Introduction
So here we are now to verse 12-14 of 1 John chapter 2, where John seems to take an interesting break from his flow of thought, as we saw last week how true Christians are those who love one another, and then the following verses after verse 14, which we will come to next week, warn us against loving the world. So in between loving the church, and not loving the world, we have this poetically structured interlude of sorts. Though this interlude may seem a bit strange in terms of the flow of thought, there are some beautiful and foundational gospel truths and benefits herein. It’s as if, in between John’s hard words, commands, and tests, he wants to pause for a moment to remind his readers who they are in Christ and what they have in Christ. It is as if he is trying to make clear that all of his hard sayings and tests of assurance are not meant to cast doubt upon the believer, but they are truly meant to offer assurance and comfort to the believer, though they be hard words. And so John takes a pause to remind his readers of the gospel and the benefits therein that have as a possession in Christ.
The most unique aspect of verse 12-14 is the way John addresses his audience. He repeats the phrase “I am writing to you” or “I write to you” with every line; and he addresses children twice, fathers twice, and young men twice.
The most common understanding here, and the one that I take, is that John is not addressing literal ages here of fathers, young men, and children; at least not primarily, though there could be some overlap. He is primarily addressing them in terms of spiritual maturity – what age they are in the faith. The level of one’s spiritual maturity is not an indicator of their physical age; though many times one’s spiritual maturity matches up with their physical age. But we know of course this is not the always the case.
However, if you notice in verse 12, John begins by addressing “little children.” Then, in verse 13, it simply says, “Children.” At least that is the way the ESV puts it. This is because John uses two different Greek words for “little children.” The word in verse 12 is different than verse 13. The Greek word in verse 12 is the same word that John uses throughout this letter when he is addressing his entire audience of all ages as “little children” in the faith. Furthermore, the forgiveness of sins that John writes of in verse 12 is not something exclusive to little children, but it is a forefront benefit to every believer at every stage of growth and maturity. For this reason, we see verse 12 is not referring to little children whether physically or spiritually, but as John’s little children in the faith, as he refers to all believer throughout the letter. Whereas then the children in verse 13 could be addressing more specifically, actual children in the faith.
Having said all this, though this does give us a more full understanding of the passage and the structure, it is a rather minor point in terms of the meaning of the text. For however we understand children, fathers, and young men, it is true that all of the benefits given in verse 12-14 are true for all believers.
So we conclude this opening thought by saying the reason for John’s address to the different ages of spiritual maturity are not to say that one age has different things than another; but John is applying universal Christian benefits to each specific station of life in the faith. And we will try to observe those things as we go along.
Verse 12
So here we have one of the greatest and most fundamental benefits of the gospel – the forgiveness of sins. You see, this is and has always been mankind’s great big problem – sin. All throughout Scripture we have this pervading problem – sin. Ever since Adam rebelled in the garden, sin has reeked havoc in this world; but the worst thing of all that it has done is separate us from God and put us at odds and at enmity with God. And to be sure, we are not victims to whom this has been done, but we are the perpetrators. So we have this great problem of sin all throughout Scripture, and this is man’s most fundamental need, to have their sins removed, dealt with, and forgiven. And this is each one of our most fundamental problems and needs.
And sin is the fundamental issue the gospel addresses. Christ came to deal with our sin. And he did so by taking it upon himself. He did so by the great 2 Corinthians 5v21 declaration, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The Lord Jesus Christ took our sins upon himself, so that he could be the sacrificial lamb for our sins, so that he could take the punishment for our sins, so that he could pay the price and the penalty for our sins, so that we could have forgiveness of sins. What John writes here is true. The Lord has dealt with our sins upon himself so that it can truly be said that our sins are forgiven.
Remember the Apostle John is writing this amidst the hard words and the strong statements that he has given along with these different tests of assurance of salvation. John doesn’t want his audience to get the wrong idea about things and begin to over scrutinize and fixate upon every little thing in their lives, and begin to doubt and question whether they know God and have forgiveness of sins. John means for testing to help them know that they know, and that even when our lives don’t live up to that perfect standard of righteousness, if we are in Christ, we can be sure that we have forgiveness of sins. Because in an ultimate sense, our lives don’t pass the test. We fail and fall utterly short; yet that is the whole reason why Christ has done what he has done in order to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
But notice the certainty of the way John puts it, “your sins are forgiven.” There is a certainty to it. He just states it as a fact. There is no tone of questioning or voice of doubt. He doesn’t say your sins might be forgiven, or may be forgiven, or could be forgiven, or will be forgiven. But he says that they are forgiven. Right now, that is. If you are a Christian in the Lord Jesus Christ, God is not waiting on some future version of yourself in order to forgive you. He is not waiting on you to clean yourself up and get it together before you can be sure of this benefit. No, for the true Christian, the forgiveness of sins is a present reality. It is not a future reward, it is a current and everlasting gift, purchased by the blood of Christ and freely given to those who believe. This is why John can just state it as a fact for those who are truly in Christ.
