属灵成长的验证
约翰壹书二章12至14节
12小子们哪，我写信给你们，因为你们的罪借着主名得了赦免。
13父老阿，我写信给你们，因为你们认识那从起初原有的。少年人哪，我写信给你们，因为你们胜了那恶者。小子们哪，我曾写信给你们，因为你们认识父。
14父老阿，我曾写信给你们，因为，你们认识那从起初原有的。少年人哪，我曾写信给你们；因为，你们刚强，神的道常存在你们心里；你们也胜了那恶者。
信息分享
童年是成长和学习的阶段。对为人父母者而言，还有甚么事情比发现自己的儿女不能成长，或没有长进来得更痛心呢？我们的天父岂不是一样？我们天父会否因为我们的基督徒生命毫无长进，而感到很伤心呢？神期望祂的儿女不断在灵命上成长。第12 节对小孩子说的话，正提到福音的第一项真理，就是罪得赦免；但我们必须紧记，这只是进入属灵生命的开始。
第13至14节是对少年人的规劝。少年人的其中一个特征，就是活力充沛。基督徒的活力是源自神所赐予的能力，以及神话语的喂养。我们若想成为一个强健的基督徒，就必须勤读圣经，而且，不仅是读，还要让圣经的话语教导我们、引领我们，为我们的信仰提供稳固的基础。
第13至14节所指的父老是谁呢？他们是指到成熟的人──至少是理应是成熟的人。约翰说他们已认识基督，这点是很重要的。一个年龄到达成年阶段的人，并不一定成熟。有些人信主已久，却没有在基督里有明显的成长。他们的表现仿如被宠坏的小孩，永远长不大。他们不单为自己制造麻烦，还为教会里的其他信徒带来困扰。他们必须按照神的心意成长。当保罗自言他最渴望的事，就是愈来愈像基督的时候，这就正显示他已参透成长的秘诀。
在神的家中，你是属于哪个年龄组别呢？刚刚开始学习成长的小孩？开始借着基督找到得力秘诀的少年信徒？已懂得在神的话语中与主同行的成熟基督徒？你究竟是属于哪一个组别呢？
TESTS OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
1 John 2:12-14
12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known 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 wicked one.
Message
It is no accident that John addresses these various groups. In any family situation there are these same age groups, which are just different stages of growth. In any group of Christians we will find the same. Some have grown. Some are still growing. Some haven't even started to grow.
Childhood is the age of growth, and of learning. Is there any greater heartbreak to parents than to have a child who doesn't grow, who doesn't develop? Would that be true for God also? Does our heavenly Father sometimes look at us and wonder why we haven't progressed in our Christian life as he wants us to? What God is looking for is spiritual maturity. The first fact of the gospel is in verse 12, where children are mentioned. That is forgiveness, but remember that is only the beginning of our spiritual life.
In verses 13 and 14, John speaks of young men. One characteristic of young men is their strength. A Christian is not strong in his own power, but in the strength that has come to him through God and his Word. If we want to be stronger Christians, we will have to spend time in the Word of God, not just learning about it but letting it speak to us, letting it guide our lives and giving us a strong foundation for our faith.
Who are the fathers of verses 13 and 14? They are the ones closest to maturity-or they should be. John says of them 'you have known Christ'. Isn't that a wonderful description? Age doesn't always mean maturity, does it? Some people have known Christ for a long time but it is very obvious that they haven't grown in Christ. They still act like spoiled immature children. They cause problems for themselves and for everyone else in their church. They need to grow as God has planned for us all. Paul knew the secret of this when he said his one ambition was to know more and more of Christ.
Where are you today in God's family? A child that is beginning to learn and grow? A Christian who has begun to find the secret of strength through Christ? A more mature Christian who knows what it is to walk with Christ in the light of his Word. Where are you today?