You have overcome the evil one. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we must learn to walk in victory over all the works of the evil one. The more we understand our place in Christ, the greater our triumph over the wiles of the wicked one. As our faith deepens in the Lord, we become conscious of the power and authority to resist the enemy and his cohorts. We, therefore, do not tremble in fear when they come against us.
“I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him Who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children because you have known the Father.” (1 Jn 2:13; emp added). The Apostle John addresses Christians as “fathers, young men, and children”. Each of them had a positive relationship with the Lord. That shows that at every level of our walk with the Lord, there is something new to learn and experience. John saw believers as people who had a relationship with Christ and knew how to walk in victory over the evil one. All the statements John made about the children, young men and fathers were in the past tense.
“You have known Christ”. The Lord Jesus is described as the “The one Who is from the beginning.” (Vs 13a). He is the Word that was in the beginning and became flesh to dwell amongst us. Spiritual maturity comes from having a deep relationship with Him. This comes through a long-term commitment to walking with the Lord in obedience. Trials and temptations come our way on this journey, but as we relate with Him, He enables us to remain faithful to Him.
“You have known the Father.” To know the Father is to be like the Father. Spiritual maturity moves us into a deeper and fuller knowledge of our God, resulting in our resembling Him. God’s children should bear a resemblance to Him. God’s children should reach their Father in thought and deed, ever-growing to exhibit His characteristics.
