I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (13) 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. (14) 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.
Those different ages, in the members of Christ's body are distinctly spoken to, not as if their interest and union with Christ were not all the same, and the claims upon them the same, to live to Christ, and to walk with Christ; but, as those different ages furnish out occasion for promoting the Lord's glory in the earth, by their several graces, arising from that different age, brought into exercise. A babe in Christ is as truly part of Christ as the oldest saint of God. The single leaf on a tree, is as truly part of that tree, as the largest and loftiest branch belonging to it. And in both, it is the root gives support and nourishment, and not the leaf or the branch the tree. So is it in relation to Christ's body. The weakest, humblest, and most inconsiderable of Christ's members, is as much the Father's gift, Christ's purchase, and the Spirit's work of regeneration, as a Prophet or an Apostle. Paul, under the Holy Ghost, blessedly explains this: Ephesians 4:4-13. I beg the Reader to notice how sweetly the Apostle speaks to little children, and what a comprehensiveness of expression he folds up in one, Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. Hence, here is a complete justification of their persons, though but children, yea, little children; for Christ's name sake. I would recommend those who would presume to call in question the finished salvation of Christ, to consider this declaration of the Holy Ghost by John; and let them shew the Church, if they can, what is wanting to make this complete? By regeneration, these little children, babes as they are yet in Christ, are made partakers of the divine nature, and have all things that pertain to life and godliness; and, therefore, they are washed, they are sanctified, they are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Compare 2 Peter 1:3-4 with 1 Corinthians 6:11, and Isaiah 65:20
The fathers John writes to are considered as having long known the Lord, and as such, long proved his faithfulness; and, therefore, can well speak of it, to his glory and the Church's comfort. The Lord (if we may so presume to speak), delights to be known and acknowledged in his faithfulness. Deuteronomy 7:9. And holy men of old, when a-dying, took pleasure to recount to the by-standers, of God's faithfulness and truth. We have beautiful instances to this amount in scripture record: Jacob; Genesis 48:15 to the end; Joseph; Genesis 1:24; Moses; Deuteronomy 33:26 to the end; Joshua; Joshua 23:1-10. And, in more modern times, the Church of God hath no wanted testimonies of old saints, when dying out of time, and going into eternity, faithfully recording the righteous acts of the Lord, as a covenant God in Christ. Indeed, what can be more suitable and proper?
Young men come in for a portion of the Apostle's address, because, by regeneration, they are made strong in the Lord; the devil hath thereby received his deadly wound, and the sweet communications of grace give a withering to the fleshly lusts which war against the soul. But, Reader! do not overlook in all these, that little children, and old men, and young men, yea, every age in the Church of whatever standing, all derive their being, and well-being in grace, not from themselves or their attainments, but from the Lord. All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will; 1 Corinthians 12:11.