Sermons
June 30th, 2024 by Pastor Solley063024AM Your Place and Purpose
Sub. Believers in Christ.
Theme: Three classes their place and purpose.
Text: 1 John 2:12-14
“Your Place and Purpose” 1 John 2:12-14
Introduction
Most of the epistles that make up our New Testament begin with the one that the Holy Spirit set apart to write the epistle identifying himself and then those to whom the epistle was written. Rom, 1 Cor, 2 Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 1 Thess, 2Thess, 1Tim,
2Ttm, Titus, Philemon, James, 1Pet, 2Pet, 2John, 3John, Jude and Revelation all begin that way. The two exceptions are the books of Hebrews and 1 John. The one the Holy Spirit used to write Hebrews I believe was the apostle Paul and I know the one the Holy Spirit used to write 1 John was the apostle John. The language and content of the epistle both point to the apostle John but John never uses his name in this epistle.
I. Not until the second chapter does John reveal to whom the epistle is addressed: 1 John 2:12-14 John is writing to little children, to fathers, and to young men. – 1 John 2:12-13 – These three represent three classes of people within one class.
A. John is addressing born again believers in Jesus Christ: 1 John 2:1-2 These are not the natural children of John, they are the spiritual children of John. John is addressing born again believers in Christ and three classes of believers in Christ.
1. Little children are those younger in the Lord: They may be younger in years as well but they are younger in the Lord.
2. Fathers are those mature in the Lord, those who are older, those who have been saved for a longer time:
3. Young men are those in the middle: Not little children, not fathers, those in the middle, young men.
4. But all of these are in the family of God: They are all saved, all born again.
B. John writes of their place and purpose within the body of Christ, within the church: John is writing concerning their place and purpose within the body of Christ and within the local church.
II. Are you saved this morning, are you born again? You should not answer yes unless you know it and believe it. There is no such thing as a hope so salvation, you are saved or you are lost. Are you saved this morning, are you born again?
A. That answer being yes, you have a place in one of these three classes of people within one class of people: For every born again child of God here this morning you are little children, young men, or fathers. – 1 John 2:12-13 And over years there should be advancement from one class to another going from little children to fathers.
1. That advancement doesn’t always take place: The church at Corinth is an example where they remained little children.
2. But there should be a natural advancement that takes place: Going from little children to young men to fathers.
B. With that place there is also purpose: God has a purpose for the little children, for the young men and for the fathers. God has a purpose for all who are a part of the body of Christ, for all who are a part of the New Testament local church. God has purpose for you. I wouldn’t want to belong to anything where I didn’t have any purpose.
1. In our home I have a purpose: I am the husband, the spiritual leader, the provider and protector in the home, I have purpose.
2. In the Cherry Corner Bible Church I have a purpose: I am the pastor, the under shepherd, the spiritual director, I have purpose.
3. In everything I ever was a part of I have had purpose: Sports teams, whatever, I have had a purpose.
C. You, if you are born again, and you make this your local church, have a purpose here: John brings out your purpose. – 1 Jn 2:12-14
PROP: Christian, do you have a purpose? TS. According to the Bible you do.
Body
I. John begins with the one class that the three other classes are a part of: 1 John 1:1-7 The Bible divides people into three classes, Jews, Gentiles, and the church. The church is made up of all born again believers in Christ and within that class of people John addresses little children, young men, and fathers.
A. To be one of the three you must be part of the body of Christ, part of the church: John addresses those who have received the light of life. – 1 John 1:7 The first need is one of salvation. You will not a place in life, a real purpose in life until you come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1. Solomon after a long search came to that conclusion: Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Solomon had purpose, lost purpose, and then found purpose again in walking with the Lord.
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2. Here is place and purpose in life: Rev 4:11 A place in the family of God will give you purpose in life.
3. Have you seen yourself as a condemned sinner in need of salvation: The Bible says “All have sinned”.
4. Have you met the one who died for your sins? Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
5. Have you confessed your sin and called out to the only one able to save you from hell? Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Jesus said He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life and none come to the Father but through Him.
6. You will have no place or purpose in life until you come to a true and genuine saving knowledge of Jesus Christ: Only a born again believer in Christ can find a real place and purpose in this life.
a. Fill you life with money and you will find it will never be enough.
b. Fill your life with sinful pleasure and you will find you need go deeper and deeper into sin.
c. Fill your life with good works and you will always wonder if they are good enough.
