12. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
John addresses three particular groups here - children, young men, and fathers. He shows that this doctrine agrees to all ages in that he addresses each group individually. The gospel appeal, and the gospel counsel, belongs to each group equally, for no one is too young or too old, too experienced or too inexperienced to receive biblical counsel.
It is quite in John's style to repeat himself with slight variations, which he does here as in other places.
Children
John calls all the saints "little children", but in this particular case he is addressing fairly new believers. "I write unto you, little children"; or babes in Christ just born again, not able to go alone, or walk by faith. Those who are young in the faith often falter and stumble, being unsure of themselves and of their spiritual condi-tion. Questions and doubts come. Mistakes are made. New revelation and spiritual growth seems to bring a new found sense of guilt sometimes, as we find out more about the life of holiness. New believers may not understand that God reveals sin to us in the form of conviction in order that we might develop a sense of distaste and disdain for it and cease from it. We couldn't handle it all at once. So God convicts us as we grow, and so, there is always a fresh sense of conviction as we grow ever closer to Him. The closer you get to His heart, the more sin you become aware of in your own heart. We are to shed sin as we become aware of it. This is in accordance with God's wisdom, that we are perfected gradually, not instantly. We correct the wrongs as we become aware of them.
John writes to assure them of their standing with God.
1 Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. You are of their number whom God has reconciled to himself. These little children had been sinners by nature and practice, but they now shared in the blessing of forgiveness. The youngest sincere disciple is pardoned. It is not a matter of growth or tenure, but a matter of grace.
I write unto you, little children "because ye have known the Father". By the spirit of adoption they know God.
We are saved "for his name's sake"; not for the sake of any merits in men, any services or works of theirs, it reaches to all sins. Christ's blood was shed for the remission of sin - all sin. Not just for the spiritually ma-ture or those deserving.
As little children, we should love, honour, and obey God as our Father, and always to put themselves under his care and protection:
Fathers
Even fathers must be written to, and preached to. None are too old, or too mature, to learn.
The Jews used to call their men of wisdom, "fathers". These fathers, in comparison to others, were perfect, and were spiritual, and judged all things. They had a well informed and established judgment in divine things, and were, in understanding, men, fathers, and not babes in Christ. These were mature believers with long and rich experience.
"because ye have known him that is from the beginning" God the Father is from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus Christ, the Logos or Word, was from the beginning, existed from all eternity as a divine person, as the Son of God, co-eternal with the Father. They knew him, approved of him, trusted in him, and appropriated him to themselves.
Now the problem with older believers is that sometimes they get a little settled - a little distracted - they lose their zeal and may drift from the original purpose, from their first love. He writes to raise the attention of the aged servants of Christ, and to quicken them to a discharge of their duty, who are apt to abate in their zeal, to grow lukewarm and indifferent, to cleave to the world, and to the things of it.
Notice that John repeated the exact same phrase twice to this group. He wanted to emphasize the point - Stick with what you know and are sure of and have proven. Don't be drawn away or distracted. Don't lose you zeal. Don't falter in your faith. And don't get locked into meaningless tradition, not based on scripture. How many things do we do just because that's the way we do it and we don't even remember the reasons why. Let's get back to the bible and not suppose that we already know it from memory.
Young Men
The younger element in contrast to the fathers, are the fighters - full of vigor and conflict and victory. They have been saved long enough to know much, and they are confident in what they know. They are excited about salvation and are ready to conquer the world for Jesus.
"I write unto you, young men"; who are warm and zealous for God, for his cause and interest, in the dis-charge of duty; and are active, diligent, and industrious, always abounding in the work of the Lord; and are strong and robust,able to go alone, to walk by faith.
Let us beware, though, that we do not grow too confident - at least not in ourselves. We can do nothing without Christ, and we can do nothing right outside of His will. It is easy for us, in our over-confidence, to step out in presumption. We may grow a little too sure of ourselves and fall.
Pr 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Let us be cautious. We are in a war. Our enemy wants to catch us off balance. There is nothing more im-portant in the Christian walk than balance. We have seen much harm done and many false teachings spread through a lack of balance. We have a most glorious combat set here before us. Satan the worst en-emy, who must be overcome.
"I write unto you young men" - to stir them up the more to love the saints. The young are too apt to be car-ried away with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The temptations that surround us are custom made to entrap us and get us off track.
"because ye are strong"; not naturally, but in Christ, in whom are righteousness and strength; without whom they can do nothing, though they can do all things through him strengthening them; and because he dwelt in their hearts by faith, and lived in them; and hence they had their strength, or came to be so strong as they were, and also overcame Satan, because he that was in them was greater than he that is in the world. Our only hope is in Christ, and in Him we must remain. There is no room for drifting. The everlasting Son of God is revealed to us.- that strength by which I said that you put Satan to flight, is given to you by the word of God which dwells in you. This is a means of spiritual strength against sin and temptation, and to perform duty, and to stand fast in the truth against the errors and heresies of men
"because ye have overcome the wicked one"; for he is wickedness itself, he is wholly, entirely, immutably, and unalterably wicked.
Now these young men had overcome him, not only in Christ their head, who has spoiled him, destroyed him, and led him captive in triumph, in whom they were more than conquerors; but in themselves, through the power of divine grace, holding up, and making use of the shield of faith against him, whereby they quenched his fiery darts, and got the victory over him: John urges them to be sure of the victory, as if they had already gotten it.
Conclusion
Little children - new believers -
1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Fathers - veteran saints -
2Th 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. Ga 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Young men - Christian warriors -
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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