The First Epistle of John is a book addressed specifically to three groups of people: children, young men, and fathers. These are not physical children, young men, or fathers, but spiritual stages — spiritual children, spiritual young men, and spiritual fathers.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 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. 14 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.
Each group is described by characteristics that define them.
Concerning spiritual children, John says their sins have been forgiven, and they have come to know the Father. What does this mean?
When a person is new in the faith, the first thing they experience is the lifting of burdens — the heavy weight of sin that once oppressed them. They begin to feel lighter, free, at peace in a way they cannot explain. They feel loved in a unique way. This is why John says: “You are children because your sins are forgiven and because you know the Father.” These two experiences mark the early stage of spiritual life.
For the young men, John says: “You are strong… the word of God abides in you… and you have overcome the evil one.”
This stage represents spiritual growth. Here the believer faces strong temptations, satanic attacks, spiritual battles, and resistance because of Christ. Such a person is called a young man spiritually because, although they are pressed on every side, they do not let go of God. Their prayer life remains active, their study of the Word does not diminish, and even in sickness or hardship they do not turn away from God. Why? Because this is a season when the strength of God works powerfully in them, enabling them to overcome the evil one.
But spiritual fathers are described differently: “You know Him who is from the beginning.”
What does this mean? Why does John not say: “because you have preached much” or “because you have stayed long in Christ”? Instead he emphasizes: “because you know Him who is from the beginning.”
To truly know God from afar — from the beginning — is the mark of deep spiritual maturity. Even the apostles were called our spiritual fathers because they were granted to see God from the beginning, in ways the scribes and priests did not.
That is why the same epistle begins with:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands…
This was fulfilled when Jesus began to explain to them the things written about Himself from long ago — in the Law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophets: how He was present with Israel in the wilderness through the rock, the manna, the bronze serpent; how He appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek; and how He revealed Himself through various signs such as the fish that swallowed Jonah. Yet before this revelation, they did not understand.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Once a person sees God this way, God no longer becomes a God of events but a God of all time. A spiritual child sees God only in today’s events. A spiritual father sees Him yesterday, today, and forever.
To become a spiritual father, you must see Christ from the very beginning of creation, just as He taught the apostles (Luke 24:44).
You must recognize God’s work in your life from the very beginning — even from birth. David became a shepherd of Israel because he recognized God’s hand while he was tending sheep, when God helped him defeat the lion and the bear.
“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me…”
Likewise, a spiritually mature person can identify God’s hand in many events of their life — even before salvation — and learn His voice.
After being saved, as you walk with God over time, you must learn to recognize His presence in the different seasons you pass through — in hardship, in need, in abundance, and in success. Learn His ways with you. Know Him from the beginning, so you no longer remain a spiritual child.
To become a spiritual father, you must know the God who has been there from the beginning, not just the God of today’s events. Sit down and reflect deeply on your life step by step. Start with the Scriptures: see how God walked with His people. Those who failed to see Him from the beginning complained and eventually crucified Him. But those who recognized Him were transformed and became His apostles.
Become a spiritual father.
God bless you. Shalom.
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