Progressive sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus. Justification is the once-for-all-time moment God declares us righteous by faith in Christ. Progressive sanctification begins after justification and continues throughout our Christian lives until we receive glorified bodies. In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. God’s spiritual family is like human families, with members at different maturity levels.

Table of contentsChildren’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Gospel BasicsChildren’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Moving from Knowledge to RelationshipGinosko Versus EpistamaiBaby Christians Are Still ChristiansWhat About Unbelievers?A Father’s Progressive Sanctification Comes from the WordA Father’s Progressive Sanctification Comes from TrialsKnowing God Is the Height of Progressive SanctificationWhat Shouldn't We Boast About?One Thing We Can Boast AboutThe Balance with Progressive Sanctification

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Progressive sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus; 1 John 2:12-14 divides it into stages: children, young men, fathers.

When we moved to Washington in 2010, Johnny was only a few months old but wasn’t growing. He was classified as “failure to thrive.” It was scary because his skin was hanging from his face and arms, he couldn’t tell us what was wrong, and the doctors couldn’t figure out what to do. I think it was particularly hard on Katie, who tried to nurse him around the clock but couldn’t get him to gain any weight. As concerning as it is when people do not grow physically, it is even more concerning when they do not grow spiritually:

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain…TO MATURE MANHOOD, to the MEASURE OF THE STATURE of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may NO LONGER BE CHILDREN…15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to GROW UP IN EVERY WAY into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes THE BODY GROW SO THAT IT BUILDS ITSELF UP in love.

These verses describe progressive sanctification, which is the process of becoming more like Jesus. In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. God’s spiritual family is like human families, with members at different maturity levels. We will look at children and fathers in this sermon and young men separately.

The verses are written uniquely:

There are two sets of three addresses.

The three addresses are for children, fathers, and young men.

In the first set, the address begins with, “I am writing to you,” and in the second set, the address begins with, “I write to you.”

The verses are written TO US instead of ABOUT US. In other words, they don’t say, “Children know their sins are forgiven, fathers know him who is from the beginning, and young men have overcome the evil one.” Instead, the verses say, “I am writing to you, or I write you children, young men, fathers.” This makes it personal and shows John’s desire to assure us of these truths.

These verses are not about biological children, young men, and fathers. They are about spiritual children, young men, and fathers.

Children’s Progressive Sanctification Begins with Gospel Basics

1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake...2:13c I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

Because children, or baby Christians, only have a basic understanding of the gospel, these are two wonderful yet simple truths to share with them.

First, John assured them their sins were forgiven. Sometimes new believers need to be reassured of this truth. If you’re a new Christian, or you remember being a new Christian, you probably remember being amazed at God’s grace and mercy in forgiving and sa...