pet. 5:10. | | |
|
| C. |
Third, a father--vv. 13a-14a.
| 1. |
The first mention of the chief characteristic of
a father is that he knows THE Father who is from the
beginning--v. 13a.
| a. |
This is a different relationship with the
Father than the child has. |
| b. |
This is a knowledge of God who is from
the beginning. It means the following: |
| 1) |
First, this is a deep and thorough
knowledge of the deity and humanity of Jesus and His eternal dimensions--Rom. 11: 35-36;
John 14:8-9; II Cor. 4:6; Phil. 2:7-14. |
| 2) |
Second, it means, therefore, a deep
sense of acquaintance with Him. |
| 3) |
Third, it is an understanding of
God's Word--Ps. 119:89-96. |
| 4) |
Fourth, it means manifesting His characteristics--II Pet. 1:5-9; Tit. 1:6-9. |
| 2. |
The second mention of the father reiterates
this characteristic--v. 14a. Why is it reiterated?
| a. |
It is a characteristic that can't be improved upon. |
| b. |
It determines who the father is and what he does. | | |
|
II. Our Personal Evaluation--in the light of I John 2:12-14.
|
| A. |
"Where am I in my spiritual growth"? |
| B. |
"Do I want to grow up in the
Lord"?
|
|
Fathers |
|
3) As fathers, we awake to our calling to be
like Him - to be a father like God's Son. HE IS OUR FATHER, and becoming conformed
to His likeness is our focus. Likeness and knowledge are the key words. |
|
|
Young Adult |
|
2) As young adults, we are alive to what we can do for Him; how we can be strong & defeat the enemy. HE IS OUR SOVEREIGN. So activity is the key word. |
|
|
Child |
|
1) As little children, we are alive to what we can receive from Him. HE IS OUR SAVIOR. Our focus is forgiveness of sins, getting to heaven, getting to know our Father. Forgiveness is the key word. |
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