1 John 2:12-14 Bible Study Notes

Bible Study Notes – 1 John 2:12-14

We continue our study in 1 John which primarily teaches disciples how to live, individually and collectively, in the “beloved community” which the “Church” personifies.  The author, the Apostle John, “the Beloved Disciple” who also wrote the Gospel of John as well as the other two epistles and the book of Revelation, instructs believers on the practicality of living in fellowship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ (the Logos and the Life) within a community of fellow believers.  In this week’s passage, we explore a few personal messages that John writes to fathers, young men and his “dear children” within the “Beloved Community.”  The apostle reassures the newest members of the community that their sins are forgiven irreversibly in Jesus Christ, our Righteous Advocate.  He encourages fathers to utilize the divine wisdom that they glean from their relationships with Christ in their priestly duties as parents.  He exhorts young men to rely genuinely upon Christ’s example to empower them to live with integrity.  John concludes this passage with admonitions against loving the world.

Consider the following ides and questions as you study the passage.

Using Revealed and Relational Wisdom of Christ – 1 John 2:12-14

• In the twelfth verse, John reiterates the truth of unconditional, complete and irreversible forgiveness in Christ.
• Forgiveness occurs because of the righteousness of Christ who enables anyone who believes in Him to share in His righteousness.
• Forgiveness is the gracious gift of believers who accept it with childlike faith.
• Allude to Matthew 10:15 and Luke 18:16.
• In the next verse, John addresses fathers because of their belief in Christ “who is from the beginning.”
• This stalwart faith enables and encourages fathers to train their children in the authentic Christian faith that they inherited from their forebears.
• From the Old Testament practices, fathers had the priestly obligations of training their children in the faith. 
• Allude to Deuteronomy 6, Proverbs 22:6, 2 Corinthians 12:14, Ephesians 6:4, 1Timothy 3:4, and Titus 2:4.
• Parents have the responsibilities of teaching, training, providing, nurturing, controlling and loving their children.
• Then, the apostle appeals to young men to cultivate a Christian character in their youth when their strength, energy and vitality can be given to the service of Almighty God.
• Further, he applauds them for triumphing over the challenges, tricks, tests and machinations of the devil whom John characterizes as “the evil one.”
• Is there a personal devil?
• Are we subject to the evil in the world?
• What are the temptations with which young men particularly struggle?
• Let’s detail the temptations that men of African descent specifically face?
• Allude to President Harry S. Truman’s mantra that leaders face four fundamental temptations: (1) Wine, (2) Women, (3) Wealth and (4) Will Power.
• In his second reference to his “dear children,” the great and venerated sage of the Johannine Community commends them for their faith in the Holy Father and Creator of the world.  
• Elsewhere, the apostle Paul tells us that we can approach Almighty God with the loving and endearing term, ‘Daddy.”
• Allude to Galatians 4:6-7.  We can cry “Abba, Father” as the sons and daughters of God.
• John reiterates his commendation for fathers’ reliance upon the enduring faith of Christ and the guiding light for their ministries in the home and parenthood.
• In his second address to young men, John compliments them for their strength and storing the word of God in their hearts and lives so that they will not sin against God.
• Internalizing the Word of God is the surest defense to the temptation of the devil.