12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
1 John 2:12-14
My daughter’s favourite story is Peter Pan. She loves his cavalier spirit, his love of adventure and his ability to fly. He is famously, the boy who never grew up. Unfortunately, the same can be true for many Christians. We have discovered God and not grown to maturity. In this passage John shares three key phases to growth.
The first season of faith is to know that your sins have been forgiven through Jesus Christ. This is where we begin as Christians, accepting the gift of grace that we receive through him. Notice that the forgiveness is in the past tense. It is full and complete, through the cross. Jesus has taken all of our sin and he has paid the price for them in full. The awakening of the young Christian is to recognise their freedom and the unmerited grace upon their life. There is a gift of grace.
The second season of faith is to draw closer to God and to truly know Him. Not academically but relationally. This knowledge of God comes from experience and encounter. The more that we draw closer into the presence of God, the more that we are transformed. This doesn’t happen through our willpower but through presence, like a flower growing towards the sun. That doesn’t mean that it just happens, though. We learn that like any relationship, we make dates, prioritise time and discover who God is. There is a gift of ever-increasing closeness to God.
The third season of faith is to make a difference. You do not have to look far to see the evil in this world. John says that they are the ones who have overcome the evil one. This doesn’t mean that the fight has finished but that the victory is in their hands. They are good news people in a bad news world. The love that they have discovered in God has infused their being and they throw their lives into the service of God, using their strength and energy to fight for things that truly matter. There is a gift of power through the Holy Spirit.
John’s heart as we read through this letter together is for us to grow into mature Christians. We are to know Jesus, become like Jesus and do what Jesus did.
Reflect
- How does each season build on the one before?
- Which season do you find yourself in at the moment?
- What is the grace that God wants to give to you here?
Respond
Take a moment to pause, breathe and realise that the Holy Spirit is with you.
Choose 1 or more:
Forgiveness: Confess your sins, anywhere in your life that you know is not of God and receive his grace and mercy.
Presence: Tell God about your day to come. Share any excitements or worries with Him. Ask Him what he would want to speak into your day.
Purpose: Ask God to use you today. As Him to reveal specific situations where you can be a presence of love and goodness. Pray for power, security and love to flow through you for the sake of others.
