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GROWTH

A.J.E Welch

I have been impressed with the way in which John the disciple whom Jesus loved, from his writing manifestly an outstanding and seasoned lover of Jesus, writes to fathers, young men and little children. He takes feeling account of every stage of growth; he brings out the truth in a way that is particularly calculated to have a direct and abiding effect upon us, whether we be fathers, young men or little children. One of the affecting things about this passage is that the most is said to the little children. How tenderly considerate God is of the little children! I would love to convey something to the little children as well as to the young men and the fathers, because what is set out in this remarkable passage has its bearing upon our stature, our growth. In due time the little children are to become young men, and in due time the young men are to become fathers. How those elements dear brethren, are needed among us! We have to begin to take on divine things; we have quickly to learn to cast aside what belongs to the subtle and corrupt activity of an enemy that is set against every element of God's work in men; we have to learn that even as little children.

But you will notice how affectionately the beloved writer, a seasoned lover of Christ, is not bringing forward his apostolic office but manifestly speaking as one who had long been in the presence of Jesus, and even since His going to the Father had been long in the course of the testimony, not so far as the history goes in public prominence, but no doubt in secret. The outcome of it all in John is that seasoned character of things, a love that had been tested and that survived, a love that would embrace the full scope of what God was doing and is yet doing for the satisfaction of His own heart. I would love to follow just a little in the steps of John, the beloved writer. It seems he would never seek prominence but was there when the need arose, faithfully and fully answering to the need as it arose, a man of distinctive personality evident both in himself and in his writings. It is of note that they correspond, what the man is and what his writings are; you are thankful when that is so, that what a man is and what he sets forth correspond. We see that in John in a most affecting way. What a standby in days of departure are men like the beloved apostle John! We note with interest that he writes to 'children' in verse 12: "I write to you, children"; the term is one of deep affection and embraces all the saints irrespective of their growth. If you study the notes in the New Translation you will see how that is commented upon. "I write to you, children"; he is thinking of all the saints, some would be fathers, some would be little children, but he is not selecting among them in relation to the working of his affections as he writes, he loves them all, like Jesus. But then he singles out these three points of growth. He comes to the finish of that in verse 27 where we ceased reading and in verse 28 he says, "And now, children, abide in him"; that again is said to all in the reality of affection that is working towards all the saints. In a kind of parenthesis between those two references to his love for all the saints we have the special touches of instruction, encouragement and warning that are needed at different points of growth.

Now the point in respect of the fathers is very fine but yet very challenging. I have the feeling as I speak of these things that the beloved sisters may wonder where they fit into this. They do fit into it. John takes up things having the responsible side in mind, necessarily. There are features to be answered to substantially and instruction to be conveyed and received and to become effective. How needed that is that instruction is received and becomes effective; we are put under charge. We have been reminded elsewhere of that, the acceptance of responsibility in respect of divine things so that there may be increase and growth among the beloved people of God, in which each one of us has a part. Let not the beloved older sisters, with their seasoned affections for Christ, feel left out in any sense of what I trust I may under the Lord convey in these few minutes. John makes much of persons, God's work in persons. He reflects the divine feelings in that. There are matters of principle and matters of teaching that may be set out in the most skilful way, and the Spirit is able for that, as we prove it. But John would say - the Lord would say - I love to find these features in persons; to use a word that our brother used in the reading, substantial in persons. That is what the Spirit of God is working at, and that is what Satan is working against. What is said of the fathers is said twice: "because ye have known him that is from the beginning". That is all that is said to the fathers. It conveys - and the thought is not mine - that the fathers are really full of Christ, so much so that in the course of their exercise in the presence of God every other consideration has been made subservient to Christ. What a wonderful objective that is! How often we find things mixed up; we examine our own objectives and we find sometimes, do we not? that some things have become an objective to a far greater degree than we realised. The fathers have reached Christ, and what affects the fathers in every connection is Christ. What belongs to flesh, what belongs to the earthly side of things, not necessarily corrupt basically in character but earthly in character, may affect us, and how deeply sometimes it does affect us! I have been very much impressed in thinking of the Pauline reference to persons minding earthly things (see Phil 3: 19) in contrast to the commonwealth which is in the heavens. Dear brethren, let us not lose ground in these times, let us not fail in growth by minding earthly things. The Spirit of God helps us in detail by calling attention to this thing or that thing and reminding us what it is in relation to the divine thoughts; we come to a conclusion sometimes and say, That is just minding earthly things, that does not belong to the fathers. As we get up in years a bit we of necessity are made to realise that our time here is not much longer; none of the time can be wasted. We may look back and realise how much has been wasted. But the great point with the fathers is just Jesus, just Christ, just the beloved Son of God. Whatever name in glory you may attach to that Person, the fathers are cleaving to Christ, and in everything that affects them, that governs their way, that governs their speaking, that governs their part in assembly things. Everything would just be governed by one great matter and that is Christ, the Person of Jesus. As I said, that is most attractive, but a very deep challenge to some of us who are older and getting older. The process of getting old goes on very fast and we cannot afford to lose any time.

