This salvation process is not completed and made whole until we receive the crown of glory, Not until. In which this crown signifies entrance and our inheritance into Life Everlasting; Forever to be with Abba. Since I have received a good look or at least a partial view into this Truth, this walk so far sure has been a lot easier, for me anyway. Wellllll? Maybe not easier. Not easier in the sense of less severe trials and tests; But easier to accept this whole walk, no matter what it brings, as my lot in life if I'm to follow in His Footsteps. The main thing that hindered me for the longest time was murmmuring and complaining against God---Against my lot in life or just plain and kicking against the goads. I would desire and ask for Him to have His will in my life, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else--at ANY cost, and then turn in the same breath to my own will and complain why nothing is working out. The Holy Spirit would be leading me in a way--His Way. The way that I should go as a child of the King so I won't depart from it; but I'm forever fighting to go the other. I know you know what I mean. Paul spoke of this in the all famous Romans 7: 15 - 25. Woe is me! Who shall deliver me from this body of death? Thank God Christ will! AMEN!!!1 John 2: 12 - 15 ~ 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.
14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. 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.
15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.Before I start; Let me testify. IMHO; One of the most freedom producing and bondage breaking revelations that has come my way, is, that there are in fact four stages of Spiritual growth in the journey to complete our salvation process in the Kingdom of Heaven. For the best part because when I found out this wasn't an all or nothing deal; It completely set me free from guilt and condemnation. These two, along with disobedience and rebellion, are spirit slayers.
John's letter makes it clear that he is addressing 4 distinct groups of believers. Each of these age groups are designed to be passed through---they're designed to graduate from. They are designed to grow up the body of Christ unto a complete, and mature believer. These stages aren't designed to linger too long in, or stagnate in. But we have to make up our heart and mind to stay in each stage long enough to learn all there is to learn, all that Abba wants us to learn. Or, we can't graduate. It's likened unto the school process. You can't go to the 4th grade until we pass the 3rd. Not until! And if so inclined we can be retained because of spiritual apathy, indifference or being held bondage by false doctrine. It's up to us. We can stay there forever if need be. No question about it. But there is a balance here as is in the natural.
In the witnesses above, John makes a point to address these 4 different levels of growth. Which are really levels of spiritual understanding. Levels that are determined by the grace that we allow to operate in lives. This concept is backed by other witnesses in His Holy Writ. Namely, one I can think of now is The parable of the Sower which I'll attempt to touch on and clarify that later in this post. If not I plan to cut and paste a writing Abba gave to me a couple of years ago on God's Gardening Principle. But again I say, only by His grace will I do anything at all, Amen. I'll have to pause for a time as needed to clarify, hoping, by His Grace that I don't complicate it. The text in GREEN, are the ones that most fit the context of the teaching that John is putting forth. I believe you also will agree with this, but if not---Please don't hesitate to correct me.
Looking at the order that His Word refers to these stages or the order that John speaks of them in verses 12 & 13 are this ~ First the infant or new-born stage ~ Then the father or mature stage ~ then the young man or adolescent stage ~ and finally the toddler and youth or yound child stage. So, He doesn't refer to these in the order of growth for a reason. I'll explain later.Taking a close look at these witnesses above in 1 John 12 in the Amplified text along with the Greek Lexicon to clarify ~ I am writing to you, because for His names' sake your sins are forgiven [pardoned through His name and on account of confessing His name].
I would consider this group to be between the newly born to about 4 years old stage of Christian growth. Notice this is clear that John is speaking to those newly saved by the confession of their sins and the name above every other name. These are probably some of the same readers of his writngs as were in the Gospel of John. He's confronting a spirit of Gnosticism in this letter, though. Look at the way he addressed them. I'll use Will's paraphrase here~~~~ I'm writing to you new born in Christ because you are forgiven through His blood because you have repented of your sins and publicly confessed Christ's name.Little children
Strong's # 5040 teknion tek-nee'-onKJV - little children
1) a little child
in the New Testament used as a term of kindly address by teachers to their disciples
In verse 13, John addresses the other three stages of growth starting with the fathers in Christ. Since the next three stages are all in the same verse; I'll stop at each one to clarify with the Greek definition. This reference to father here has many definitions, too many in fact, all springing from God the Father. So I won't list them all. You'll have to go to your concordance yourself if what I list isn't enough.
