I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 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.

 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.

I John 2:12 – 14

All who believe find themselves in the company of disciples like they are.  Some have been disciples for many years, some are new believers, some are disciples in the midst of life’s battles, sharing the Gospel with all and eagerly moving into new groups with the Gospel of Peace.

I note that John does not refer to Jews or Gentiles, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, no, not one word about culture or tradition.  He refers to a universal reality – youth, active adults and older people.  Every culture has them! This kind of thinking marks the new family that Jesus Christ makes possible.  We are a new humanity, yet human.

The new believers rejoice in sins forgiven, in knowing that God is their Father.

Active, more mature believers are doing battle against Satan, strengthened by the word of God, Jesus, who lives in them.

Older believers connect with the history of God’s love and see their place in God’s plan, eager to know the end from the beginning.

Each person has a special role to play, a role they fill in the fellowship of the Body of Christ that is made up of all three categories.  As we live together, serve together, worship together, build one another up and encourage one another, so the Gospel spreads to the end of the earth.