Then we have the young men, and the writer accredits the young men in a particular way; he says "ye have overcome the wicked one". I would understand that to mean that in coming into the Christian pathway and being found within the range of John's writing there has been with them an element of overcoming; they have confessed Christ in adverse circumstances, they have sacrificed in His interests, maybe they have left a trade union, moved in faith in respect of some such thing. They have overcome the wicked one. The wicked one would detain them in something which would in its character and outcome prove dishonouring to the Lord Jesus. He accredits them with having overcome the wicked one. But he makes it plain that young manhood is a singularly significant time. This would be so in the feminine as well as the masculine sense; the stage of growth that is contemplated here is most significant in reference to the testimony. The energy of young manhood is to be directed into channels that glorify Christ. The energy of young manhood, as Scripture from time to time would indicate, is something that God delights to use. It might be diverted into other things, but it is needed, greatly needed for the testimony in these times - the energy of young manhood committed to the Lord Jesus and His interests. I want to strengthen and to encourage and stimulate the young brothers and the young sisters to realise what a vital part they have in a testimony so glorious, about to reach its completion; they have a vital part being what they are. He goes on to say: "Love not the world, nor the things in the world". I have heard it said (and I am sure it is right) that very often the principal danger is not the world as a corrupt system but the things that are in the world. They may not be marked by total corruption, they may be such as could in righteousness be undertaken, but, dear brethren, we are not to love them. That will govern our outlook upon them and our action in reference to them. There are many things which may come under this heading that particularly affect us when we are young men, at this stage of growth. It may be a certain element of keenness to pursue a business; I am not unacquainted with that in a certain sense. It may be that something is taken up of which the world speaks as a hobby. Is that going to divert me from Christ? Is that going to hinder me from a part in His interests? Is that going to hinder me from getting to the prayer meeting and other meetings? Above all, is it going to hinder me in being rightly at the Supper. These challenges have to be faced and they particularly affect the young men. "Love not the world, nor the things in the world". John goes on to show something that has often been helpfully commented on, that the love of the world stands over against all that we are given to know in the Father, God the Father. Would you not like to be in the Father's affections without anything that might hinder them getting right home to your heart? Would you not like to be free in the Father's presence with the sense that He has rendered you fit to be there, and that nothing on your side is hindering your being there in liberty and power? Would you not like to be in the Father's presence a thoroughly delivered person, coming through the divine instruction that we have in the epistle to the Romans, which leads in chapter 8 to that wonderful cry "Abba, Father"? Would you not like to be in the flow of that? Is the world to stand in the way of our being in the flow of that? Let us get a just sense of values, seeing what this thing is and what another thing is; carry the values into the presence of God and see whether they are His values or whether they are the values that flesh attaches. It is a very keen exercise. I would seek grace not to allow myself to be outside of it. Get into God's presence and get the sense of values that belongs in the sanctuary, come out from God's presence and bring it into expression, as another person taking on the features that the Spirit of God through John would cherish for young manhood. What a sense of joy it brings into the soul to be found answering to an appeal like this: "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity". It is good to be reminded in such direct terms: "the world is passing"; Christ is not passing, God's world is not passing, His beloved Son is the centre of it, the centre of a scene that is to go through, where you have a place. Are you going to forsake what properly belongs for the time to the place that divine love has designed in grace for you, and turn aside to something which partakes of the features that are set out here? John is very direct to the young men. As young men we need directness, we need a straight word; John is giving it to us. There are many other things that may cross our path that may stand in conflict with the word; we need the word to be the more direct and definite that we may get the point of it and move on. So John addresses himself to young men in a very searching and yet always stimulating way. That is how the truth of God is applied, it searches but it always asserts the glory of Christ and stimulates us to be with Him, and in character like Him as here in the assembly in the time of His absence.

