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 39, we are going to study 1 John 2:14.
Let’s read our verse:
1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. 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.
The first part of this verse speaks about fathers knowing Him who is from the beginning.
This is the exact same thing that John writes in 1 John 2:13 in Lesson 36.
The repetition in this verse is used by John to emphasize that the ultimate goal of Christian maturity is to know Jesus by obeying the word of God.
The path to truly knowing Christ comes through obedience to God's commands.
In 2 Peter 3:18, we read that we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. The more you know Jesus the more you will grow spiritually.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Now, let’s take a look at the definition of the words in the last part of 1 John 2:14:
I have written to you (1125. graphó - Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular) (4771. su - Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural) means to express in written characters.
Young men (3495. neaniskos - Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural) means a youth, or those that are younger in the faith.
Because (3754. hoti - Conjunction) means that or since.
You are strong (2478. ischuros - Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural) means mighty, powerful, or God's power is "standing by" – ready to unleash itself to bring about His preferred-will, through faith. (HELPS - Word Studies)
and the word of God (3056. logos - Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular) (2316. theos - Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular) means speech, divine utterance, or expression of thoughts of the Father through the Spirit or the supreme Divinity. (HELPS - Word Studies)
abides in you (3306. menó - Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular) means to remain in, to wait, to continue, to endure in, or to stay in you.
and you have overcome (3528. nikaó - Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural) means to conquer, be victorious, or prevail.
the evil one (4190. ponéros - Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular) means the one that is wicked, malicious, of a bad nature, or the one that brings toils, annoyances or perils.
In Lesson 37, we went over a battle plan to overcome the evil one and fight spiritual battles. This lesson will provide the ultimate strategy that you need, which is to have the word of God abide in you.
If you want the word of God to abide in you, continually fill yourself with the word of God.
Here is how you do that:
Meditate on the word of God.
Listen to the word of God.
Read the word of God.
Study the word of God
And obey the word of God.
Let’s go over some verses that will help you to understand how the word of God can give you strength and be used to overcome the evil one.
In Matthew 4:4, we read about how Jesus used the word of God to battle the temptations of the evil one. The devil tempted Jesus by saying, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus responded to the attack with the word of God.
Matthew 4:4 (NLT) But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
When you are in a spiritual battle, speak the word of God to fight off attacks. Let God direct you by obeying His commands. He will guide you, so listen closely to Him. The enemy wants you to go against what God is telling you to do.
In Psalm 119:9-11, we read about what it takes to stay on the path of purity. This is accomplished by living according to the word of God and hiding the word of God in your heart. This means memorizing and meditating on the word day and night. Let the word of God be your guide for every moment of your life.
Psalm 119:9-11 (NIV) How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
In Psalm 1:1-3, we read about the key to prospering in all that you do. The way to do this is to delight yourself in the law of the LORD and meditate on it, rather than following the advice of the wicked, standing around with sinners, or joining in with mockers. The evil one wants to defeat you, but instead, be strong and let the word of God abide in you.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
In Colossians 3:16, we read that you are to let the word of Christ dwell within you richly. This is how you overcome the evil one. Spend time with Jesus by reading, meditating on, and obeying the word of God. Teach others what you are learning and sing worship songs to God with gratitude.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
In Ephesians 6:17, we read that part of the armor of God is the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. In Romans 10:17, we read that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Having faith in God's word will shield you from attacks.
The word of God is also an offensive weapon that you want to carry with you at all times. Let the word of God abide in you. And be ready to use it in your battles with the evil one.
Ephesians 6:16-17 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In Hebrews 4:12, we read about the power of the word of God - it is alive and active, and can judge the thoughts and intentions of your heart. This will prevent you from being overcome by the wicked plans of the evil one.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
In conclusion, John is giving you the formula to increase your spiritual strength and to overcome the evil one. The formula is to have the word of God abide in you. This means that the word of God is remaining in you, continuing in you, enduring in you, and staying in you.
Use the word of God to combat the lies of the enemy by memorizing Bible verses and saying them out loud during his attacks, like Jesus did in the wilderness.
Hide the word of God in your heart, so you will stay on the path of purity. The enemy wants you to live an impure life and destroy your relationship with God.
Meditate on the word day and night so you are strong like trees planted along the riverbank.
Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teach others the word of God, and sing worship songs to the Lord.
Use the word of God, like a shield, by building up your faith through hearing the word of God. This will be a shield from the fiery darts of the evil one.
Use the word of God, like a sword, to cut out the areas of your life that are sinful and to battle the enemy when he tries to get you to sin.
Let’s read our verse one more time.
1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. 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.
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Thank you, and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash. Torres del Paine, Torres de Paine, Chile. Berean Standard Bible.)
Lesson 39 - 1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you...