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Those Who Live Forever

1 John 2:12-17

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.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Distinguishing True Christians

We've been going through the epistle of 1 John, which provides a black-and-white comparison between genuine Christians and those who merely claim to be Christians but are not. This is especially important for youth groups, where many say they are Christian. It's easy to throw around the term—politicians, performers, even the Pope have done so loosely.

John shows us how to examine lives, including our own. If you continue in sin, you're not a Christian. If you confess your sins and have the blood of Jesus Christ covering them, you are. Christians obey God. God has delivered a fixed law to humanity, and his people value it because they love God.

Jesus summarized God's law: love God and love others. We must examine our lives: How much do we actually love God and others? You can't just claim to love God without repenting from sin, or repent without affection for God and others. John draws this out in verses 12-17 with reminders of what it means to be a Christian.

Reminders of Christian Identity

John addresses groups as a spiritual father, emphasizing male headship positively, while including all as little children. He's writing so they know they are Christians, have joy, and do not sin. He reminds them of their identity in Jesus Christ.

Little Children: Sins Forgiven for His Name's Sake

Verse 12: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake." God saves us not for our sake, but for his name's sake—to glorify his name, make it known, and honor it. We're not saved because we deserve it; we're sinful. Salvation proclaims God's name.

Like Pharaoh in

Romans 9

—raised up not for his sake, but to display God's power. We're props in God's story to draw attention to his name.

True Christians draw attention to God's name. False ones do not. What are you known for? Sports, fashion, grades? Or that your sins are forgiven for God's name? If salvation is just escaping hell for you, that's not its purpose—those are means to glorify God.

Fathers: You Know Him Who Is from the Beginning

True Christians know God—things about him, especially Jesus. How much do you know about Jesus? Church membership asks: What do you know of Jesus? You can't love what you don't know.

Consider: How many natures does Jesus have? Two—fully God, fully man. Historical heresies like monophysitism (one nature) or monotheletism (one will, condemned even by a pope) show the importance of knowing truth about Jesus.

Young Men: You Have Overcome the Evil One

Verse 13: "Young men, because you have overcome the evil one." The Greek nikao means victory, conquest—like Nike. Christians have already conquered Satan, the evil one.

Christians can't be possessed by demons; they have victory over Satan. Pentecostals talk of binding Satan, but it's already done.

Colossians 2

says powers and principalities are defeated and shamed by the gospel. Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

Repeated in verse 14: Young men are strong, the word of God abides in them, they have overcome. If not, John lies. Overcoming means freedom from Satan's deception and temptation—no longer his slave. Strength means obedience over sin.

Children: You Know the Father

Christians know the Father and belong to God's family. True believers embrace this identity; pretenders don't care.

Do Not Love the World

Verses 15-17: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John is a youth epistle—youth struggle with loving the world. It's easy to claim "I don't love the world," but examine your affections.

Three categories of worldly desires:

Desires of the Flesh

Do what feels good? Flesh means sin nature—impulsive, uncontrolled: fornication, gluttony (idolizing comfort food), drug abuse. These dictate behavior for physical pleasure. If so, you love the world; the Father's love is not in you. You're not saved.

Desires of the Eyes (Lusts)

Visually appealing things. Men ogling women ("hot"); women dressing sexy outside marriage. Internet access makes indulging easy. These belong to the world; lovers of them lack God's love.

Pride of Life (Pride of Possession)

Materialism, self-worth in things—TV, gadgets. Compare time spent on them vs. God. These replace God subtly.

All these pass away with the world (like Ecclesiastes teaches). Pursuing them is futile.

Whoever Does the Will of God Abides Forever

Only doing God's will abides forever.

1 Thessalonians 4

: God's will is your sanctification—abstain from sexual immorality, control your body against fleshly passions.

Because Jesus bore God's wrath, you've overcome the evil one, the word abides in you, you're strong. You don't love the world because you love Jesus. Live in sanctification: repentance, love, obedience. The one ongoingly doing God's will abides forever.

True Christians: sins forgiven for God's sake, know him, overcome the enemy, strong with God's word abiding, don't love the world but do God's will.

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