"I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. … 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.” (1st John 2:13a; 14a)

As I mentioned before, the term “father” in these passages does not necessarily refer to earthly fathers but to those who are more mature in their walk of faith. John’s message to those that are the spiritual leaders in the church is that the God of their youth still reigns an loves them!

John repeats the same message twice. This is not because they have grown old and forget things easily. John does this because “knowing” God is the key to joy and peace.

Mature Christians have been through many battles. They have won some and lost some, but they have found that God always stood with them and carried them through their trials. God expressed His love for them many times. They have learned that, even if they suffer a loss for a little while, God will never leave them nor forsake them.

Therefore, John reminds them that knowing God, or having full and intimate fellowship with God, is their only source of strength.

The hope of the child of God is not in his ability to keep the faith and not make a mistake. If that were true, we would all live frightfully miserable lives. The hope of the child of God is that God loves him. If we have experienced “knowing” God, then that is a clear evidence that God knows us and loves us.