Children

 I write to you, little children,

Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

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 wicked one.

I write to you, little children,

Because you have known the Father.

I have written to you, fathers,

Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.

I have written to you, young men,

Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,

And you have overcome the wicked one. -  John 2:12-14

 

John addresses three groups in the next few verses. He write to children, to young men, and to older men. There are reasons why he writes them.

 

He addresses each group twice here. To the children John writes for two basic reasons.

 

Their sins have been forgiven

They know that God is their father.

 

And that’s all the spiritual children really need to know. They need to make sure that those basics are secure.

 

So John writes this letter so that they can get those foundations right, so that those truths allow them to have fellowship with God and fellowship with each other.

 

There is nothing wrong with being children in the faith, but you can’t stay there.