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The Stages of Spiritual Growth
(1 John 2:12-14)

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been 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. (2:12-14)

One essence of life is growth. This is true in both the physical realm and in the spiritual realm. Just as living seeds grow into mature plants and infants grow into mature adults, so new Christians grow into Christlikeness. When growth is hindered in the physical realm, either by malnutrition, disease, or birth defects, the results can be tragic. But it is an even greater tragedy when believers fail to grow and mature spiritually. After all, immature Christians cannot fully appreciate all the blessings and privileges that God has reserved for them, nor serve Him with the usefulness He desires (John 15:4-5; 17:21; Rom. 5:2; 8:28, 34; 9:23; 2 Cor. 4:15-17; Eph. 2:19; 3:12, 20; Phil. 4:7; Heb. 7:25; James 1:17; 2 Peter 1:4; cf. Pss. 18:2; 27:1; 46:11; 48:14; Isa. 40:11).

Like physical growth, spiritual growth ultimately depends on God’s power, but it also requires the element of human responsibility. All scriptural calls to obedience make that obvious. In fact, the New Testament repeatedly echoes the call for Christians to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). Peter commanded believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18a), while Paul exhorted them to “be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1). Paul also set forth spiritual growth’s ultimate goal:

He understood that “the goal for the prize of the upward call of God” is to become like “Christ Jesus” (cf. Phil. 2:5; 3:10). The apostle John reiterated that same truth when he wrote, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). As those who love the Lord, believers are to continually pursue holiness “like the Holy One who called [them]” (1 Peter 1:15). Thankfully, God has provided His church with gifted men to help believers as they grow in that pursuit:

Every biblical command toward sanctification assumes the necessary obedience of the ones commanded. That makes it clear that believers have a duty to faithfully and obediently use the means of grace to grow to maturity.

In discussing spiritual growth, it is important to address several misconceptions that must be carefully avoided. First, spiritual growth does not determine the believer’s standing in grace before God. That issue is finally and completely settled when sinners trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ and have His righteousness imputed to them (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:5-8; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Phil. 3:9; Col. 2:10; 1 Peter 2:24). At the moment of conversion, Christ’s own sacrifice for sin is applied to the believing sinner and His own righteousness credited to the penitent so that God’s wrath is turned away, all sin is paid for and pardoned, and the believer is accepted by God in Christ Jesus. The resultant standing is fixed and irrevocable, and it settles forever believers’ heavenly destiny.

Second, spiritual growth does not affect God’s love for believers. He does not love the mature saints more than the less mature. (The reason for this is that His love is not based on the individual merit of any person [Rom. 5:8].) The Lord Jesus Christ loves all the elect perfectly. Even on the night before the crucifixion, the apostles demonstrated immaturity and pride (they were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom [Luke 22:24; cf. Matt. 20:20-24; Mark 9:34]), being insensitive to their Lord who was already in the looming shadow of the cross. Still, John writes that in their worst behavior, the Lord continued to love them “to the end,” that is, to perfection, or to the maximum of His love (John 13:1).

Third, spiritual growth is not measured by the calendar (cf. Heb. 5:11-14). People who have been believers for many years are often less mature than others who have been believers for a much shorter time. This may be the result of inadequate study or instruction in the Word (cf. Eph. 4:11-15), or fleshly disobedience and unfaithful application of sound teaching (1 Cor. 3:1-3).

Fourth, spiritual growth is unrelated to the amount of theological information believers know. Some Christians have an adequate or even exceptional amount of biblical and theological knowledge, and yet are shockingly immature spiritually. That is a dangerous position to be in, because the more biblical information one receives but does not apply, the more deceived he becomes about his own spiritual condition (cf. Rom. 2:17-29; Heb. 5:12-14). The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay. Constant disobedience produces indifference and a subdued conscience, stunting spiritual growth.

Fifth, spiritual growth has nothing to do with outwardly successful ministry activity. Some of the busiest people in the church are unskilled in the truth and immature in the wisdom that comes from above (James 3:17-18). Even prominent spiritual leaders can display an appalling lack of biblical wisdom. Great temporal success, a high level of influence, heading a large organization, or generating much financial support is not an indicator of genuine spiritual maturity. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true. For Paul, weakness, suffering, persecution, and poverty (2 Cor. 6:3-10; 11:23-33; 12:9-10; Phil. 4:11-13; cf. 1 Tim. 6:6-10) were the true signs of his maturity in the Lord.

