Title: A Spiritual State of the Union
Text: 1 John 2:12-14

In this first letter John has presented what we might call tests of true faith. They have been written with a two-fold purpose. First they refute those who deny the validity of true gospel message. Those who have cast doubts on the sufficiency of Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection. But, they also serve as a way for members of the church to evaluate the genuineness of their faith.

We first of all talked about relationship, behavior follows relationship, relationship doesn't follow behavior. That's important because Christianity is first of all about the relationship between a person and Christ. Simply changing behavior, while certainly worthwhile, is reformation - correcting bad habits or conduct. Webster's describes it as an improvement in character and conduct. That's simply adhering the do's and don't's can's and can't's of religion following the rules.

Transformation on the other hand is a change in character. Paul talks about it as the old and new nature, the new is not just reforming the old, but a complete change. It is a change relationally as we become children of God, joint heirs with Jesus, and a change positionally as we are delivered from the domain of darkness, and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (Col 1:13). (NAS)

John told us His Spirit then begins a process that transforms us. We recognize that transformation taking place because we desire to follow His will. That desire leads us to actual obedience, walking in the light, which leads to maturity, and greater fellowship as His love is perfected in us. We talked last week about the perfecting of that love manifested through love of fellow believers. John said the reality or genuineness of your faith is evidenced by these things in your life.

With verses 12-14 He gives what we might call a spiritual state of the union. Every year the president addresses congress and the nation sharing the positive things that occurred the previous year and the direction for the next year. John's reassurance to believers is similar to that.

There are two sections here that refer to three groups - children, fathers and young men. There is differing opinion as to whether John is referring to one or to more than one group in the church or people of differing maturity levels. But whether or not he is actually addressing more than one group isn't of major concern, because what he says what he affirms applies to all believers.

Almost everyone is in agreement that John's use of the term children here is a term of endearment referring to the entire body. What he writes to these spiritual children is as Dr. Danny Akin says the first and foremost word of encouragement John can give to all members of the church. It is that at a point in the past they were forgiven of their sins and that forgiveness continues in effect in their lives. This forgiveness takes place because the death and resurrection of Jesus made the grace and mercy of God available to all who repent of their sins and believe in the name of Jesus. In his gospel John says that's the reason he wrote the things he did, "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31(NAS)

Perhaps the greatest or at least one of the greatest truths of Christianity is that our sins are forgiven by virtue of the name of Jesus Christ. Name in this case standing for the person and work of Jesus Christ in it's totality.

The enormity of that, is I don't have to make myself worthy of God's love. I don't have to sit for hours and meditate on the sunset, I don't have to hide away in a cave, I don't have to take a vow of poverty, I don't have to dot every i and cross every t and somehow wonder if I can measure up to God. My good deeds are not weighed against my bad. I don't have to be a certain color or a certain gender or a certain nationality or even belong to a certain church or a certain denomination. I don't have to make a pilgrimage or beat myself and never know whether I might possibly make God's A list.

God already thought me worthy of His love. That's what John said in verse 2. Jesus Himself was the propitiation for our sin. We are forgiven not because of our worthiness, but because of the worthiness of Jesus and when we confess Him we gain access to all He is.

In verse 13 John again addresses the children and affirms they have know the Father. How have they known the Father? Taken together with verse 12 the two clauses show that forgiveness of sins because of Christ opens the way to the knowledge of God.  (UBS Translator Handbook Series)

It's New Testament significance is further seen in these verses from John's gospel:  John 1:18-19
" No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.} And so they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me, nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."

John 14:9  "Jesus said to him, 'Have I been so long with you, and {yet} you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?"

John 14:20, "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. (NAS)

And  Heb 1:3,  "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (NAS)

We know the Father, not by some special or superior knowledge as taught by the Gnostics, but He is revealed through our intimate relationship with Jesus Christ who makes Him known.

Now to the Fathers John wrote, both in verse 13 and 14 they have known Him who was from the beginning. From the beginning not only of the church on earth, not only the beginning of their spiritual lives when they confessed him, but even before with God in creation and in preparing for redemption.

This is knowledge is indicative of a continuing spiritual relationship grounded in the historical reality of the death and resurrection of the one who was from the beginning, the eternal Son of God, who made God known to them. As believers we, like those addressed as fathers, also experience this knowledge of God in Christ who was from the beginning.

Then to the young men John writes in verse 13 you have overcome the "evil one". The Christian life at all stages is characterized by a constant battle against evil. Evil is identified as not simply an abstract principle, but identified as a genuine being, who is an active aggressor in opposition to God and everything, every aspect of God's kingdom on this earth.

Paul reminds us our spiritual struggle is not against flesh and blood, although it is manifest on the physical plane, but it is a spiritual struggle against a spiritual enemy. He is called the father of lies, prince of the power of the air, the ruler of this world, the ruler of darkness.

Note, John does not say we have overcome evil. In this world evil is a reality that can not be denied. It touches us all. Christians are not immune. Christians are killed by drunk drivers, Christians are killed in wars, Christians are martyred for their faith, Christians are swindled and cheated and lied to and taken advantage of robbed and raped and befall all sorts of things common to this world and Jesus never said that our faith was a shield against such things happening.

What he does say is that the evil one, Satan or the devil the roaring lion seeking to devour while inflicting physical harm can never snatch believers from the Fathers hand. Jesus said in John 10:28 "I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." (NAS)

That Same truth is echoed in Rom 8:35-39 " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  Just as it is written, 'For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NAS)

Finally John reminds the young men of their strength. What is the source of their strength and how are they strong in the face of spiritual struggles. First is the assurance of Christ's victory. Second is through their continually abiding in the word of God. The word in this case is the divine message, the spoken and written word rather than the Living Word.

It is through constant contact with the word of God, that means reading and studying it not just holding it, that the believer has communion with the Father and gains direction and spiritual energy for the trials and struggles of life. The war is one, but we continually fight battles in this world. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness it was through the word of God he overcame. We too must cherish it and hide it in our hearts so as to be firm against the struggles of this world, the attempts to take from us the joy of our salvation and the joy of fellowship with our Lord.

1 Jn 2:12-14, " I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.  I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. "(NAS)

Are you trusting in His name this morning? Are you standing on the Solid Rock? All other ground is sinking sand.