In verses 12-14, John addressed three groups of people – children,
fathers and young men. Who was John referring to in each group? Some have taken
this to mean people of different ages; others have taken this to refer to
different levels of spiritual maturity. However, we need to know that at some
point all believers would experience those things assigned to each in the
groups. Like children, every believer would have had their sins forgiven and
know God the Father. And like fathers, every believer must know Him (God) from
the beginning. And like young men, every believer would have engaged in
spiritual warfare and overcome the evil one.
John was probably not talking about age but the spiritual levels
of different people. All of us know that as God’s children, our sins are
forgiven as we enter into a relationship with the Father. As we mature and
become more stable. Like fathers, our relationship with the Father whom we have
known from the beginning, become more stable. We don’t vacillate in our faith
as much. As younger men, who are more vibrant and combative, we would have at
some point overcome the evil forces and their works. Hence John referred to the
young men as overcomers.
In verses 15-17, John pointed out that since believers had
experienced those blessings, they ought no longer to have any love for the
world. In talking about the world, John was basically referring to the value
system of the fallen nature that had been influenced by the devil. Here, John
was more concerned in the attitude of the believers. If a believer has the
mindset and value of the world, the love for the Father would not be in him. In
verse 16, he not only gave the reason why believers should not love the world,
but also what constitute “loving the world”. Believers ought not to love the
world because its value system is in direct opposition to God. It did not come
from God, and it would all perish ultimately. Only the will of God and values
that promote godliness would last forever. John also outlined three aspects
that reflect a love of the world. They are: the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes and the boastful pride of life. The lust of the flesh is the craving
of sinful desires that would pull believers away from God. The lust of the eyes
is a figure of speech for greed and covetousness. The boastful pride of life
would be the pride that would drive a person to have an unhealthy desire to get
ahead of others at all cost.
We are called to renew our mind. Hence, every one of us must tear
down from our thinking any value that is worldly, and in its place, build value
system derived from the Word of God.
Then we will be able to test and prove what the will of God is, that which
is not only good and acceptable, but perfect.
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