"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."
1 John 2:12
“I write unto you,”
John the Apostle wrote this letter to the “little children,” (v. 12), the “fathers,” (v. 13, v. 14), and to the “young men,” (v. 13, v. 14); each, based upon their level of maturity in Jesus Christ, and the level of truth they can handle.
“Little children,”
The “little children” are not necessarily children in age, but in spiritual maturity, they have not known the Lord a long time, and there is a specific truth that John wanted them to know very well as they continued their walk with the Lord.
“Because your sins are forgiven you.”
What wonderful language here! “Your sins are forgiven you!” Not “might be forgiven someday,” or “will be forgiven if you do so many good works,” or “will be forgiven if you can get God to like you more”… NO! “Your sins are forgiven you!”
Note that John says nothing about “degrees of forgiveness.” In other words, you don’t get a little forgiveness today, and a little more tomorrow, and so on the next day. No, “Your sins are forgiven you!” As a babe in Christ, you have all the forgiveness that you will ever need. You will never be more forgiven than you are as a new believer. “Your forgiveness is God’s gift, not your accomplishment.” Never forget what the Word of God says here, “Your sins are forgiven you!”
“For his name’s sake.”
Why does God forgive us this way? It’s all about Him and not us. He has forgiven you your sins for “His name’s sake.” For Jesus’ namesake, because of what He has done for us in His vicarious atonement (He died in my place), on the Cross for me.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” (John 1:12).
“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did,” (John 2:23).
No one else can forgive your sin because no one else paid the price to forgive your sin.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).
“His name is wonderful!” Have you met Him?