day 14 - 1 john 2:12-14 - to the little children

12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.

in these three verses St. John is saying quite a lot. many scholars think that the apostle is referring to the various stages of maturity one may find in a local church. In this pericope he is makes reference to three groups, dear children, fathers and young men.

the Greek word that is translated here as dear children, is teknion. It literally means small children like in nursery school, but in fact is a term of endearment. whether he means this a term of ones maturity or level of innocence I do not know.

what St. John does say is that he writes to them because of the fact that by the name of Jesus they have their sins forgiven and that they have known the Father. this is the basic security of all believers. we are saved because of Jesus and now there is no need to fear death. no believer should ever worry about the ability of God to secure one's salvation. The other step is to know the Father. It is impossible for a believer to grow if they do not know the Lord.

Titus 1:16 says that they profess to know God but by their works they deny him. This aspect of knowing God is a form of obedience. if you know God then you will live in obedience to him.

Galatians 4:8 when they did not know God then they practiced idolatry.

Colossians 1:10 good works is the result of knowing him.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 those who do not live in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ will face punishment.

i just wanted to use the verses to show that what I am saying is in harmony with the Scriptures.

there is a definite connection between being a Christian and good works. Many times we can be so focused on sinners making a confession and saying a prayer of receiving Christ that we forget to inform them of the cost of following Christ or of the fact that God still expects his children to live righteously before him.

Now that we have had our sins forgiven this one monumental act should be a motivator for the Christian to do good works. Don't get me wrong works do not save you but that does not in any way mean that there is a free for all when it comes to sin, Romans 6:1-7. When some one is new to the faith then they need to be instructed in the ways of righteousness. They are called to take upon them a new nature and person. This most definitely means living the lifestyle of the new person which is after Christ.

Forgiveness is part of the central doctrine of Christianity. There are over 83 direct Bible passages, 48 of them in the New Testament, dealing with forgiveness. Jesus' teaching on this subject it that we are forgiven in accordance with how we forgive others. I believe that this means that the forgiveness of God, while free and generous, implies that we forgive others just as generously and freely, Matthew 6:12, 13-14; Mark 11:25-26.

The basic level av living a Christ centered life is a life lived in surrendered obedience and generous forgiveness. Helping believer to develop this discipline should be the first steps in walking with them towards maturity in Christ.
I sure hope that I am this kind of leader and motivator.

the peace of God in abundance