ALL CATEGORIES INCLUDED

“I am writing to you who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one.”
1 John 2:12-14 NLT

John addressed his letter to all categories within the readers, young and old, mature and immature, those who were starting out on their journey with Jesus and those who had been on the road for a while. All had place in the family of God, and all had already embraced the truths that brought them to where they were.

Newborn children of God were held secure by their knowledge and experience of the forgiveness of sin. O, the joy of the sin-burden lifted and removed forever. Gone the dark cloud of guilt shame, and fear hanging over their heads! No matter their chronological age, they were new inside, beginning their new life in the joy and freedom of reconciliation to the Father.

Together with this new-found freedom came the strength to continue, to grow up and mature in Christ. They had won the battle over Satan’s control through faith in Jesus. They had embraced the message of salvation; God’s Word had come alive in their hearts. They were securely on the road to maturity as long as they persevered on this way.

To those who had been on the way for a while, John wrote to encourage them in their pursuit of God. As Jesus had prayed on the eve of His death…

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”
John 17:3 NLT

…So, John wrote his letter to help them to know by experience the reality of Jesus’ life in them. Knowing God, knowing Jesus, is the essence of eternal life.

Knowing about the Father and the Son is never enough. Peter urged his readers, in his second letter, to…

“… Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ….”
2 Peter 3:18 NLT

To grow in grace and knowledge is to participate in all the blessings, benefits and training in the salvation God has provided through His Son. As we submit to the Lord Jesus in all the ups and downs of life, we learn His ways, we experience His grace and love, and we get to know Him.

“Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honour you.”
Psalms 86:11 NLT

For both “newborns” and mature believers, John’s desire is the same, to encourage them to know God and to have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and God’s people by living in the light of His truth.