Virtual Service April 30, 2023
The Word of Life — Spiritual Maturity Pt 2
“Young Men”
1 John 2:13b, 14b I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Spiritual “Young Men” Have Grown Beyond Infancy
The second stage of spiritual growth takes believers from an emphasis on the basic relationship and forgiveness of sin, to an emphasis on Biblical Revelation. In contrast to spiritual children, who are primarily focused on devotion to God, spiritual young men have advanced to be concerned with clarity of doctrine. Spiritual young men are marked by an understanding of Scripture truth (cf. Ps. 119:11-16, 97, 103, 105, 148; Acts 17:11; 20:32; 2 Tim. 3:15). (MacArthur Commentary on the NT)
Spiritual “Young Men” Memorize Scripture
Psalm 119:9-16 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.
Spiritual “Young Men” Hunger After The Word Of The Lord
Psalm 119:97-100 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
Spiritual “Young Men” Defend The Faith By The Correct Use Of The Word
They have outgrown the childish self-absorption with feelings and moved beyond the elementary struggles often associated with new Christians. They have a biblical worldview, their theology is largely in place, and they have a mature love for the truth and a desire to proclaim and defend it (cf. Eph. 6:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:12).
(MacArthur Commentary on the New Testament)
2 Timothy 2:14-15 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth.
Spiritual “Young Men” Have Overcome The Devil Because They Know The Word
Because the word of God abides in them at this stage, they are strong in doctrinal truth (Eph. 4:13-16; 1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Titus 2:1). As a result, they have already overcome the evil one. Satan’s primary emphasis is not on tempting individuals to sin (cf. James 1:14), but on working through manifold false religious systems to deceive the world and lead many to damnation (2 Cor. 10:3-5; 11:13-15; Eph. 6:11-12; cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 1 John 4:1, 3). The spiritual young men at this stage of maturity, are equipped through their understanding of Scripture to stand firm against his deceptive schemes (Eph. 6:11). Armed with sound doctrine they are able to refute error and guard the truth. (MacArthur Commentary on the New Testament)
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
1 John 4:1-6 …do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world and the world listens to them. We are from God and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.