The children, as I remarked, are very feelingly provided for. "Little children, it is the last hour". I commend that word to the very younger ones here: "it is the last hour". It is as if he would say, Do not lose any time. May be it has been in your mind to make a confession of the Lord Jesus; make it, it is the last hour. Maybe it has been in your mind to seek your place in relation to the fellowship of God's Son; seek it quickly, it is the last hour. Let nothing stand in the way. We may not in one sense be little children and still need such an exhortation, but the teaching to the little children may, as we read through it, strike a chord in our own souls, even though we belong or should belong to a greater stage of growth - "it is the last hour". The apostle, truly a lover of the saints, is saying, I am going to make it easy for the little children by making the truth very simple and plain: "Little children, it is the last hour". You could not have anything simpler or plainer than that. Heed it, beloved young person whoever you may be, just heed it in the realisation that the Lord is about to come. Would you not love to think that you are committed to Him before He comes, that He finds you, when He comes, as a committed person? Would you not like to be in that? I would just commend to you the simple appeal of this word of John's. He goes on to speak of antichrist and of antichrists in the plural, warning us that the enemy in the most subtle forms is active in our time. A brother used the expression that Satan is proceeding through every line of attack; that is the truth at the moment, whatever avenue he finds he is going into. In itself, though a negative indication, that is an indication that the Lord is soon coming; we are facing the last vicious thrusts of a vanquished foe against what is so precious to his vanquisher, even Jesus. So heed these things; let us all heed them realising that it is the last hour, and that the spirit of antichrist is working in certain quarters against what is precious to His heart. And that is what John is saying to us. But he says to the little children "ye have the unction from the holy one, and ye know all things". What a precious and needed reference to the blessed Holy Spirit! the Holy Spirit: the title, I suppose, which is most used of that glorious Person. "Ye have the unction from the holy one", a most precious gift, a most protective gift able to alert you at once to what is contrary to Christ. It is not something you read or something that a brother may say, valuable as those things may be; the unction from the Holy One springs up within you, and if I could put it simply, raises as need comes a danger signal; That thing is not right. What a wonderful thing it is to have One who is Himself a divine Person, a Person of the Godhead active in behalf of Christ and of the Father and active in you and in me, having directly and personally to do with us. Apart from any knowledge we may have, or apart from any knowledge we may be acquiring, the Spirit in us brings a holy urge, might I say, in respect of something that is presented to us. What a resource! It is perfection of resource in the sense of meeting the power of evil. "Greater is he that is in you", the same apostle says else where, "than he that is in the world", 1 John 4: 4. The little children, and all of us with them, are placed in a setting of very great advantage if we will but avail ourselves of it. It raises the question how much we have reference in inward soul history to the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and with us. How much are we in living touch with the Holy Spirit? I would say that to the youngest one here who has submitted to the Lord Jesus and has received the Spirit; you are abundantly furnished of God to detect every element of evil that may raise its head because the One who indwells you is the Holy Spirit. Himself a Person of the Godhead, He shares in the fullest sense the wealth of divine feelings and can spring up in your own soul and indicate to you the character of something that may be afoot. So John develops this; he speaks further on of the unction: "the unction which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye have not need that any one should teach you; but as the same unction teaches you as to all things, and is true and is not a lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him". Oh the blessedness of abiding in Christ, abiding in the Father, having the sense of a place in the divine affections, a place that is cherished of the Father and the Son peculiarly as you are responsive in what belongs to that place. Cast aside what the enemy would seek to assert. Beloved little children, I would say to such here, the enemy of your souls, the enemy of Christ, will be quick to seize any point of attack in you and use it against the glory of your Saviour; I would urge you just to keep near to the Spirit of God, to His present voice, but especially in this setting here to the urgings of the Spirit in your soul which are very, very real. It is a wonderful thing, I have often marvelled at it - I can very humbly say I have proved it very often - that as something presents itself to your vision, your mind, the Spirit immediately alerts you, That is not of God. And that is to be decisive.

There is much said to the little children here. But what I wanted to press particularly is this point of the unction, and then what is said in verse 24: "let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you". The idea of progress in human affairs is something that tends quite easily to get hold of us in some sense. There is growth in God's work in us; there is growth of stature as we take on the preciousness of divine truth, but there is no development in respect of the truth itself, it is what we have heard from the beginning. It may be applied in fresh circumstances, but it is the truth and it stands and it is what can be asserted to have been from the beginning. The Scripture will support it. Let us not be taken in by the idea of development, of improvement, of modernisation. I have even heard that word used: We need to have a more modern approach to this. It is a question of what we have heard from the beginning. Divine truth does not change. It may penetrate into circumstances which may seem now in its application in particular cases, but the truth itself does not change. Jesus is the truth He does not change; the Spirit is the truth, it is said in this letter (see chap 5: 6) and He does not change. Let us see that we cling to what we have heard from the beginning. It will help these little children as they are able to read. How much there is to read in Scripture which goes right back to the very beginning of what we are speaking of, and of what the Spirit has said to us. It may often refer closely to our own time, but in any case let us see to it that it is what we have heard from the beginning. John says "if what ye have heard from the beginning abides in you, ye also shall abide in the Son and in the Father", having in mind not only a place in their affections but a conscious place in their affections: you go on through the day and through the week knowing that the Father loves you, knowing that the Son loves you. To a young person that is crucial. Young persons, the little children that are spoken of here, are very responsive to affection of which they have assurance. That is what is in mind in this passage, abiding in the Father and in the Son, that you have a place, and consciously have it and enjoy it, in the Father's affections and the affections of Jesus, His beloved Son.

Well, there are these features of the truth concerning which we need to exhort one another. They are features we need to exemplify, because that is very much in mind, particularly as to the fathers, but there are the different stages of growth. The Spirit of God can apply Himself to every stage of growth. Divine love is the resource in every stage of growth. But the Spirit sees to it that there is that which particularly meets my case and your case, the case of the young people, the case of the older ones, that they may in very truth come to light as having Christ their all and qualifying in that sense under John's finest designation - fathers. We long for them. Paul could say in a different setting in respect of Corinth: "not many fathers", 1 Cor 4: 15. But there is a very great weight of appeal in that, that in every locality represented here, including my own, there may be the evidence of true fatherhood in the sense in which John writes.

May it be so. May these things help us, that whatever stature we have come to we may grow and reach more into stature which is more developed than we have had hitherto. May God assure us of this and help us in it. For His Name's sake.

PLAINFIELD

23 October 1982

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