7. But fill your life with Jesus Christ and you will find a real place and purpose in life:
B. John begins with the one class that the three others classes are a part of: Are you born again this morning?
II. John addresses little children: 1 John 2:1 , 12 These are ones who are younger in the Lord. They could be a novice or they could be saved for a time but they are younger in the Lord. They may also be younger in age as people younger in the Lord are most likely younger in age as well.
A. These little children have a place in the body of Christ, a place in the church: What a joy to see little ones, little children find their place in the body of Christ, in the family of God, in the church.
1. We had several come a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in our recent VSB: What a blessing that they found a place in Jesus.
2. The Lord has allowed me to baptize all of my grandchildren because they have found a place in Jesus Christ: And many other youngsters as well and it brings great joy to see the younger ones finding a place in Christ.
3. Then to see teens making a commitment to Jesus Christ: They found their place and then make a commitment to Jesus Christ.
4. Then to see young couples marry in the faith and be given to Christ: They found their place and make a commitment to Christ.
5. What a blessing to see the little children: Younger in years and young in the Lord, they have found their place.
B. And they do serve a purpose in the local church as well as the body of Christ: They encourage and they give hope.
1. It is very encouraging to see the little ones in this church coming to church: Watch them come in, they don’t know it is a burden to be here, they don’t know there are better things to do, they love being in church.
a. They run towards the open doors like others hurry away from them.
b. They have no desire to leave here when the service is over, they would rather stay in the house of God as long as possible.
c. They carry their Bibles, listen to the Word of God, and sing the songs of faith.
d. It is almost as if I hear the voice of angels when I hear the little ones crying in the church house.
e. The little ones in this church house today please Jesus and they encourage me today. Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. To this preacher there is a little bit of heaven here today because of the little ones in this church. They have a place and a purpose here today.
C. As they grow older and are still younger they continue to have a place and purpose in the church: There was a time when this preacher was younger and was able to do much more than he can do now. I worked countless hours in the building projects, taught the youth class, taught in VBS, preached, worked two jobs and went to Bible Institute at night. A young man, I had a young man’s energy. I don’t have that same energy today as I had forty years ago when God was building up this church and ministry.
1. But the younger ones do and what a blessing and encouragement to see some stepping up: They have a place and purpose.
2. I didn’t ask for the fellowship hall to be repaired and repainted: It needed it but I didn’t ask and some of our younger ones came to me and asked if I minded if they repaired and repainted the fellowship hall. Mind ? I went home praising God for young people.
3. I didn’t ask for the nursery to be expanded and remolded: It needed it but I didn’t ask and a young couple came and asked if I minded them taking on the task. Mind? I went home praising God for those young people.
4. To see the younger ones stepping up in the Junior Church, in the camp ministry, in VBS is so encouraging: This preacher sheds many tears of joy and thanksgiving as I see those ones stepping up. They have found a place and purpose.
D. Do you want to have a purpose? Step up and be a blessing and encouragement. I cannot do what I once did, but I will do what I have to do and it encourages me when the younger ones step up and hold me up with their work and commitment to Christ.
E. John addresses little children: 1 Jn 2:12
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III. John addresses fathers: 1 Jn 2:13 Fathers are the mature ones, those older in the Lord, and to be older in the Lord one is most likely older in years as well. The two go together. I have been saved for over fifty years and I am older in the Lord and in years.
A. As we grow older in the Lord and older in years there are things that we just can’t do anymore: We think we can, our mind tells us we can, but when we try we find what was true of Caleb is most certainly not true of us.
1. We don’t have the strength or the energy to do what we were once able to do: Age robs us of both strength and energy.
2. I want to do what I was able to do twenty, thirty years ago: But I can’t and that will only get worse as time passes by.
3. And many begin to feel useless as the years roll past: How many I hear say they are no good to anybody. That is not true.
B. With age and years in the Lord comes wisdom in the Lord: That is the way it is supposed to work. I don’t think I am one bit more intelligent as I was when I became the pastor of this church. I don’t think I am one bit smarter. But I am wiser. The Bible tells us in Prov 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. Age brings wisdom.
1. I have learned some things over the years: Prov 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. I have other pastors call me, some evangelists call me and ask me for advice. It is not because I am smarter or more intelligent than they are, but over the years I have gained some wisdom.
