I John 2:12-14 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.”
In the Epistle of First John, he identifies three areas of spiritual development; “little children”, “fathers”, and “young men.” A close examination will reveal our state of development!
The second area of spiritual development following conversion is conquest, as seen in the “young men.” The first thing that we notice is the success of the conquest, “ye have overcome.” The redeemed are not fighting for victory, they are fighting from victory; the victory was won at Calvary! The word “overcome” means to subdue, prevail, to get the victory. G.S. Barrett said, “The conflict and victory has taken place in the past, but the results remain, and are still their possession.”
The second thing is the source of the conquest, “the wicked one.” The phrase means labor, sorrow, pain; evil in a moral and spiritual sense and satan is the author of all this mischief. Peter identified the source when he wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). The source of the conquest is known by many names, “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2) and “Lucifer, son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12). In addition to multiple names, the source of the conquest can alter his appearance for the purpose of deception, “for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (II Corinthians 11:14).
The final thing is the soldier of the conquest, “ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you.” The single characteristic that marks the soldier of the conquest is their relationship to the Word of God! The text reveals that when the Word of God is given a preeminent place in the life of the believer it reveals itself in power associated with its presence, “ye are strong.” The word “strong” means forceful, mighty, or powerful. Strength is not the result of age (see I Corinthians 3:1-3 & Hebrews 5:12-14), but acquisition; it is acquired when one maintains a right relationship to the Word of God; “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). Secondly, the Word reveals itself in performances associated with its presence. When John uses the word “abideth”, it means to remain or to dwell. Notice that it is not the soldier that is dwelling in the “word of God”, though I’m sure he is because that is where he draws his strength, but it is now “the word of God” dwelling in the soldier; “the word of God abideth in you.” When the Word is a resident, it neutralizes sin; “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” and “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 & 11). The presence of the Word nourishes stature; “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). The presence of the Word navigates the saint; “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Having received power by dwelling in the Word and performance when the Word is dwelling in you; one can understand how they overcome the wicked one!