1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13: 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. 14: 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.

Introduction

In our past messages we saw how the apostle John gave his readers several tests to see if they are truly believers. But in doing that, John doesn’t want them to think that he doubts their salvation. He doesn’t want to give them the impression that he is questioning whether they are in darkness or not. It is important to remind ourselves that it was not John’s intention to shake them in their faith and cause them to doubt the reality of their salvation. In fact, John says in chapter 5 and verse 12, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

As we all should know by now that John’s purpose in writing this letter is for his readers to be assured of their salvation, not to unsettle them. And so, John takes a short break from giving them more tests and expresses his confidence in his readers that they are true believers who have real saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And in expressing his confidence in them, he also reminds them of what God has done and doing in their lives. And that’s what I invite you to consider with me today and as we study this section of the first letter of John, may we be reminded of the blessings we have for being believers in Christ.

First, note how John addresses his readers here in these verses:

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13: 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. 14: 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.

You will notice that John addresses his readers using titles for family members. This is a good reminder to us that the church of Jesus Christ is a family. That’s why we call each other here, brothers and sisters. We are a family here, as we are told in Hebrews 2:11 our Lord Jesus Christ calls us His brethren. He is our elder brother and God is our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12: Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

In the verses we read this morning, there are three designations, namely, fathers, and young men, and little children. John is not referring to physical age but spiritual development. John Stott says, “God’s family, like every human family has members of different maturity.” And so, the apostle John is not writing in the physical realm, he is writing concerning spiritual maturity. He is describing stages of spiritual growth and development. In the church, some are infant in their faith, others are fathers in the faith, and others young men or young women in the faith.

We are going to look at these three groups next week, but this morning, I just want to focus on verse 12. First, understand that the “little children” in verse 12 is different from the one used in verse 13. In the Greek there are two different words which are both translated “little children” in our English Bible. In verse 12, the Greek word is “teknia.” “Teknia” or “Little children” is one of John’s favorite expressions. It is an expression of affection. It is a general title used in the New Testament for all believers, for the children of God regardless of their age and their spiritual growth. So, let’s us look at verse 12 in three headings, namely, the Great Blessing, the Ground of Blessing, and the Grand Design of the Blessing.

I – The Great Blessing

What does John say about the “little children” here in verse 12?

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Here John speaks about the great blessing we have for being made a part of God’s family. The New Testament clearly teaches that all believers, regardless of where they are on the spiritual growth, have been forgiven of all their sins. This is the primary fact in our salvation—that God has forgiven us of our sins.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

The first and great benefit and joy of being made a part of the family of God is the reality of forgiveness. What a joy it is to know deep in our hearts that our sins have been forgiven. David knew and experienced the joy of having his sins forgiven!

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2: Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

As we saw in our past lessons, the word “forgive” means “to send away.” It means “to let go.” When Jesus forgives, He removes our sins from us. He sends our sins away from us. He takes our sins and puts them away from us. How far? David says in Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” When God forgives, He deals with our guilt and removes it completely from us and away from Him.

Another idea of forgiveness is to cancel the debt. If I forgive a loan that means the person who is indebted to me doesn’t owe me anything anymore. 

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

This is what has happened to our sins. They are gone. They no longer exist. You could not find them if you looked for them. They are nowhere to be found. 

In Psalm 103, when the Psalmist was praising God for the blessings he received from the LORD, forgiveness is the first on his list.

Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Forgiveness of sin is one the greatest blessings we have receive from God when we first trusted Jesus Christ as our Saviour. And David stands amazed of the forgiveness of God. God has forgiven all of his iniquities. All, not just the mistakes and failures we consider insignificant, but all of them. All our sins, past, present, and future sins have been forever put away through the gift of God in Christ Jesus. Someone has noted, “Please notice that this word, along with all 5 of the verbs in these 3 verses ends in "eth". This signifies “present tense.” Not only has God cleansed me in the past, but He also continually cleanses me in the present and He will continue to cleanse me into the future, until the day when my sin nature will forever be left behind and I will stand perfected in His presence in glory!

I hope we never read verses like these and yawn. The forgiveness of all of your sins and my sins is the greatest blessing in the whole world! Just think of it, although we were sinners, ungodly, and enemies of God deserving God’s anger and condemnation, He graciously sent His Son Jesus Christ to bear the penalty in our place and forgave our sins upon believing on Him.

Now, does this mean that we are sinless? Of course not! We sin and Satan, “the accuser of our brethren,” knows that and accuses us before the Father day and night. And many of his accusations are true. But praise God we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous, who intercedes for us. He is at the right hand of the Father, advocating for us believers, pleading our case, even when we sin. He has never lost a case and He never will!

