The Encouragement in Forgiveness, Knowing, and Overcoming Evil

This morning’s passage feels a little out of place in some ways. You’ll notice that it doesn’t necessarily tie directly to the passage that comes before it or the passage that follows. However, it is a good word and I hope that it will propel us forward this morning.

Read 1 John 2:12-14

In this passage, we notice that there are a number of terms used that give us some difficulty in understanding what the author’s intentions were in the original letter. There are six phrases total, dealing with three groups. The exhortation that is given to each group is almost identical each time.

In the first section, the verb translated as “I write to you” is in the present tense. However, in the second section it is translated as “I write to you” in the ESV which seems to just be the same. Yet, in the Greek it is a different tense that is translated in other translations as “I have written to you”. It is difficult to know why the author uses different tenses of the same verb in the same verses.

In the three groups that are addressed, children, fathers, and yomung men, is he referring to their ages, their spiritual maturity, or their role in the churches?

With each of these issues, we cannot know for certain. What we do know is what I would like to focus our time on this morning rather than speculating about things that don’t particularly change the main point of the passage. With that said, our first point this morning comes from the three verses as a whole.

The Gospel Message is Consistent and Worth Repeating

These three verses give somewhat of an overview for what has come thus far in the letter and what is to come. A great deal of what has been written was done so for the purpose that the Christians that who read would be encouraged in their salvation. This is why the last two weeks have covered tests of our salvation in morality and in how we treat one another. But we see that the next three points are worth saying twice. They are worth repeating because of the greatness of the gospel!

This is why there are times when I repeat my points. The weight of them is worth hearing a second time. And when I say these things a second time, I am not just saying them to you twice but I also repeat for my own good.

I don’t just mean repeating as in saying a second time in case you aren’t heard. What I mean is we should be speaking about these things often. We should speak about forgiveness. And when we talk of forgiveness, we will inevitably talk about sin. That’s a good thing. It is far too easy for us to just skip over sin because we are embarrassed or because it's something we’ve never talked about. But we can because of the forgiveness that is available.

We ought to also talk often of what we know about God. It is the fathers who knew him who was from the beginning so we can naturally begin with talking about the eternal nature of God, the one who was and is and is to come. We talk about His holiness and justice. We talk about the great love that He has. In doing so, how could we not talk about the cross where He sent His one and only Son to die for the sins of the world. We discuss the beauty that is exemplified in His creation. Because you know God, talk about Him!!

And finally, we should talk about the times when we have overcome evil. We should discuss the verses that came to mind when we were able to fight off temptation.

The fact here is that God’s word doesn’t make just one mention of these aspects of the gospel. Instead, it is saturated with these truths throughout and they are worth talking about often because they are consistent in their nature.

The remaining three exhortations were why this letter was written to these people. This morning, I am passing along these encouraging facts that we might come away more sure of our salvation. For those who may here but not believing, take into consideration just how life changing these things would be in your life if you were to come to know the Lord!

Your Forgiveness Lies in the Atoning Work of Jesus on the Cross

The forgiveness that has been received is important without a doubt but the means by which forgiveness has been granted is much more important or else John would have just stated that he was writing because they were forgiven. No, it is the forgiveness “for His name sake.” We must never forget the one who has granted us forgiveness in the first place. It is Christ who has made this possible for the one who cries out to Him and trusts Him with their life.

We are able to point back to 1 John 1:9 when we think on the forgiveness that has been given to us. There is but one condition: “If we confess our sins…” When we are willing to humble ourselves and admit that we have sinned to the Lord, John writes in the first chapter that “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It is in His name that we pray and confess these things. It is in His name that we beg for forgiveness, all while knowing that we are unworthy of it.

If you have never known forgiveness, make that right today! We will have a time of response but I want to encourage you even now, if the Holy Spirit is drawing you near, begin asking Him for forgiveness. Name the sins specifically and cry out to God. He is the only one that can forgive you of the ways that you have sinned against Him.

To the Christian person, it is because Jesus’ death on the cross that you stand forgiven today! Man, that makes me want to shout right there. If it weren’t for His atoning work on the cross, where would we be? We would be lost, destined for hell, the hell that we deserve. Instead, He has indeed forgiven the most wretched of sinners because He is true to His word. Next,

Your knowledge of the the Eternal God is Essential to Your Salvation

To know God is to love Him. Knowledge of the Most High is experiential more than it is just relational. We often speak about a person’s personal relationship with God but it so much more than that. Yes, the demons know the name of Christ, but they do not know His love. They have never experienced His mercy. They will never know the grace that abounds in your life! Because you know God, your life is forever altered. You no longer trust in your own will. Instead, you lean on the Lord who gives wisdom to those who are in need.

Isn’t it true that you can tell when a person knows God? It may not be in the first moment that you meet them but it will become clear very quickly that a person knows God and have therefore been saved from their own sinful ways.

But because you know God, does that mean you can just stop getting to know Him? No, this is never true. In fact, we ought to strive to know Him more and more. We do this first through His word, which we will talk about in a moment. We also know God by knowing His people and spending time with them. This is where the local church, the bride of Christ, comes into play. We experience the grace that God has given mankind by spending time with His people. And in the same way, others are given the opportunity to better know God by spending time with you. Why would you not take the opportunity to spend time with one another when you’re given it.

This knowledge of God is essential being saved because He has revealed Himself to us and drawn us in closer. But beyond that, we continue to know Him and love Him with each passing day. Finally,

Your Strength to Overcome Evil Lies in Commitment to the Word

While we don’t always think of it in this way, having overcome evil despite our sin nature is a mark of your salvation. This comes as a result of knowing God and seeking His forgiveness! This is the only encouragement that is given that varies from the first time that it is mentioned. The first time it is just mentioned on its own. However, in verse 14 there are two things that are mentioned before it. First, John makes note that the young men are strong but it is not their own willpower that they are strong. It comes from the divine revelation found in God’s word!

The bible is far more than a book of wonderful stories or wise words to live by. Yes, that is certainly the case but we believe the words in this book hold more weight because they are inspired! And because they are inspired, they are powerful beyond simply what any man could write.

John plainly states that because the young men abide in God’s word, they are strong in their morals and as a direct result, they have overcome Satan. While I think that we could consider this overcoming daily sin, the use of overcoming leads me to believe that this is more about the moment of salvation when a person confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is the thing that happens to humans that the evil one hates the most. The moment this happens in a person’s life, they have overcome the one who desires to have a hold on their life.

This is the source of our strength, that comes from the revelation of God to mankind! Who would have thought that we would find strength and victory in a book!

So, I say to the young and old, the spiritually mature and the young believer, rest in the truth of the gospel today. If you are a child of the true King, you can leave this gathering with the utmost confidence that your place in heaven is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And that is something worth repeating!