Living a Balanced Life

(An In-Depth Study of First John)

Week 6

Commentary

The Victorious Christian Life

1 John 2:12-14

 Outline

I share my father’s name. At 16 years of age, I walked into the showroom of my local motorcycle dealer and financed the motorcycle of my dreams with that name. This was a time in banking before social security numbers. The bank assumed that my father was purchasing this rocket ship. I lived in a small town and conducted business with a small town banker and before the deal was closed my banker discovered that it was my father’s 16 year old son that was requesting the loan. In spite of the fact I had no credit experience, the banker approved the loan. His reasoning???… “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.  I rode off in a blaze of glory!

Like me riding the coattails of my father’s credit history, the Apostle John assures every true believer that they are victorious in the name. The first and most fundamental offering of encouragement John gives his readers is the fact they are forgiven of sins and that forgiveness remains effective in their lives. This forgiveness occurs because the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made the mercy and grace of God available to those who repent of their sins and believe in the name of Jesus.

Every verb in our text (vs 12-14) is in the perfect tense. In other words, the power in this name (Jesus), stands for the person and completed work of Jesus in its totality; Jesus proclaimed from the cross, “It is finished”. Therefore, John is stating that everyone who confesses the name of Jesus is saved and as a result of that confession they now have access to the power of that name.

John states that we overcome the ‘evil one’ (Satan). This victory implies battles. It is through prayer and the Word that every believer has communion with the Father and gains direction and power for the battle. In this session we will explore who this battle is with and how it is we overcome the enemy. This victorious strength comes from our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose victory over the evil one grants us the ability to triumph. (1 John 5:4)

Why does John address three groups?

• Little children – the church
• Fathers – Leaders
• Young Men – the strong

The pattern in John’s letter:

• Assurance
• Vigilance

Summing up the pattern so far in the letter:

• (1:7) If we walk in the light…ours sins are cleansed (2:12) Your sins ARE forgiven!
• (2:4) If you don’t keep the commandments, you are a liar and the truth is not in you (2:13) But you DO KNOW HIM!
• (3:8) Live in sin and you are of the Devil (2:13) But you have OVERCOME the evil one!

Overcoming the evil one (vs 14b) 

Young men who are strong:

• Overcome the evil one
• Have the Word of God abiding in them (Prayer and the Word)

The Word of God overcomes Satan

Satan’s MO:

• Accuse Christians regarding sins past (Rev. 12:10-11) / (1 John 2:1-2)
• Tempt Christians into future sin (John 8:32; 17:17) / (1 John 2:14b)

LIFE APPLICATION 

Lies can only be defeated by the TRUTH

Let the Word abide in you!