Sermon Notes | 1 John 2:12-17
1 John 2:12–17
Three times in this passage, John talks about why he is writing to them. He is going to repeatedly remind them that they are part of God’s family. He is reminding them what their position is in Christ.
He refers to the family of God as children, fathers and young men. It’s not bad to be like a child. We are told by Jesus that unless we become like a child we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. We literally have to be BORN AGAIN.
But children are immature in the faith, so as children we need to be reminded of the basics of being a Christian. All of us have a part to play in the Kingdom of God. God is working on us and transforming us into who He wants us to be. We need to know who we are in Christ.
The world is trying to define us, but Jesus defines us first.
Our Sins Are Forgiven
1 John 2:12 — “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.”
Again even thought it says “little children,” this is a term of endearment. He’s talking to all of us. He reminds these children that that their sins are forgiven.
Do you still get excited that your sins are forgiven? If we don’t, maybe we’ve forgotten how great our sin is. I love the song that says, “Our sins they are many, His mercy is more.” Despite everything we’ve done, we are forgiven. You are just as forgiven as Billy Graham, just as forgiven as the most mature spiritual believer you know.
I love this assurance that John gives us. YOU ARE FORGIVEN. We need to know this and let it sink in. It doesn’t matter if you are a child, young person, father or mother, you are forgiven.
Now, John is not a universalist. He’s not writing this letter to the world, telling them they are forgiven. He’s writing to the church, those who have received the sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and declaring this over the people of God.
Now does this meant that everyone who attends church is a Christian and their sins have been forgiven? No. But every true Christian IS forgiven. We need to know that when we mess up, He receives us back as his children.
One of John’s purposes in writing them this letter is to assure them of eternal life. 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
We need to know that our Heavenly Father has us. His work is complete. It’s not based on feelings or how good worship felt this morning, but based on the work that Jesus has done for us and the evidence of His work in our life.
At least 5 times in this book, John talks about the assurance of our faith. I think that’s one of the greatest benefits of this book is that we can have assurance of salvation. How amazing is it that we’ve been forgiven? You can never be more forgiven than you are today.
Growing in the Family of God
1 John 2:13–14 — “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.”
These two verses are almost exactly the same. So anytime something is repeated in the Bible, we need to focus in on it.
Just as there are children in God’s family, there are fathers. Fathers are those who have been through trials and they have experience. They are like an old, strong tree. We can rely on them, we can trust them.
And what are the fathers known for according to this verse? They have “known him who is from the beginning.” They are known for knowing God. They’ve learned throughout their life to trust and rely on Him. And THAT is someone WE can trust and rely on. So we need Fathers in the faith.
We also need the strength of young men. Young men don’t have the experience, but they have energy and fight. I love to see young men in church opening their Bibles. If you think about who fights wars, it’s young men. We don’t send children out to war. They aren’t ready to be missionaries. We shouldn’t send them out to the wolves.
We also don’t send our old men to war. We send out young men because the greatest cost and weight can be borne by them. They should be the hardest workers. They should be advancing the Kingdom of God.
The young children need to grow up, they need to be trained. The older saints can be the generals, supporters, the planners and the organizers.
We Need to Grow Up
There are some Christians who act like spiritual children so that they don’t have to grow up. They make excuses for why they can’t do anything.
We don’t want children to go to war, BUT we do want children to grow up.
Our youngest child is 6 and we really don’t want him to grow up. But he needs to grow up. We don’t want him to get a job today, but eventually he needs to get a job. It wouldn’t be cute if he was still living in our basement when he’s 36. He needs to mature, he needs to be prepared for battle. Eventually, he needs to be sent out.
This is what it’s like for us as believers as well. God is preparing us and he wants grow up and send us out. I think one of the hardest parts of being a parent is when your daughter turns 13 and you can’t get a kids meal for her anymore! You have to pay double or triple the price. We can’t keep getting kids meals forever. We have to grow up!
Where would you say you are today? A child, a young person in the Lord or a Father / Mother in the Lord? Wherever we are, we have more work to do.
