Writing

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one (1 John 2:12-13 a,b)

Writing

1. People seek to communicate through writing
2. John, one of the apostles of Jesus, did the same
   1. He reminds his readers of who Jesus really is
   2. He re-assures his readers of the truth handed down to them
   3. He relates to his readers as close ones
3. Writing such a letter as this was and still is a powerful tool of communication

Little children

1. The wide readership of John includes children
2. John takes trouble to address those children
   1. Specifically
   2. Endearingly
3. He reminds them of the fact that their sins are forgiven
4. Indeed their sins are forgiven for the name’s sake of the Lord Jesus
5. What does it mean by the phrase “for his name’s sake”?
   1. On account of what the name of Jesus stands for
   2. Due to what Jesus actually accomplished on the Cross
   3. For the glory and honour due to Jesus
6. The name of Jesus would be at stake if God had not forgiven our sins
7. We whose sins are forgiven should seek to live for Jesus alone

Fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning

1. John also addresses ‘fathers’ who would definitely read his letter
2. He highlights the fact that they have known him who is from the beginning
3. This “him” who is from the beginning
   1. Is Jesus the man of Nazareth
   2. Is Jesus the Christ of God
4. The clause “who is from the beginning” refers to
   1. The appearing of Jesus in history
   2. The appropriating of Jesus as Lord and Saviour in one’s own life
   3. The appreciating of Jesus as the One from eternity in the past
5. One’s acknowledgement of Jesus as THE Lord and Saviour is worth highlighting

Young men, because you have overcome the evil one

1. One of John’s reader-groups is none other than young people
2. The young people have overcome the evil one
   1. They have defeated Satan in Christ
   2. They have also been delivered from the dominion of the evil one (Cf. Matt 6:9ff)
3. Young people should be strong in the grace of God to resist against the temptations of Satan