“12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 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.
14 I write to you, dear 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 lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2.12-14
To children, fathers, and young men—three age groups that represent a larger body receiving encouragement from John for walking with the Lord.
One commentator suggests these common themes:
• Assurance of Salvation: The forgiveness of sins and knowledge of God affirm believers’ secure standing with Him.
• Spiritual Maturity: The passage acknowledges different stages of faith—new believers (children), mature believers (fathers), and those actively contending with evil (young men).
• Victory Over Evil: The emphasis on overcoming the evil one highlights the power of faith and God’s Word in spiritual warfare.
• Knowledge of God: Knowing God (both the Father and Christ) is central to Christian identity and counters false teachings that deny Christ’s divinity or humanity (Grok, 2025).
Here I sit in Sofia, Bulgaria, where Christianity arrived at least 1,800 years ago. Christianity was recognized here as the state religion before 330 AD, when Roman Emperor Constantine recognized it for Rome. I’m also only 144 miles from Thessaloniki, Greece, the location of one of Paul’s earliest churches. Although this is not the Holy Land, it is close to where the gospel spread when the Holy Spirit was unleashed at Pentecost and Paul began his missionary journeys. After attending a Greek Orthodox service yesterday, I find myself questioning why I think my way of practicing the faith supersedes what they have been doing for millennia.
Reading 1 John 2:12–14 can offer all believers comfort, whether we practice like the Orthodox, Catholics, or Methodists. We can have assurance of our salvation, grow in spiritual maturity, achieve victory over evil, and deepen our knowledge of God. Our faith is both public and private. Our relationship with God matters most. How we practice is an expression of our love and knowledge of Him, but how we practice is less important than that we practice. Our love for Jesus extends from past to future generations.
The consistent factor is that Jesus is Lord. He is the Messiah who saves us, loves us, and desires a relationship with us. Religion is our attempt to touch the divine, to make sense of our faith, and to connect with the Father. Returning to the simplest form of faith is attainable. Although I am steeped in a country rich in Christian tradition, Christ has encountered me individually in Texas, 6,000 miles away and 2,000 years removed.
I am thankful for my own roots, which can be traced back to the very beginnings of the Gospel. Christ is loving, faithful, and true. I love that John’s purpose in writing is to encourage us—from generation to generation—that we might become His hands and feet so the world might know His love, salvation, and kindness for all eternity.
“O Lord God, another day in this country, so far from home, reminds me of the early days when Your people and church began to grow. I thank You that how I learned of You and experienced Your love is rooted in the traditions of the past. Yet You, Jesus, are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your love. Help me know the power of Your Word. I praise Your name, for You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen