1 JOHN 2:12-14
adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal.4:4-6).
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every
man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Pt.1:17).

2. Fathers, the believers who have a deep and rich knowledge of God, must remember that they have known God who
is from the beginning. They must remember everything that has been said to them in the above note (1 Jn.2:12-13). But in
addition, they must never be lifted up with pride—no matter how long they have walked with God. Note the words: “Him
[God] that is from the beginning.” God has been around from the beginning of time, much longer than the fathers of the
faith. No matter how deep and rich the believer’s knowledge of God is, there is so much more to know. God is eternal and
He has an eternity of experience for us to learn about. Therefore, we must never be lifted up with pride as though we know
God and have arrived. There is still an eternity of things to learn about God. Mature believers, those with a rich and full
knowledge of God, must remember from where they have come and continue to seek to know God. They have known God
from the beginning of their conversion and they must continue to grow and grow in their relationship with God.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I
became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor.13:11).
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in under-
standing be men” (1 Cor.14:20).
“Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your
seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Cor.9:10).
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per-
fect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph.4:12-13).
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb.5:14).
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory
both now and for ever” (2 Pt.3:18).

3. Young men, the mature believers, must remember three things.
a. Mature believers must remember that they are strong. They must know their strength and be assured and
have confidence in the strength they have gained. But mature believers must remember where their
strength comes from and how they became spiritually strong: all through Jesus Christ. Note: believers must
never trust the power of the flesh, of mental determination. The flesh and the mind fail. Neither can be
consistently strong in controlling the flesh. Both mind and body will eventually weaken and fail in spiritual
warfare.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same brin-
geth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn.15:5).
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the ut-
termost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the
world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to
the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of
faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever” (Ro.16:25-27).
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our suffi-
ciency is of God” (2 Cor.3:5).
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Chr-
ist may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2
Cor.12:9-10).
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Eph.3:16).
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness” (Col.1:11).

b. Mature believers must remember that the Word of God abides in them. This is the key to spiritual growth
and to pleasing and securing the approval of God. No matter what a person may think or say, there is no
spiritual growth apart from God’s Word. No person pleases or secures God’s approval without studying and
living in God’s Word. Mature believers must never forget this, and they must continue to give their lives to
studying and living in the Word of God.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts
17:11).
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