Sermons From First John - Three Stages In The Christian Life (2:12-14)

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                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"

              Three Stages In The Christian Life (2:12-14)

INTRODUCTION

1. Having charged his readers to observe an "old, yet new" commandment
   to love one another (1Jn 2:7-11), John takes a moment to
   specifically address various members of his reading audience - 1Jn 
   2:12-14

2. This section is rhythmical, almost lyrical, and raises a number of
   questions, such as these listed by Guy N. Woods in his commentary on
   1st John:
   a. Why did John use the present tense, "I write" {grapho}, in the 
      first three clauses, and "I have written" {egrapsa}, epistolary 
      aorist, in the second three?
   b. To what writing does he refer in the first instance?  In the 
      second?
   c. What is the meaning of the word "children" in the first clause of
      each of the divisions?
   d. Why did he use the word "teknion" in the first reference to 
      children, and "paidion" in the second?
   e. In what sense is the reference to "fathers, children, young men" 
      to be taken, literal or figurative?

3. Many and various answers have been given to these questions; without
   going into detail, I believe the following answers to the above 
   questions have merit...
   a. We have here a simple form of Hebrew parallelism, where the same 
      thing is being said for the sake of emphasis
   b. In both instances, the writing to which John refers is this very 
      epistle
   c. Unlike 1Jn 2:1,18,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21 where "children" appears
      to be a term of endearment for all believers, in 2:12,13 
      "children" seems to refer to a specific class of Christians
   d. Any distinction between "teknion" and "paidion" is likely not 
      significant, since John uses both as terms of endearment in this 
      epistle when speaking of all believers - cf. 1Jn 2:18 (paidion)
      with 1Jn 2:28 (teknion)
   e. Taken literally, the terms "fathers, children, young men" would 
      leave out many Christians (old men, old and younger women); 
      therefore, I take the terms to be figurative

4. With this understanding, I believe we find John addressing three 
   basic groups of Christians, who are at different stages in their 
   Christian life

[What we can glean from this section, then, is that there are "Three 
Stages Of The Christian Life", beginning with...]

I. THE STAGE OF INFANCY
   
   A. IN WHICH CHRISTIANS ARE "LITTLE CHILDREN"
      1. Both terms used by John normally refer to small infants
         a. teknion {tek-nee'-on} - diminutive of tekna; an infant
         b. paidion {pahee-dee'-on} - neut. diminutive of pais; a
            childling (of either sex), i.e. (prop.) an infant, or (by 
            extens.) a half-grown boy or girl (cf. Mk 5:39-42)
      2. Those who are new Christians, or immature Christians, are thus
         spoken of as "babes in Christ" - cf. 1Co 3:1; Ga 4:19; He 5:
         12-13
      3. This can be a difficult time, in which a Christian...
         a. Is still more carnal than spiritual - 1Co 3:1
         b. Can be a source of anxiety for those trying to lead them 
            along - Ga 4:19
         c. Needs to focus on the "milk" of the Word - He 5:12-13

   B. NEW CHRISTIANS CAN TAKE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM JOHN...
      1. Because their sins have been forgiven in Christ! - 1Jn 2:12
         a. Forgiveness is not based upon maturity or perfection
         b. But upon the blood of Jesus, and upon our willingness as 
            Christians to confess our sins - 1Jn 1:9
      2. Because they have "known the Father" - 1Jn 2:13
         a. I.e., they have fellowship with the Father, which is John's
            definition of "eternal life" - Jn 17:2-3
         b. They may be "babes", but they have "eternal life" in 
            Christ! - cf. 1Jn 5:11-12
         c. And John wants them to continue to believe! - 1Jn 5:13

[When a "babe in Christ" feeds upon the milk of the Word, making good 
use of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ, remaining in 
fellowship with the Father and sharing in "eternal life", it will not 
be long before they enter...]

II. THE STAGE OF YOUTH

   A. IN WHICH CHRISTIANS ARE "YOUNG MEN"
      1. As explained previously, I take the expression "young men" 
         figuratively
      2. It refers to all, male or female, young or old 
         chronologically, who are "strong in the Lord"
      3. I.e., all "who have overcome the wicked one" - 1Jn 2:13,14
         a. Not that they are perfect, or without sin - cf. 1Jn 1:8
         b. But that their faith has had time to be tested, and they 
            have demonstrated that they are truly "born of God" - cf. 
            1Jn 4:4; 5:4-5

   B. THE SOURCE OF THEIR STRENGTH IS THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. Only as the Word of God "abides" (remains) in them are they 
         strong - 1Jn 2:14
      2. Even as David saw the value of letting the Word of God abide 
         in his heart - Ps 119:11
      3. For this reason, then, we need to heed the admonition of Peter
         - cf. 1Pe 2:2

[As one demonstrates time and again that they are strong in the Lord, 
they progress to the final stage of the Christian life...]

III. THE STAGE OF MATURITY

   A. IN WHICH CHRISTIANS ARE "FATHERS"
      1. Again, I take the term "fathers" figuratively
      2. It likely refers in this passage to Christians, male and 
         female, who have reached the highest stage of the Christian 
         life
      3. The term "fathers" suggests...
         a. They have had experience, having progressed through earlier
            stages of the Christian life (infancy, strength)
         b. They have even produced spiritual offspring, by leading 
            others to Christ - cf. 1Co 4:14-15

   B. THEY "HAVE KNOWN HIM WHO IS FROM THE BEGINNING"
      1. The reference is likely to Jesus, who "was from the beginning"
         - 1Jn 1:1; Jn 1:1-2
      2. Is there a distinction being made by John?
         a. "Little children" have known "the Father" - 1Jn 2:13
         b. "Fathers" have known "the Son" (who was from the beginning)
            - 1Jn 2:13,14
      3. If so, perhaps it is this:
         a. As babes in Christ, it can be said that even in our infancy
            we can "know" the Father, that is have an intimate 
            relationship with Him and experience the eternal life which
            He gives
         b. But only with time, and with opportunity to "walk just as 
            He walked" (1Jn 2:6), can it be said that one has truly 
            come to "know" Jesus
            1) Therefore the admonition of Peter to "grow in the...
               knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" - 2Pe 3:
               18
            2) Which knowledge comes only as we develop the Christ-like
               graces found in 2Pe 1:5-8

CONCLUSION

1. The Christian life has much in harmony with physical life...
   a. There are definite stages in life
   b. Only through "growth" does one pass from one stage to the other
   c. But when growth does not occur, that is a sign of a serious 
      malady!

2. There is a major difference, however...
   a. Physical growth usually occurs without much effort on our part
   b. Such is not the case with spiritual growth!

3. These verses that have served as the basis of our text, while they 
   are difficult in many respects, they ought to clearly impress upon 
   our minds several truths:
   a. There are different stages in the Christian life
   b. In each stage there are blessings to be enjoyed
   c. But little children need to become young men, and young men need
      to become fathers

May God grant us the grace needed to grow as we should, and enjoy the
full blessings in each stage of the Christian life!
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