Do Not Love the World
1 John 2:15 — “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
What’s wrong with loving “the world?” We love nature, we love people, etc.
This is sometimes a hard verse because Christians should be known for our love. The world knows us “by our love for one another.” “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” We are even commanded to love our enemies.
But here we are told not to love. It can be a sin to love.
So what does this mean to NOT love the world? Does this mean we should be like the Amish and totally separate ourselves from the world? Or to live as a nun or monk in a monastery?
We have to live in this fallen world, but we must separate ourselves from the world’s system of thinking and acting.
This verse says do not love the world. But this is what the world wants from us. They want our affirmation. They want our love, time, money and attention.
DO NOT LOVE. This is a command.
The world tells us that the most loving thing we can do is accept anyone and everything in whatever lifestyle they choose. The world tells us that if we don’t do this, we are unloving. But we have a higher command - do not love the world.
Don’t love their acceptance. Don’t love their ways. Don’t desire to be like them. Love your neighbor - yes. Become so empathetic that we start becoming like our neighbor? No.
James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
We cannot be seduced by the world’s philosophy and wisdom. What we are attracted to, what we are drawn to, shows where our allegiance is. Are you attracted to the Word of God or to the latest music album or movie?
DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD. This is a command.
The world says that love is love. This is false. Loving the world is hating yourself and your neighbor. Reinforcing a lie so that someone can feel better about themselves, is one of the most hateful things I can imagine.
The Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life
1 John 2:16 — “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
This is exactly what happened to Eve in the Garden. Satan only has one playbook. He’s not very creative. This is it. This is how he also tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.
Lust of the Flesh: Wanting what feels good for me, even if it isn’t good for me.
Lust of the Eyes: Wanting what looks good or what I see other people have.
The Pride of Life: Wanting to be important, admired or more successful than others.
If you watch a commercial on tv, it’s usually appealing to all three of these. Look at that truck - I need that to be happy. It looks good and if I have it, I’ll look better than others. I’ll look like I have money or I’ll look cool. If you buy this truck, you’ll be the cool rancher everyone respects.
The world is trying to entice us. Look at this house - it’s better than your house. Look at this position – it’s better than your position. Look at how beautiful this is, if you could have it, your life would be perfect.
Worldliness is a huge problem inside the church. This is why John is warning us. The world is inviting us, enticing us. None of these things were designed to give us ultimate satisfaction and they won’t give us satisfaction. It may look good or feel good in the moment, but you will die.
We believe the lie that the world can give us something that Christ can’t.
True Satisfaction Can Only Be Found in Christ.
Satisfaction can only be found in Christ. There’s nothing else out there for us.
READ THE WORD. MEDITATE ON WHO HE IS. PRAY. WORSHIP. OBEY HIM. ENJOY HIM.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
The world offers death. Jesus offers everything.
1 John 2:17 — “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
The world is passing away, along with its enticements, celebrities, philosophies.
This week at Erchomai Classical School, we talked about Lot and Sodom & Gomorrah. He pitched his tent towards Sodom. On the outside, it looked like he had everything - he had the best land, the best streams, the best vegetation. He had worldly status, influence, wealth, and comfort.
But it was all gone in a moment. He put all his eggs in the wrong basket.
Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This present age is passing away. He offers eternal life to His children.
We need to invest our life in that which cannot be lost: doing the will of God. We can’t just focus on not loving the world and counting all the things we can’t do. We also need to focus on all that God has for us.
We are children of God. Our sins have been forgiven. He is building us into the man or woman He wants us to be. We need to be fully satisfied in Christ. There is nothing out there that can satisfy us, only Jesus.
One day your house will be gone. Your children will be gone. Money will be gone. Your dreams will be gone.
It’ll just be you and Jesus.
What has your heart today? Is it your plans? Your future? Your dreams for your children? Not all of these things are bad or unimportant. But the world is passing away. In the end it’s just you and Jesus. Is He enough? If everything else was gone, would you be okay? Have you looked to him for total satisfaction?
If you do, He will fill you. He will bring you joy.
“In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
I love this hymn:
All I Have Is Christ
I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way you choose
Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life