Introduction
Nehemiah's Attitude
Nehemiah was a man on a mission. He lived during a time in the Old Testament era when God's people weren't doing well.
When Nehemiah arrived, the situation was worse than he'd imagined.
One day an Israelite named Shemaiah invited Nehemiah to a secret meeting in the temple. He told Nehemiah that Nehemiah's enemies were out to kill him, but that Shemaiah could save Nehemiah's life. But Shemaiah had been paid off by Nehemiah's enemies!
Notice how Nehemiah responded to the invitation. He said:
"Should such a man as I run away?" (Nehemiah 6:11).
In Nehemiah, we observe a man who is bold because he knew who he was, who God had made him become. And Christians need this Nehemiah-like knowledge. John knew it, so he took a moment to write to the children, the young men, and the fathers of the church.
And if we embrace the truth John puts down in this small section, we too will have the boldness of Nehemiah.
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.
Some Particulars Of The Passage
- This passage is beautiful but is also an abrupt departure from everything which had come before.
- His digression was for the them, a loving interlude designed to remind and protect. And this portion pure poetry.
- Before diving into his song, though, we must ask a question of it: To whom did John write?
- I am going to take the passage as if John is addressing the whole church with each title, one group. Why would we take this approach?
- First, John refers to the whole church, often, as little children. So he seems to think everyone could be labeled such.
- Second, the attributes of each group are shared by all Christians of every age. Every Christian has the forgiveness the little children have, know Jesus like the fathers, and can overcome like the young men.
- Third, breaking up the passage by age or gender doesn't seem to carry John's unifying heart and mood.
- I am going to take the passage as if John is addressing the whole church with each title, one group. Why would we take this approach?
Little Children: Forgiven By The Father (12, 13)
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake.
13 I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
Little Children
Believers in Christ are children of God. We have all been made so in two ways.
First, the Bible teaches we are His children by adoption.
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15).
Second, believers are made into God's children through birth. Jesus said:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3).
- Birth highlights your relationship with God: you were born into His family. Adoption highlights your position in God: you were adopted and given a heritage in Him.
Your Sins Are Forgiven
It is plain from the first few pages of Scripture that sin is a massive and immoveable hindrance to knowing God. It is seen, biblically, as the big problem in humanity.
Consider the most quoted verse in the Bible by the Bible (meaning God quotes it more than any other verse):
"The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6–7).
And the Bible paints a robust picture of how God forgives our sin. He removes sin (Psalm 103:12, Zechariah 3:9). He casts sin into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19). He sweeps our sin away like a cloud blows away or mist evaporates (Isaiah 44:22). He casts our sin behind His back (Isaiah 38:14). He sets it aside and puts it away (Colossians 2:14, Hebrews 9:26). He covers it (Psalm 32:1, Romans 4:7) and puts it out of His sight (Psalm 51:9, Jeremiah 18:23). He washes us, cleanses us, and gives us new, clean hearts (Acts 22:16, Ezekiel 36:33, 1 John 1:7). He purges the scarlet of sin and makes us like pure white wool or snow (Isaiah 1:18).
Jesus died for our sins. He did not die as a mere example of sacrifice. Jesus' death was not accidental. No, Jesus died as a substitute for you and me.
Joseph, when he learned of Mary's pregnancy, heard the angel say,
"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
He did this by dying for us and instead of us:
"He gave Himself as a ransom for all...." (1 Timothy 2:6).
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit..." (1 Peter 3:18).
Know The Father
- What we must know is that our relationship with the Father cost Christ His life. It didn't cost us anything -- mere faith to receive God's grace -- but it cost Jesus everything.
- Did you know that Jesus, God the Son, will be human forever?
- He became flesh, meaning humanity is no temporary costume He put on (John 1:14). Though in a glorified body today, He "will come [again] in the same way," in that glorified, human body (Acts 1:11). When He returns, "He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). And, right now, while in the glory of heaven, He mediates for us as a man: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
Should Such A Man As I?
- First, knowing we're forgiven should drive us into our relationship with God.
- Second, knowing we're forgiven should drive out guilt and shame.
- Third, knowing we're forgiven should produce compassion and forgiveness for others.
Fathers: In Relationship With Jesus (13, 14)
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
Fathers
- In this second group, we have mature believers.
- Fathers are those who protect, provide, teach, and lead their families.
- In various ways and to differing degrees, spiritual fathers, with great maturity and sacrifice, care for others. Put this way, the Good Samaritan acted as a father, and so did the apostles. Even Mary, the mother of Christ, acted as a spiritual father when she took young John under her wing at the cross (John 19:26). These are the spiritual adults.
You Know Him Who Is From The Beginning
- And what makes someone a father? John says, "You know Him who is from the beginning."
- John is describing Jesus. This is because John used the idea of the beginning to describe the start of time, and Jesus' presence and role in creating all things (John 1:1-4). He also used the word to describe the beginning of the gospel, both historically and in our own lives personally (1 John 1:1, 2:7).
- He addresses the spiritual adults in the congregation and says that they, also, had known Jesus. This doesn't mean John's experience wasn't unique -- it was -- but he felt others could and should know Jesus for themselves.
Know Him
Let this stand out as a significant mark of Christian maturity for you.
Knowing Jesus starts with an intellectual understanding of Him, but goes on into experiencing Him.
As an example of this, notice how Luke described the gospel he wrote:
"In the first book...I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach..." (Acts 1:1).
In Luke's mind, the incarnation through the ascension was only the beginning of Jesus life and teaching.
Jesus wants you to know Him this way.
"'Stretch out your hand.' And he did so, and his hand was restored." (Luke 6:10).
"...Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12–13).
Should Such A Man As I?
- I think an experiential knowledge of Christ keeps us from so many of the stupid pressures our world lays on us. Next week, we are going to dig into these pressures, but once you taste Jesus and His work, you want less of the world. You aren't as easily duped into conformity.
Young Men: Victorious Over The Evil One (13, 14)
13 I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
14 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.
Young Men
- They represent that great middle section of the Christian life. The children enjoy being forgiven. The fathers have enjoyed Christ. And the young men enjoy victory, for they are the ones sent into battle.
- And we must remember this portion of the Christian life. In God's program on earth, there is always a job for you.
- Wouldn't all of us desire to have this kind of victory? Don't we crave victory over our sinful desires and passions? Don't we want to impact the world for God's kingdom? Don't we want to break the habits and traditions of our parents and friends? Don't we want to be set free?
You Are Strong, And The Word Of God Abides In You
John tells us a bit of how their victory came about. They were strong. We might have guessed as much. They won, after all. But then John adds, and the word of God abides in you.
This is an appropriate conclusion to John's song. The children knew the Father. The fathers knew Jesus Christ. You would expect John to say the young men knew the Spirit. Instead, he says they were strong because the word was in them. But isn't this another way of saying the Spirit helped them?
"...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." (Ephesians 6:17).
We see an example of this in the life of Joshua.
"Be strong and courageous..." (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9)
But Joshua's courage would flow from his continuation in the word of God. Notice:
"Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:7–8).
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7).
Should Such A Man As I?
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Colossians 3:16).
Applications
Here are some applications for your consideration: