“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Nothing is more heartwarming than seeing a father fold a small child in his arms to protect him from harm and danger or to keep him from doing wrong. It is easy to see that the Father wants his child to be the best he can be and wants him never to be harmed in any way. In 1 John 2:1, we see this same analogy used for God’s spiritual children. By this, we feel assured that our Father in Heaven loves us very much. His focus is for us to be clean, pure and without sin. We are His children taken into His bosom for assurance of His love and concern for our eternal souls. The apostle Paul stated the same thing another way: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Galatians 4:19).
“I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:12). Verse 12 informs us that God’s children are forgiven. They have their sins washed away and stand clean before Him. They have made a covenant with the Father. If there were no forgiveness with God, there would be nothing but damnation for all of us. “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4). “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Notice the second part of verse twelve is very clear about why they are forgiven. “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” On Judgment Day, we will be happy to confess that Jesus is Lord! King David prayed, “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great” (Psalm 25:11). Another time David stated, “Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known” (Psalm 106:8). Paul told the Ephesians, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).
First John 2:13 reads, “Children, your sins are forgiven you and ye have known the Father.” What a beautiful picture of the family of God! Christ’s words bear the same message. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
The context of 1 John 2:12 is in an immediate context of children, young men and fathers.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. (1 John 2:12-14)
The children have not grown to the point where they are strong enough to do what the young men are able to do – overcome the wicked one (stated twice). The fathers are further developed in that they know the Father or the Son (repeated). The children are undoubtedly thankful to have their sins forgiven so that there is no barrier between them and the Father. The Father will work with His faithful children if they are walking in the light.
The hope of all men is that there is forgiveness with God (Psalm 130:3-4). Our sins would otherwise hide His face from us that He would not hear us (Isaiah 59:1-2). He further notes in Psalms 130:4 that God’s willingness to forgive makes it possible for men to fear him. The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil (Proverbs 3:7; 16:6, 17). If there were no forgiveness, what hope would any man have? What could righteous men do if their foundations were destroyed (Psalm 11:3)? Man cannot create himself or his world. Without God and without His law nothing could exist. In the same manner, if God did not forgive sins, what could the righteous do? One sin destroyed Paul’s spiritual life (Romans 7:7-9). He was dead in his sin (Colossians 2:13). Unless there is forgiveness, there could be no life, no hope (Ephesians 2:12-13). With no spiritual life, what could Paul do?
Surely the children of whom the apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:12 had hope because their sins were forgiven. If sins were not forgiven, there would be no spiritual life, no eternity and no church. Over what would Christ be head if there were no forgiveness? Over what would Jesus be king if there were no forgiveness? The children’s sins are forgiven for Christ’s name’s sake.
