1 John 2:12-17

Scripture 1 John 2:12-17(ESV)

¹²    I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

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.

       I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

¹⁴    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 abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

  ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world; the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Devotion:

        In this section of chapter 2, John gives us his audience and reason for writing this sermon. He writes to children, fathers, and young men. I think it safe to say that John includes male and female children and mothers and young women in his letter too. John also condemns the love of the world as an evil thing contrasted with the love of God.

       

John writes to the little children that their sins have been forgiven “There are several important implications that flow from forgiveness. First is the restoration of relationship with God.”¹ When we sin, we damage our relationship with God, With forgiveness of sins we are restored to relationship with God. We are now free to live in harmony with God and his purposes for our lives.

       

“Second, reconciliation with God through the forgiveness of sins changes the way we see ourselves.²” We are no longer damaged goods but restored human beings. Who are able to love God and ourselves as we should.

¹Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 83). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

 ²Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 84). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

            “Third, reconciliation with God through the forgiveness of sins alters the way we see the world.³” It helps us see the goodness and the evil in the world more clearly. We will see the world with all its faults as capable of being redeemed. God’s amazing power to redeem the world is made clear to us in the forgiveness and reconciliation of the world. Not only are our debts forgiven and our crimes cancelled but God showers us with gifts even though we are unworthy.

            From our forgiveness and reconciliation with God comes a knowledge of God. Not that we know everything about God, some mystery always remains. We can know God’s character and His desire to be in constant communion with us.

            Finally, from our knowledge comes the way to overcome the evil one. We reach a peak in our familiarity with the Father that he gives us the strength and the wit to send the enemy of our souls packing with all his evil cohort.

            John next addresses who we are to love. God truly desires our love; however, the world demands our attention. It is constantly tempting us with the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life. Hoping to pull us from God into worshiping idols made to entice us to sin. ^“The point is that we are not to love anything that is opposed to God”⁴. As John says in verse 17 “the world and its desires is passing away.” But the word of the Lord will abide forever.

³Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 84). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

⁴Campbell, Constantine R. 1, 2, and 3 John (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 82). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.