For His Name’s Sake
So John states the fact of our forgiveness in Christ. But he doesn’t stop with the fact, but continues to give the basis and foundation; or the reason for our forgiveness. He says, “your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.” Different commentators will differ over whether this is referring specifically to God the Father or Christ the Son, when it says, “his” name’s sake. I tend to agree with other commentators who say that is a both/and situation. And the main point remains true.
Why do we have this forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ? For His name’s sake. This is quite different from what you will from most of what passes today as evangelicalism. The Consistent testimony of Scripture is that God does the things that he does, primarily for his own sake – for the praise of his own name and glory, including our salvation. In saying this, we of course do not deny that there are additional reasons God does things, but the primary and foundational reason is this: for his name’s sake. And this fact should comfort us, for there is nothing in us that makes us worthy enough for God to sacrifice his son to forgive us of our sins. There is nothing we can do within our own power or wisdom to earn God’s forgiveness. If the foundation of God’s forgiveness toward his people was anything other than for his own name’s sake, then we’d still be waiting for forgiveness. And we’d be waiting for all eternity.
And note how John uses this doctrine for comfort. Again, the context of this passage is assurance and the tone of theses verses is a tone of comfort. This is not simply one of those high doctrines of God that smashes the pride of man like an anvil – to does that – but this doctrine is also a means of comfort for God’s people. The basis for God’s forgiveness is God. There is no better or more sure, steady, and faithful basis and foundation than God himself. This is the whole reason we can have assurance that we are forgiven in Christ. Because the foundation of our forgiveness is not us, or anything we do, or any thing else; but it is God and his name’s sake.
God Glorifying
You see, when we understand that our forgiveness is for “his name’s sake” we begin to see things rightly. This is a very God-centered way of looking at and understanding things. And this of course is the right, biblical way of looking at it. The Gnostic teaching going around in John’s day, and many other false theologies that are alive and well today, all have a similar characteristic – they are man-centered. Or man-glorifying. But you see true forgiveness is God-glorifying. If a gospel that you hear or preach does not humble man and glorify God, then it cannot be the true biblical gospel. Because that is what the gospel does. It humbles man and glorifies God.
“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” – Isaiah 43:25
“For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.” – Psalm 25:11
So John writes to remind us of the forgiveness we have in Christ on the basis of his name’s sake, and how this is a present reality for every true believer. Let us now take a somewhat brief look at the specifics addressed to fathers and young men in our passage.
Fathers
John writes to the Fathers who know him who is from the beginning. This hearkens back to 1 John 1:1-3.
The title of “Father” indicates a maturity in knowing God. It indicates a long time spent growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. It indicates wisdom. It indicates many years of an experiential knowledge of God, by walking with him, abiding in him, growing in the Word, trusting Him, learning what it is to depend upon the Lord.
Again we see here how John is refuting the Gnostics and comforting the audience of believers to whom he writes. The Gnostics claimed to own the market on knowledge; and John writes to the seasoned in faith, like him, reassuring them, “No, the not the Gnostics, you know the Father. You know Him. Your years spent knowing Him have not been wasted.”
Not only is this a reassurance to the fathers to whom John writes, but it is also a way to show the younger believers that these fathers in the faith among them have wisdom and knowledge and years of knowing the Lord. And they may be a source of wisdom and comfort during the difficult days of which they face.
Young Men
The most here is written to the young men, not because they are better or more important, because they are the ones who are most fully engaged in the battles of spiritual warfare that are going on, fully immersed in throws of life and temptation. The young men are also the ones who are most likely to be face the heaviest temptation to love the things of the world, which John warns against in verse 15 and onward. And so, to these ones who face the most fiery darts from the evil one, John seeks to remind them they have overcome the evil one, and that they are strong, and the word of God abides in them.
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