I Write To You - 1 John 2:12-14

1 John 2:12-14 ESV 

I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

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.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

John writes to three groups within the body of Christ: the children, the fathers, and the young men. 

The children have been saved and know the Father, the Lord. We all are a part of this group if we have trusted in the Lord. John often refers to the body of Christ as little children and that is how we enter kingdom of heaven, We become the sons and daughters of the living God. 

The fathers might represent Old Testament Israel who were God's chosen people. They were the first people to whom God revealed Himself, and therefore knew God from the beginning. But the beginning of the full revelation God was in Christ. He is the beginning and the end. 

The young men may represent those who grow in the strength of the Lord that they overcome the evil one. They are not just saved and protected by the Lord, but become more than conquerors. They are warriors in the spiritual warfare all around us. 

The purpose of the law and the message of the gospel is love. This is the light of the 

Lord and was from the beginning. Knowing God is receiving and expressing His love as revealed in Christ, as Christ is revealed in us. 

He writes to all men and women who love the Lord. He created man as male and female. This has not changed.