The Amplified text translates I am writing to you fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be aware of and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning.
This knowing Him Who has existed from the beginning in the father stage is in the spiritual sense, the same as the new born stage. In the spiritual, they are one and the same. The newly saved have that STRONG, VIBRANT FIRST LOVE, or excitement in Christ. In like manner, so do the fathers in Christ. And this is the key---The new-borns have never sinned and the fathers in Christ will not willingly sin. This is why God sees them in the same light. And why John addresses them seemingly out of order.
John said the fathers IN Christ have known God from the beginning. This can mean that He is known to have existed from the beginning of time. And can also mean that the fathers have known Him in His fulness and His ways and purposes from the beginning of their salvation. I believe the former fits here though but not exclusively.
Some of the witnesses I've found to bear this thinking up are~~~Ephesians 1:12 ~~~~That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 1 Timothy 5:12~~~Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. Revelation 2:5~~~~Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Looking at John addressing the young men or adolescent stage of growth he says 3c) I am writing to you, young men, because you have been victorious over the wicked [one]. Also in 1 John 14 (Amp) says ~ I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have beeb victorious over the wicked one. The third stage of Spiritual growth in verse 13; John refers to as little children but is not the same word above in verse 12 ~ I write to you, little children,because you have come to know (recognize and be aware) of the Father.
~~~Strong's # 3962 pathr pater pat-ayr'
Fathers
KJV - Father 268, father 150; 419
3c) of Christians, as those who through Christ have been exalted to a specially close and intimate relationship with God, and who no longer dread him as a stern judge of sinners, but revere him as their reconciled and loving Father
3d) The Father of Jesus Christ, as one whom God has united to himself in the closest bond of love and intimacy, made acquainted with His purposes, appointed to explain and carry out among men the plan of salvation, and made to share also in his own divine nature.
We really have to pay attention here to is the wording. For instance~~~~I write unto you fathers, because ye have known Him from the beginning This knowing God from the beginning is the relationship Paul is talking about with our Father that causes Him to be known as Abba to us. This is one who needs meat to sustain strength and life. God is known by this word as the Hebrew equivalent of Dad or Daddy. This knowing is the same knowing as when Adam knew his wife Eve. But this has nothing to do with a carnal or sexual relationship at all. It is infinitely more intimate than any carnal marriage could ever be. But can be likened unto a marriage in that the same divine seed or sperm that was divinely implanted and conceived in Mary is implanted in us at the initial indwelling of the Holy Ghost in which this marriage is consumatedin God's eyes. This is why His Word says we commit spiritual adultery when we have a extra marrital affair with the worlds system of operation. James 4: 1 - 5 And just like a natural conception and pregnacy; We have to guard it carefully to take it to full term. Because we can cause a miscarriage or even abort due to rebellion and disobedience to the teachings of Christ which always leads to outright sin. Sin and God cannot exist on the same plane Likewise---Sin and the Holy Spirit cannot live in the same flesh.
