Trent Thrasher

Trent Thrasher

It is possible, and necessary, to know God! God has revealed Himself to us in His Holy Word. Consider 1 John 2:13 which states, “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.” Young or old, in the church, we can truly know God.

The term “fathers” indicates one who is more mature in the faith. These individuals knew Him that is from the beginning, that is Christ (cf. 1 John 1:1-3). Those younger in the faith (“young men”) had overcome (achieved victory over) the wicked one who is the devil (cf. 1 John 5:18; Matt. 13:38-39). Faith indeed is the victory over the world of which Satan is the prince (1 John 5:4; cf. John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; Eph. 2:2). Jesus thwarted Satan’s temptations with “it is written” effectively wielding the sword of the Spirit (cf. Matt. 4:1-11; Eph. 6:17).

From 1 John 2:12, the “little children” had their sins forgiven which is now linked in verse 13 with knowing the Father. No person can know the Father without knowing Jesus (cf. John 14:6-14). As one is taught about the Father they will be drawn to Jesus (John 6:44-45). The great drawing power is the cross of Christ (John 12:32). Through Christ’s sacrifice we have forgiveness and so we preach the cross (1 Cor. 1:18-24). Truly, we can know God such that we can declare that great love and salvation for humanity!

Trent Thrasher

We all need reminders from time to time and the Bible is replete with them! One of those reminders is found in 1 John 2:12, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” John, in writing to Christians, (see 1 John 2:7, 9-11 with the family terms “brethren” and “brother”) states one of the reasons for writing this epistle, “because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” Truly, we need reminding from time to time that we have forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

The word “forgiven” means “to let go”, “send away”, “to cancel a debt”, and thus be loosed from the penalty of sin which is spiritual death (cf. Rom. 6:23). John does not leave us without an explanation of how this is possible when he writes, “for his name’s sake”. The “his” refers to Christ (cf. 1 John 2:1-2, 6). Through His atoning, vicarious sacrifice we have forgiveness of all of our sins based upon walking in the light (cf. 1 John 1:5-10).

When Christ is preached so too is the forgiveness of sin. Peter replied to those who were pricked in the heart with the Gospel message in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Later in Acts 5:31, that same Peter and the apostles told the Jewish council regarding Christ, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” In Acts 13:38, the apostle Paul exclaimed, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [Jesus - see v. 33] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”

Let us live such that we believe that with all our hearts and help others to know Christ is The Way out of the bondage of sin and into eternal life (cf. Acts 4:10-12; John 8:31-36, 14:1-6)!

Trent Thrasher