I was recently reading in the Epistle of 1 John when I came across a passage that I’ve read many times before. It said:
1 John 2:12-14 (CSB)
12 I am writing to you, little children,
since your sins have been forgiven
on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the one who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I have written to you, children,
because you have come to know the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the one who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong,
God’s word remains in you,
and you have conquered the evil one.
1 John 2:12-14 Christian Standard Bible
As I read these verses, I had a few thoughts. I started noticing a difference between what John was saying to each stage of maturity. To children in the faith, their experience of being forgiven was still fresh, and this was primarily the way they viewed their faith, as what God had just done for them. They also related to God more as a father, receiving His love, protection, and authority based on an intimate relationship that has just begun.
To the young men, their faith had grown from that initial stage of simple joy over salvation and forgiveness, to a season of growth and struggle against the devil and his efforts to tempt and keep believers stuck in a losing battle with sin. The ongoing life of following Jesus is often filled with times of struggle against sin and temptation as believers seek to become more godly and obedient to Christ’s commands. Early on, many of those battles are difficult, and victories against long-held sinful patterns in our lives are often hard-fought. That middle stage of maturity is one often characterized by victories over the evil one as we go through a process of sanctification. This ongoing process strengthens us spiritually and allows us to find victory in areas that may have been too hard for us to address earlier on in our walks with Jesus.
Finally, even though these battles for victories over sin and over the evil one never truly end, for those who have matured over time and have achieved a “father/mother” status, the focus of their spiritual lives is able to shift to knowing God more deeply. We know Him not just as Father, and not just as the One who helps us fight our battles, but as “the One who is from the beginning.” This name for God inspires awe and respect. It reflects a greater understanding of who God is.
So in this passage, John shows us a beautiful image of how a Christian’s spiritual journey towards greater maturity is dynamic and changing. When I first “got this” I was excited, and wanted to share with my wife how in my own life I had seen these different stages of maturity. I was about to brag to her about how I was in the third stage of maturity, and how I no longer needed to focus so much on the daily battles against the evil one. Then I was plunged into a day of battle where, I must admit, I was humbled. When I finally got around to talking to my wife about the great insight I felt I had on this passage, it was with a reminder that the battle is always ongoing. Yes, there is joy in knowing God deeper and being able to experience less days of struggle, but I was reminded of the passage in 1 Corinthians 10:12:
12 “So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.”
May you rejoice in God’s forgiveness, and in having a Heavenly Father. May you find victory after victory as you struggle against the evil one. May you come to know God deeper, as the One who is from the beginning. And may you keep your guard up against pride as you grow in maturity, knowing that a fall is only as far as your self-confidence allows.