Sermon Tone Analysis

The Path to Spiritual Victory # 5

1 John 2: 12-17

The love and concern John has for the church is evident as we continue to read this epistle.

John loves them so much he now is going to instruct them on the importance of living a life of Spiritual victory.

He began by exalting Christ, reminding the believer of whom they have believed.

He offered a challenge regarding our fellowship with the Lord and shared the comfort of knowing we have an Advocate when we sin and come short.

Our last study dealt with the believer’s love for the Scripture and others.

Each thought is practical in application, but also essential in our lives.

Now, John continues to exhort and guide the church in our text today.

We find guidance and instruction concerning the things of this world.

He speaks to a broad audience, but the approach is essentially the same.

Many in John’s day faced adversity and suffered defeat.

The same is true for us as well.

Life is difficult at best.

We all face seasons of difficulty, times when our faith is tried and we feel discouraged or defeated.

Many struggle with true holiness and spiritual victory.

So I believe John is giving us some much needed instruction on how to reach that place of spiritual victory.

Let’s examine the directions John offers as we consider: The Path to Spiritual Victory

I.

The Importance of the Right Path

(12-13) – Here John addresses all believers directly.

As he speaks to three specific groups, he covers each phase of our spiritual journey.

All believers fit into one of the categories mentioned.

While all believers can be placed in one of the three groups, I really think John is trying to show his readers that in order for spiritual victory, one must first take the right path.

We see here three things about the right path to spiritual victory

A. It’s A Straight Path

(12-13) I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father

1.

Little Children

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

V12

The words little children is a term John used often to refer to those that were born again.

The ones that have had their sins forgiven.

This is the first step to the right path.

Jesus tells Nicodemious in John 3. Ye must be born again.

John is writing to all believers in general here.

He is telling them, “Hey, listen up, this is for all of those of you that are born again in Christ.”

If you were to study these words you would see the first use in verse 12 is being used as a form of enderment.

The second time he uses it in verse 13 it is being used to refer to a young child, a babe.

What he is telling the new babes in Christ is, “Listen closely, this is for you as well.

You may not have much wisdom, you may not have much experiance but you have the one thing that is needed to be on the stright path and that is you have a relationship with the Father.

Ill.

Think of when you were a child.

there was a point that you could not even read a book, but you knew who your Dad was.

You knew nothing about him other than he was your dad.

You couldnt tell others what he did or even help your dad but you knew who he was.

You could be in a room of a thousand dads and you could pick out your dad from the whole crowd.

No matter how long you did not see him, you knew who your dad was.

John is saying you have the same ability to reach spiritual victory as those that have been in this thing for a while because you simple know the Father.

2. Fathers

13a) – I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

John also addresses the wise and spiritually mature.

This level of maturity is reached at different times, depending on many variables, but it is safe to say these are not new converts.

These have known Christ in salvation for some time.

They have spent time with Him, reading His Word, serving in ministry, praying, all in continued fellowship with the Lord.

staying on the right path comes with knowledge and wisdom.

John writing to these older ones in the faith should encourage many that if they can do it so can we.

Paul told Timothy to fight a good fight in his first letter to him then in his second letter he tells Timothy that he had fought a good fight.

I think Paul was telling him in the second letter, “ Hey timothy my son I know it may seem tough at times, but I have fought a good fight and if I can do it so can you!

3. Young Men

(13b) – I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.

Now John speaks to those who are midway through the spiritual journey.

He describes them as young men.

This refers to those who have been saved for a while and are growing significantly in the Lord.

They may not have reached absolute maturity, but they have endured some battles along the way and have come through them victorious.

They possess a hunger and zeal for the Lord.

They are strong, ambitious, eager, and committed.

You may have only been in this thing for a short while but you have faced some battles, John is telling you stay strong you have made it this far.

Stick with the stuff.

B. It’s A Sharp Path

14b.I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

This may seem as John is repeating himself , but he adds, “..and the Word of God abideth in you.”

He is reassuring the young men, the younger believers, that they are only able to overcome the darts from satan and the trip hazards on the path because they have the Word of God in them.

The right path to spiritual victory may be a straight one but it will be filled with sharp rocks that are the wiles of the devil and John is reassuring his younger readers that there have been those and there are those among them that have faced some of the same obstacles and they have overcome.

Can I encourage you this morning, if you are a child of God and are staying in His Word, you can and will make it.

Hey you may want to give up, you may want to give in, don’t.

You have the strength of His word in you, you have His faith in you, hey friend you have the Son of God in you and if He made it all the way to the cross and got the victory, you can make it to the end and have the victory.

C. It’s A Successful Path

(14a) – I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning...

The only way believers can progress on the continuum of spiritual growth— and be successful on the path is through the life-giving, life-transforming application of the Word of God in their lives (2 Tim.

2:15; cf.

Ezra 7:10).

By reading, studying, memorizing, meditating on, and applying the Bible’s truth in every situation, Christians are transformed into the image of God (cf. 2 Cor.

3:18) by the power of the Spirit (cf.

Eph.

6:17; Col. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19–21).

As they continue to grow in their sanctification, the goal of all believers must be to become spiritual fathers, characterized by an intimate communion with God.

This is a successful path.

 What a challenge that presents to us as well.

It is easy to get complacent as we walk with the Lord.

Most of us have been in Sunday school all our lives.

We have heard the Bible stories.

We know the doctrines of Scripture.

We are familiar with the tactics of the enemy and the struggles of life.

We have been through storms and came through them safely.

We are maturing in Christ, but we must not be satisfied with where we are.

There is much more to accomplish, greater heights to reach, and victories to win.

Stay true to the Lord and continue to grow in Him and the path you are on will become a successful one.