Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days
1 John 2:12-14
A celebration of grace.
Our passage is a celebration of what grace has accomplished in the life of John’s readers. Notice he isn’t telling them to make changes to their course of life or to adopt some new world view.
John is having them reflect on their own experience with God and assures them that he is writing because of that experience. He doesn’t need to convince them to repent. Instead they can rejoice in what God has done for them already.
The poetic parallelism here may indicate the passage was used some form during worship services.
There is a repetition of "I am writing" and "I have written" which contributes to the poetic form, but it also underscores the continuous and abiding confidence that he wants to share with them.
The tense change may indicate a previous episode of encouragement that he had shared with them and that this letter is a continuation. But it can also be read as a process of John’s thinking about them as he writes this letter: he is composing his thoughts with this desire to encourage them, and having put his thoughts in writing he reflects on what he has written with approval.
John writes to three groups. Although he often uses little children as a way to adress his entire readership, since that name appears in conjunction with the other two, it is more likely that something else is meant in this case.
Given what he says to each group, it seems most likely that they are distinguished by the breadth, depth, and nature of their Christian experience.
The little children are perhaps those with the least experience, but two things are said of them: their sins are forgiven and they know the Father.
These are precious realities for any believer, and they mark an entrance into the state of eternal life. What a wonderful thing to celebrate is the cancellation of our sin debt: free and clean and at peace with God. Beyond that and because of it, they are ushered into the presence of the Father, to know Him, to love Him, and to walk with Him through life.
The fathers are likely those who are older in the faith who have walked with the Lord a number of years. They are encouraged to celebrate that they know the Ancient of Days, the One who goes back to the very beginning. Such believers have seen the Lord do many things in their lives to keep and sustain people. They have reason to know that He is trustworthy, and they can be a stabilizing force for others as they give testimony and wise counsel.
The young men are those who like soldiers have been engaged in the spiritual war that envelops us. They are encouraged to celebrate the safety and victory that God has provided for them. They are strong by the grace of God and have been filled with the truth of God’s word. The Bible is a powerful weapon against Satan’s devices. These warriors have conquered the evil one, remaining true to the faith and helping others to do so as well.
If you belong to the Savior then you may see in yourself some of all three of these groups. Reflect a bit upon all that God has seen you through, and for that matter, all that He is presently carrying you through. Let the past energize your confidence in Him for today. Let your reflection lead you to celebrate His grace.
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Previous Scripture Notes
You can find notes that were published earlier on this page.
Pursuit of wisdom for today from the Ancient of Days
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