Finally, spiritual growth is not mystical, sentimental, or psychological. It does not stem from a once-for-all act of spiritual rededication, religious decision, or an emotional experience that produces good feelings. Rather, as physical growth results from the process of taking in food, so also spiritual growth results from the process of taking in God’s truth (His Word), believing it, and applying it (John 5:24, 39; 6:63; 8:31-32; Acts 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:1-2; 1 Tim. 4:5-6; James 1:22-25). Responding to Satan’s temptation, Jesus quoted Moses’ words from Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4). Paul’s letters define spiritual growth as being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2); “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1); “pressing] on toward the goal” (Phil. 3:14); “being built up in Him and established in your faith” (Col. 2:7); and “pursuing] righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness” (1 Tim. 6:11). And Peter commanded his readers, in 1 Peter 2:2, to “long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

The apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, placed this paragraph here to give assurance and comfort to his readers that they were the true children of God, unlike the false teachers and counterfeit believers who threatened them. In view of the doctrinal and practical tests that John had already presented—the test about belief in Christ, the test about recognition of sin, the tests for obedience and love—the apostle wanted to confirm the authenticity of his readers’ salvation. This paragraph underscores his subsequently stated purpose for the entire letter: “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13; cf. 1:4).

Obviously, not all original or current readers of this letter were or are at equal stages of spiritual maturity. Some are spiritual infants while others are spiritual adults. In order to effectively encourage all recipients, John began this very definitive section with a general reassurance, after which he gave specific assurance to those at each general stage of spiritual growth: little children, young men, and fathers.

GENERAL REASSURANCE

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. (2:12)

John knew that the people to whom he was writing were believers and that their sins had been forgiven. In this verse, and in the verses that follow, the apostle said “I am writing to you” or “I have written to you” six times, in order to emphatically state that his message was limited to his readers, the ones who truly were part of God’s family.

The word translated little children (teknia) means “born ones,” speaking of offspring in a general sense without regard for age. It is commonly used in the New Testament to describe believers as the children of God (John 13:33; 1 John 2:1, 28; 3:7, 18; 4:4; 5:21; cf. Gal. 4:19, 28). By using this term, the apostle was addressing all who were true offspring of God, at any level of spiritual maturity. His focus was on all who mourned over their sinful condition (Matt. 5:4), trusted Jesus Christ as their only Lord and Savior (Acts 16:31), had their lives transformed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), lived in obedience to God’s Word (Rom. 6:17), and showed sincere love for one another (1 Peter 1:22).

Only two spiritual families exist from God’s perspective: children of God and children of Satan (cf. John 8:39-44). God’s children do not love Satan’s family or give their allegiance to the world he controls (cf. 1 John 2:15). Instead, they grow (though not all at the same rate or with equal consistency) in their love for the Lord, a love that will manifest itself in heartfelt obedience and service (cf. John 14:15).

The New Testament plainly states that all believers, no matter where they are on the spiritual growth continuum, have been forgiven of all their sins (1:7; Matt. 26:28; Luke 1:77; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 26:18; Col. 1:14; 2:13-14). In fact, this truth is foundational to the evangelistic mission of the church. Jesus told His apostles “that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations” (Luke 24:47). Peter declared to Cornelius and his companions, “Of Him [Christ] all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43; cf. 13:38-39). Paul attested: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7; cf. 4:32; 1 John 1:7; 3:5). Of course, this great reality of the forgiveness of sins was not new in the New Testament, but was firmly rooted in Old Testament teaching (cf. Pss. 32:1–2; 86:5; 103:12; 130:3–4; Isa. 1:18-19; 43:25; 44:22).

John concluded this sentence with the reminder that God grants forgiveness to believers, not because of their own worthiness or merit, but for His name’s sake. That expression refers to God’s glory (cf. Deut. 28:58; Neh. 9:5; Ps. 8:1; Isa. 42:8; 48:11), which is the overarching reason for everything He does (cf. Pss. 19:1; 25:11; 57:5; 79:8-9; 93:1; 104:31; 106:7-8; 109:21; 111:3; 113:4; 145:5, 12; Isa. 6:3; 48:9; Jer. 14:7-9; Hab. 2:14; Rom. 1:5). God forgives sinners because it pleases Him to glorify His name by manifesting His superabundant grace, mercy, and power. As those who have been given the gift of forgiveness, believers will forever praise and magnify God (cf. 2 Cor. 4:15; Rev. 5:11-13). Still, while on earth, they are at different stages of growth, with distinguishing characteristics.

ASSURANCE TO SPIRITUAL CHILDREN

I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. (2:13c)

The term rendered children (paidia) is different from the term rendered “little children” (teknia) in verse 12. As noted above, teknia refers to all the children of God. But paidia denotes more specifically young children, those still under parental instruction. Such children are ignorant and immature and in need of care and guidance.

