Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Eastern.
In Lesson 38, we are going to study the final part of 1 John 2:13.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 2:13...I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
I have written to you (1125. graphó - Verb - Aorist, Indicative, Active - 1st Person Singular) means to express in written characters or figuratively to describe.
children (3813. paidion - Noun - Vocative, Neuter, Plural) means 'an infant', 'a half-grown boy or girl', or figuratively, 'an immature Christian'.
because (3754. hoti - Conjunction) means: 'since', 'that', or 'because', and may introduce direct discourse.
you know (1097. ginóskó - Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural) means: 'to come to know', 'to learn', 'to ascertain', or 'to realize', especially through personal experience.
the Father (3962. patér - - Noun, Accusative, Masculine, Singular) means 'our heavenly Father'. The heavenly Father is the one who gives life through physical birth and also gives eternal life through being born again.
After you have put your faith in Christ, one of the first stages of maturity is to know the Father.
Let's go through some verses that will help you better know God the Father.
The first thing you must know about God the Father is that He deeply loves His children.
In 1 John 3:1, we read that God has an immense and extraordinary love for His children. He calls those who believe in Him "children of God". This denotes a special and intimate kind of love. When you know God, you will be amazed by His great love.
1 John 3:1 (NIV) See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
The next thing you need to know about God the Father is that He is a great Provider.
In Matthew 6:31-34, we read about Jesus instructing His followers not to worry about basic needs such as food, drink, or clothing, because our heavenly Father knows our needs. Jesus is calling His followers to seek first a relationship with God and to trust Him for provision. God the Father will provide for your needs.
Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
And finally, you can know God the Father through the Holy Spirit.
When you choose to believe and follow Jesus, you are given the Holy Spirit.
In Romans 8:15-16, we read that through the Holy Spirit, we are adopted as God's children. The Holy Spirit affirms to us that we are children of God, fully accepted into the family of God. This adoption is not based on merit but on God's grace. This leads children of God to call God the Father by the affectionate and intimate term "Abba" or "Daddy" in English.
Romans 8:15-16 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
In conclusion, when we first become Christians, one of the first steps to maturity is to know God the Father. You can know God the Father by understanding that He has an immense and extraordinary love for His children. You can know God the Father by understanding that He is a great Provider. And you can know God the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:13...I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
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Thank you, and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible. NIV)
Lesson 38 - 1 John 2:13...I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.