2. When I need advice I seldom call little children, I call those older and wiser in the Lord: God has taken most of those men home to glory but I still think of their wisdom.
3. It was much more difficult for me to do marriage counseling when I was younger, not so much now: I have gained some wisdom in forty four years of marital bliss.
C. Those older in the Lord make good counselors: Prov 9:9 Pick the right counselors. Spiritual men, spiritual women, those who are older in the Lord, those who have fought the battle and come out on the victors side, those who have learned some things.
1. Those of us who are older have faced the same things many of you are facing today:
2. Those of us who are older have dealt with the same heartaches many of you are facing today:
3. Those of us who are older have failed in the same way many of you have failed today and got back up:
4. It is not just the pastor who serves this purpose in the church: Prov 16:31 ; Titus 2:3-4 Spiritual men and spiritual woman older in the Lord are a well of wisdom. Dig deep into that well available to you.
D. John addresses fathers:
IV. John addresses young men: 1 John 2:13 Notice again what John says of these young men. – 1 John 2:13 – They have overcome, they are in a battle. Now that is true of the fathers and will be true of the little children. But these ones are younger, stronger, are in the fight, they are over comers. – 1 John 2:13
A. Most of the battles they fight the fathers fought when they were younger: Like Isaac they have to dig again the wells of the fathers. Most of the battles have been fought before.
1. The fathers fought for the KJB: Now it is their turn to follow their example and take up the fight for the true Word of God.
2. The fathers fought for good, God honoring, Christ glorifying, hymns of the faith: Now it is their turn to follow their example and stand against worldly music no matter how it is presented. There is no such thing as Christian Rock.
3. The fathers fought for Godly standards in conduct and in dress: Now it is their turn to follow their example and hold to God honoring standards. The Born again believer in Christ is to look different than the world does.
a. Modest dress is still Biblical.
b. A Christian man is to look like a Christian man.
c. A Christian woman is to look like a Christian woman.
4. Most of the battles the young men fight have been fought before: But they are to take up the fight and keep the faith. If the Bible ever said it was wrong it is still wrong. If the Bible ever said it was right it is still right.
5. The young men have now taken up the fight: 1 Jn 2:13
B. They serve as an example to the little ones and an encouragement to the older ones: The little ones need to see and the older ones do need to be encouraged.
1. You have no idea how encouraging it is to me to see young men and women carrying the KJB: And you have no idea how discouraging it is when some turn to a perversion and leave the KJB.
2. You have no idea how encouraging it is to me to see young men and women stay true to Godly music: And how discouraging it is when some say they went to concert, knowing it was wrong, but it sounded so good.
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3. You have no idea how encouraging it is to me to see young men and women come into the house of God in modest apparel, men looking like men and women looking like women: You have no idea how discouraging it is to see some come in looking as bad as possible, clothes to tight, dresses too high, neck lines too low.
4. The young men are in the fight: Be an example and an encouragement to the little ones and the fathers.
C. John address the young men:
V. Finally, there is to be a progression through the ranks: 1 John 2:12-14 The little children are not to stay little children and the young men will not always be young men, there is to be a progression through the ranks.
A. We all begin as little children: But we are not to stay little children, there is to be a progression through the ranks.
ILL. When I was born into this world physically I had all the parts I would ever need. Nothing needed to be added. Two arms, two legs, two eyes, two hears, two hands, two feet, two ears, hair on my head, nothing needed to be added. But I was not to remain the same, there was to be a progressing through the ranks physically. Little child, to young man, to old man, a progression.
1. Spiritually we begin as little children: But we are not to remain little children. We are to grow in the Lord, we are to advance.
2. We become young men and we are in the fight: And we stay in the fight.
3. Finally we become fathers and our wisdom is valuable:
4. There is to be a progression:
B. What is your place and are you fulfilling your purpose: All three classes within the one class are here today, little children, young men, fathers.
1. Little children, grow in the Lord:
2. Young men, stand strong in the battle and fight the good fight of faith:
3. Fathers, allow your wisdom to be seen:
C. There is to be a progression through the ranks:
Conclusion
Having looked at these one John addressed what can we say?
I. Are you part of the class that the three classes are found in? Are you born again?
II. Are you little children? Are you growing in the Lord.
III. Are you young men? Are you standing strong in the fight today?
IV. Are you a father, older in the Lord: Is your wisdom shining through?
We all have a place and purpose.