Writing

I write to you, 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 abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:13c-14)

I write to you, children…

1. Children are addressed well too
2. One of the reasons for their being included in John’s audience has to do with the fact that they know the Father
   1. God as the Father in heaven
   2. God as the Father of the Lord Jesus
   3. God as the Father of us all (Romans 8:15-16)
3. John seeks to urge the children to grow in their knowledge of God as the Father

I write to you, fathers…

1. Fathers stands for parents
2. They have known “him who is from the beginning”
3. This “him” refers to Jesus the Christ of God
   1. They must maintain their knowledge of Jesus as the Christ
   2. They must remain in Jesus the eternal life
4. They too must seek to live as people who know Christ Jesus

I write to you, young men…

1. This phrase “young men” includes young women
2. One obvious feature of the youngsters is strength
   1. Mentally strong
   2. Physically strong
3. This natural strength is a gift of God
4. But this gift of strength alone can do much and no more
5. The word of God must be added to this gift of strength (Cf. Matt.4:4-11)
6. Only then, will they be able to overcome the evil one

CHALLENGES WE MUST EMBRACE

1. Let us seek to grow in our knowledge of Jesus as the Christ of God
2. Let us do all our parts to grow in our knowledge of God as the Father
3. Let us also seek to abide by the Word of God so as to overcome all kinds of temptation