II – The Ground of the Blessing

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

John not only reminds the believers that their sins have been forgiven, but also reminds them on what ground their sins have been forgiven. He reminds them that God grants forgiveness to believers, not because of their work or own worthiness or merit, but for His name’s sake. The name of Jesus represents His person and His saving work.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

In other words, the believers’ sins are forgiven on account of the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our sins are not forgiven because of anything that we do, or anything that any minister or priest can and has done for us or do for us. No penance, no sacrament, no sacrifice, no good works can pay for our sins. If we are forgiven, it’s all because and only because of Who Christ is and what He had done of the cross of Calvary.

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

We who have believed in Christ are not forgiven because we deserved it; nor are we are forgiven because we are better people than others. No, we are forgiven because of God’s grace and mercy shown to us in Jesus Christ. We have forgiveness of sins, through His blood and according to the riches of His grace. It is “for His name’s sake,” not for anything we have done, or we can do.

This is what the apostle John is driving at in verses 1 and 2 of this same chapter.

1 John 2:1 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: 2: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus Christ, the Righteous is our Advocate with the Father. He is the propitiation for our sins, the One who gave His life to satisfy the demands of God’s justice.

Oh, may we never forget that if we have been forgiven, because they were atoned for by Christ, forgiveness and pardon have been purchased and secured by the shedding of His blood.

Hebrews 1:3b ... when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

So, a believer can say, “I know that my sins have been forgiven and I know I have been forgiven because of the name of Jesus.”

There are many Christian hymns which celebrate about this glorious truth, such as the hymn  “Rock of Ages.”

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All could never sin erase,

Thou must save, and save by grace.

III – The Grand Design of the Blessing

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

We can also look at this expression “for His name’s sake” in a different light. It may also refer to the glory of God or the praise of God. Please turn to Isaiah 48:9-11. Notice in these verses, how God will link His name to His praise and glory. “For my name's sake will I defer [delay] mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”

In these verses, notice how God puts His name’s sake parallel with His praise and His glory. In other words, God not only forgives us for Jesus’ name’s sake but also for the praise and glory of His name. This is the grand design of the blessing of forgiveness. This is the ultimate goal of the blessing of forgiveness—the glory and the praise of His Name!

In the Old Testament, God Himself, testifies that He forgives only for His Name’s sake.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

The Old Testament saints were acquainted with this truth. They talk much about God forgiving for His name’s sake.

Psalms 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

David prays, “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”

Psalms 25:11 For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.

Jeremiah 14:7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.

In forgiving us our sins, God is glorified by displaying His infinite grace, mercy, wisdom, and power. Jesus Christ who suffered and died and rose again from the dead to provide full and free pardon is glorified. He is glorified in those who confess and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Our sins were forgiven for His name’s sake alone, therefore, all the glory goes to the One who forgives, and none goes to the one who has been forgiven. 

Psalm 115:1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

Closing Thoughts

As we close, let me speak to those who are not sure of their salvation. Have you accepted God’s gracious offer to forgive your sin? Remember He forgives not on the basis of your goodness or your good works but only on basis on Who Christ is and what He has done on the cross of Calvary. Oh, may you come to Him this morning, humbly acknowledging your sin, your sinfulness, your inability to save yourself, and confess Him to be your Saviour. If you do, you have His promise of free and complete forgiveness—past, present, and future sins. Come just as you are. Pleading nothing but the blood that was shed for you and me. Come! He invites you to come! Come to Jesus Christ and be saved and be forgiven and be assured of Heaven!

Oh, brothers and sisters in Christ, what a wonderful thing it is to wake up every morning knowing that we have been forgiven. That forgiveness of sins is our present possession. Truly we can sing to the Lord, “morning by morning new mercies I see - great is Thy faithfulness.” What glorious grace it is to know that the forgiveness of our sins does not depend on our own merit or good works - but is secured on Christ’s finished work on the cross - for His name’s sake.

I am God's child, I stand here forgiven

My sins have been cast in the depths of the sea

I have been washed in the stream of salvation

And I am free

I have good news, your sins are forgiven

They’re farther away than the east is from west

Come now and bathe in God’s stream of salvation

And know His rest

Know His mercy, know His goodness

Know the joy of righteousness

Come for healing, come for wisdom

Come the Father longs to bless!

As you contemplate on being forgiven for His Name’s sake, may it motivate you to live for Him!

AMEN!