1 John 2:12-14 (Spiritual State)

Chapter 2

Verses 12-14:

"I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. "

To begin, I think it would be important to understand what is meant by "fathers" "little children" and "young men." It would be hard to believe that John is addressing three different groups separately because he addresses all these things to the whole church in other contexts. So it would be best to explain these three different groups as one group described in three different ways, and applying to the entire church.

He calls them "little children" because their "sins are forgiven," and they have been welcomed into the family of God.

They are "fathers" because of their knowledge of God in Jesus Christ "from the beginning," and they are qualified to pass that knowledge down to future generations.

They are "young men" because their decisive rejection and their "overcoming the wicked one,"
like that of Christ, who fought with Satan in the desert and won (Matt 4:1-11).

This part of the second chapter is a look at the spiritual state of these believers. I believe John recognizes these things of the believers to remind them of the statement in 1 John 2:1 would be true: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin." John seems to remind the believers here of their state with God through Christ. I think it correct to assume that this section of the letter is written to give motivation to fight sin, which could be the reason it is restated in somewhat of a repetitious manner, so that the truth of it would sink into these believers. The last part of verse 14 states:
" I write to you..." because "word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

So then be of good cheer for you have overcome the wicked one as Jesus has overcome the wicked one.

John 10:27-29:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."