Did You Get the Letter?

1 John 2:12–14 KJV 1900

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

I. The Message: To present Your Circumstance

A. You are Forgiven

1 John 2:12 KJV 1900

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:2 KJV 1900

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

B. You Know Him

1 John 2:13 KJV 1900

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Isaiah 52:6 KJV 1900

6 Therefore my people shall know my name: Therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

Jeremiah 31:34 KJV 1900

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For they shall all know me, From the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: For I will forgive their iniquity, And I will remember their sin no more.

1 John 2:3–5 KJV 1900

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

C. You are an Overcomer

1 John 2:13 KJV 1900

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

John 16:33 KJV 1900

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 3:8 KJV 1900

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 John 5:4–5 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

II. The Manner: To give You Confidence

1 John 2:12–14 KJV 1900

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

All saints (Little Children)

present: your sins are forgiven v12;

past: known the Father v.13

Mature saints (Fathers)

present: know Him beginning vs 13;

past: same v14

Growing saints (Young men)

present: overcome the wicked one v13;

past: strong, word abides in you, overcome the wicked one v14

III. The Method: To Commemorate You

The form or the way the message is given, which is a letter. John did not just tell them in conversation. He told them in a concrete or permanent form. This way they would be able to read it and reread it over and over again.