Have you won the battle?

"I am writing to you, who are God’s children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith  because you have won your battle with the evil one.” (1 John 2: 12-14)

This statement written by John the Apostle is extremely relevant in the times we live in. He wrote this letter as a mature leader of the early church. In this letter, he stresses the theme of love, that professing love is clear evidence that we are walking in the light as true believers in Christ, and a lack of love indicates that we are walking in darkness.

In 1 John 2:12-14, John the Apostle addresses his readers warmly as "dear children," highlighting his affectionate view of all believers, regardless of their spiritual maturity. He then categorizes them into three groups: children, the mature (fathers), and the young in faith (young men). This thoughtful breakdown serves two purposes. First, it reassures the children that their sins are forgiven through Jesus. Second, it acknowledges the mature believers' deep understanding of the eternal Christ, while commending the younger ones for having overcome evil.

John’s use of “little children” to refer to everyone collectively underscores his inclusive approach, embracing all from seasoned fathers to those newer in their faith journey.

Now, let's ponder a poignant question that emerges from this text: “Have you won the battle?” You might wonder which battle I'm referring to. This battle is the ongoing struggle for your heart, the fight against worldly temptations, and the resistance against sinful desires. John specifically highlights the young believers in verse 13, commending them for having triumphed over the evil one. This victory marks a significant milestone in their spiritual lives, reflecting the power and support they receive through their faith in Christ.

No matter where we stand in our spiritual journey—whether we're new to the faith or have been walking with Christ for years—it's crucial for all of us to reflect on an important aspect of our Christian life: the victory we are meant to have over the evil one. This 'evil one' is known by many names: the devil, the accuser, the god of this world, the thief, among others.

This victory becomes ours the moment we become believers. When we accept Christ, we experience a profound and supernatural shift, much like stepping from one side of the road to the other. It's an instant change—from darkness to light—that transforms our lives in ways that are hard to fully describe. As we continue in our faith, this initial transition sets the foundation for our ongoing battle against the forces that seek to pull us back into darkness. Let's take time to meditate on this victory and what it means for us in every stage of our spiritual walk.

As new believers, we undergo a profound transformation; we become new creations as outlined in 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are born again, not through natural birth as from our mothers, but spiritually through the Father’s Spirit. This rebirth makes us children of God.

However, it’s important to remember that although we are reborn, we enter into a world still marred by sin—a legacy inherited from the first humans, Adam and Eve. The Bible tells us that this world is under the sway of the 'prince of this world,' the evil one, as noted in 1 John 5:19. This influences us to become, in a sense, slaves to sin, our own desires, and the material world around us.

Yet, there's a beacon of hope in Isaiah 9:2, which speaks of those who walked in darkness seeing a great light. We, too, have seen this light. According to what John writes, we have already won the battle over the evil one by embracing this light, by choosing faith over the flesh.

But this brings us to a crucial point of reflection, and it’s the question I want to pose to you today: Have you truly won the battle over the evil one? This isn't just about the initial victory at the moment of belief; it's about how we continue living out that victory daily. Let's ponder this deeply—how are we manifesting this victory in the way we resist sin and live out our faith?

In my next blog post, I’ll wrap up this topic and share some encouragement on how we can keep winning the battle against the evil one.

Stay blessed and keep shining your light!