The Apostle John writes a deeply personal pastoral letter to his spiritual children in Ephesus. He is concerned about the spiritual dangers they are facing both from within and without related to false doctrine and ungodly secular antichrist pressure. He wants to protect and enhance their fellowship with the Father through Jesus Christ. His letter points to several signs or markers to distinguish true from false believers. In verses 12-14 of 1 John the apostle inserts a pause to particularly address the little children, the fathers and the young men in 6 parallel statements. The "little children" designation is used throughout his letter to indicate that they are beloved in the Lord by him. But it can also accent the reality of the first great awareness of newborn Christians. They rejoice in the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus' death and their relationship to God as Father. John then addresses two groups he calls fathers and young men. The fathers seem to refer to mature believers who know the true identity of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word who has always been with the Father and through whom we know the Father. However, John writes the most to the young men. They are strong, have overcome the evil one. He gives the reason because the word of God abides in them. This middle group bears the brunt of the spiritual battle in which the church is engaged. Although John singles out these particular groups the spiritual realties noted belong to all believers. It appears that John wants to encourage and assure the believers that they do belong to God in Christ.