This letter, like others in the New Testament, was intended to be read out to congregations of Christian believers.  What a mixture there would be: from recently converted people to experienced leaders, from the young to the old.  They were all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28), but they were different, with different needs and personal challenges.  John wrote to point out the errors of false teaching, but he also wanted to assure all the true believers that they were safe in God (Acts 13:38).  Those who want to be closest to the Lord often have a heightened conscience and feel themselves to be the greatest failures.  So John was quite direct and emphasised his commendation of them by detailing the reasons for his confidence in their faith.

The 'children' may have been all his readers, or those who had just started the Christian life and vulnerable to accusation (1 Thessalonians 2:7).  The key to beginning in Christ is to know that His death enables every sin to be forgiven (Romans 4:7).  With sin no longer a barrier, the new believer can get to know Father God.  The basis of the 'fathers' ' confidence was not in their accumulated wisdom or years of service, but that they had developed a deep relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and could show the church how to develop godly relationships.

The 'young men' are the hope of every community, with their energy and courage.  But the first sign of spiritual maturity is a determination not to be defeated in temptation, and to apply the armour of God as spiritual protection every day (Ephesians 6:10-18).  This is only possible as they pay close attention to God's Word, knowing what the Lord is saying and living it out in obedience with the Holy Spirit’s help.  It is the only route to spiritual courage and the strength to deal with evil in their own lives.

Modern day believers are enticed to find security in many other 'spiritual' things.  Children like to play; and some believers want to use God's gifts as toys and not tools.  Some fathers think they should be the wise authorities in the church and community.  But Jesus is Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22), and to know Him is wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).  Young men like to exhibit their strength; but if they cannot be disciplined to master temptations according to the Word, they are weak.  Whatever our age or stage in the faith, our primary security does not lie in ourselves and what we do, or in what others think of us, but in our relationship with Father God through the Lord Jesus Christ.