Immature spiritual children are those who know the Father (Ps. 9:10; cf. John 10:4, 14; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6) in the same way as an infant has little more than a basic knowledge of his or her parents. The distinguishing characteristic of babes in Christ is that they are consumed with their new-found relationship to the God and Savior they have come to know savingly (e.g., Luke 19:5-6), and with the resulting joy and peace of that knowledge. But they are still infants, who have yet to feast on the nourishing spiritual meat of sound doctrine (cf. Heb. 5:12-13).

As with physical babes, the ignorance of spiritual children makes them prone to weaknesses and highly susceptible to dangers. They are all too often motivated by fleshly desires and lack discernment to avoid what is harmful and pursue what is beneficial. They often naively attach themselves to their spiritual heroes or favorite teachers, for which Paul reprimanded the Corinthians: “For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men?”(1 Cor. 3:4; cf. vv. 1-3, 5; 1:12-13). Spiritual children also lack discernment and are vulnerable to the allurements of deceivers and their heretical doctrines. That is why Paul warned the Ephesians,

Mature believers can applaud new believers’ exuberant love, their eager and sincere devotion to God, their attachment to new-found friends in Christ, and their often optimistic viewpoint toward their new Christian life. However, mature Christians must also warn the less mature against the danger of being led astray by false teachers and their demoninspired doctrines (2 John 10-11).

ASSURANCE TO SPIRITUAL YOUNG MEN

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. (2:13b, 14b)

The second stage of spiritual growth takes believers from an emphasis on the basic relationship 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. Pss. 1:2; 119:11, 16, 97, 103, 105, 148; Acts 17:11; 20:32; 2 Tim. 3:15). 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).

Because the word of God abides in those 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; cf. Ps. 119:99). As a result, they have already overcome the evil one. After all, 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 most 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, however, are equipped through their understanding of Scripture to stand firm against his deceptive schemes (Eph. 6:11). Armed with the sound doctrine they have been taught, they are able to refute error and guard the truth.

ASSURANCE TO SPIRITUAL FATHERS

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning…. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. (2:13a, 14a)

The third stage of spiritual growth is when believers do not merely understand doctrine intellectually, but have come to know (from ginōskō, “to know by taking in knowledge; to come to know”) Him (God), the source of the truth and the object of the worship and praise it produces. John asserts that reality in both verses 13 and 14, and Paul echoes it in Philippians 3:10. Those who are spiritual fathers have meditated (cf. Josh. 1:8; Pss. 1:2; 19:14; 49:3; 77:11-12; 139:17-18; 143:5) on the depths of God’s character to such an extent that they gain a deep knowledge of Him and worship Him intimately. In a sense, the most mature saints have come full circle, with the emphasis of their Christian lives again on their relationship with the eternal God who has been from the beginning (Pss. 90:2; 102:25-27; Rom. 1:20; Rev. 1:8; 16:5; 21:6; 22:13; cf. John 8:58). Only now that relationship is markedly fuller and richer because it is completely informed by and anchored to the comprehensiveness of biblical doctrine. Job, through his experience of severe trials, came to this deep knowledge of God. He affirmed, “Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6), and thereby actually repented of his incomplete, immature view of God held earlier in his life (cf. Job 36:3-4; Ps. 119:66; Prov. 1:7; 2:10; 9:10; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3, 8).

The only way believers can progress on the continuum of spiritual growth—from children, to young men, to fathers—is through the life-giving, life-transforming application of the Word of God in their lives (2 Tim. 2:15; cf. Ezra 7:10). By reading, studying, memorizing, meditating on, and applying the Bible’s truth in every situation, Christians are transformed into the image of God (cf. 2 Cor. 3:18) by the power of the Spirit (cf. Eph. 6:17; Col. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19-21).

As they continue to grow in their sanctification, the goal of all believers must be to become spiritual fathers, characterized by an intimate communion with God. In His high priestly prayer for the apostles and all believers, Christ prayed,

Jesus desired that believers would know God not in a superficial way, nor in an academic sense only, but with supernatural intimacy, made possible only by lifetime obedience to Him and His Word.

John’s description of the stages of spiritual growth also challenges believers to “excel still more” (1 Thess. 4:10) in their Christian walks. Spiritual children must move beyond their initial delight in the Father’s love to a sound knowledge of biblical truth. Young men must not rest in their knowledge of biblical truth, but press on to know deeply the God from whom all truth comes and to whom all truth points. And even fathers must continue to expand and deepen their knowledge of the eternal God. As long as saints live on this earth, they are bound to obey the mandate to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).