Strong's # 756~~~arch arche ar-khayBeginning
KJV - principality 8, corner 2, first
From # 757~~~
1) beginning, origin to begin 83,
to rehearse from the beginning 1; 84
2) to begin
1a) to be the first to do (anything)
2a) to be chief, leader, ruler
3a) to begin, make a beginning
Young men~~~
Strong's #3495 neaniskov neaniskos neh-an-is'-kos
KJV - young man 10; 10
1) a young man, youth
1a) used of a young attendant or
servant This group is more akin to adolescents or teens.Boys or lads ~ Strong's #3813 paidion paidion pahee-dee'-on
This stage is well past the new birth stage of growth. And the problem with it though is that many of us want to continue to sit there in a pew and have someone stick a bottle of milk in our whining mouth and change our dirty diapers for 20 or 30 years. Abba will do this for a while after salvation, but He won't continue it when He knows and determines we should have grown enough spiritually to do this ourselves. The whole purpose here in this walk is to grow up in the things of God. When we have sat in a pew long enough staring at the back of someones head, God will start the trials, tests and tribulations to force us out of the crib and on to our own two feet. There comes a time when we should be teaching others. If nothing else the others in our own immediate family. This one thing, I cannot understand. Why a father or head of household would have someone else or a stranger teach their family the things of the Kingdom of God. Why they would send their children to be taught these important things by someone else??? And of course, I used to do this myself, at first, when I didn't understand most of the principles and teachings of the Kingdom. But after I started to understand a few Truths; I and my family sought to learn together and have since considered our church to be everyday---not just Sundays and Wednesday evenings. And I say this again---In no way do I claim to have I attained, know or understand anything except Christ and Him crucified. And only by His grace is that by which I stand. Nothing else. And this learning process goes on ---From day to day. Now I understand fully that fellowship is important but many of us leave this raising our children up in the ways that they should go to another man or woman. This is why many depart from these ways. This ought not to be so, Brethren. I haven't been ordained by anyone but Abba Himself. I baptized my youngest in a two-foot deep blow up swimming pool because he desired and believed it to be the time to be baptized. Now I say this not to puff myself up but to make a vital point. If we as parents don't take the ball and run with it, we will fumble and darkness will take it away and run for a touchdown as far as our kids are concerned.KJV - child 25, little child 12, young child 10, damsel 4; 51 1) a young child, a little boy, a little girl 1a) infants 1b) children, little ones 1c) an infant 1c1) of a (male) child just recently born 1d) of a more advanced child; of a mature child; For Synonyms see entry 5868 & 5943
I wondered for the longest; Why didn't John address these stages of spiritual growth in order starting at the infant, to the toddler, to the adolescent, and finally wind up at the father stage? Not that he was bound to this order in any way. But it seemed at first it would be easier to grasp and understand. It just didn't look right to me, and maybe to others also, I don't know. But in asking Abba about this and pondering about it long enough, I found out he did address them in order. But in the order that counts. In order of their spiritual groth. In the order of their relationship with God that is determined by their understanding of the Gospel of Christ.
Jesus said in Mark 4: 21 - 25 ~ 21 And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?
22) For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24) And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25) For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
John is addressing the new born believers and then the fathers in Christ because of this one simple fact. The new born have not sinned---and the father in Christ will not willingly sin
It's the two stages of growth in the middle that give God a hard time. It's the youth and the teens that refuse to grow up in the case of the youth. And in the case of the adolescent; They want all the priveliges and perks of adulthood but do not want the responsibilty whatsoever. They are at the stage where they want to try out for size their father like a young rutting buck. The adolescent wants the car keys and the check book but they aren't mature enough to handle them. But to hear them talk they are. So goes the story.
The father and the newborn are looked upon as the same in the eyes of God. One is of a newly cleansed mind and soul that births or produces a good heart. The other has walked and continues to walk unto consecration by daily cultivating, producing and harvesting the fruits unto the nature of God. In other words as Paul said---The father in Christ knows that he has to daily put off or lay aside the whole corrupt, carnal nature---and daily; consciously, willfully put on or take up the cross that conforms him into a likeness of the Father; Through the Son Jesus Christ. Whatever that cross might be to an individual. Because my cross in all likelihood will not be anybody elses burden. This is why Jesus chose 12 to follow Him and not just one. He chose 12 different personalities. And so it is today. As Solomon so wisely stated---There's nothing new under the sun
