¹²I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.

Whatever stage of the Christian life you are in right now, the apostle John has something specifically for you. While we should all live out our faith through genuine love and walking in the light, the emphasis shifts as we progress in spiritual maturity. Here we see the focus on the first of three broad brush strokes: 1) little children, 2) fathers, 3) young men.

John refers to his readers in general as “children,” and we are all called “children of God” (1 John 3:1). And each time, he connects the term with the truth about our forgiveness from sin, as he does here (see 1 John 2:1, 12). In this passage, in contrast with the “young men” and “fathers,” John specifically has in mind those who are relatively new in the faith. Yet all Christians should listen in over their shoulders, for he addresses the spiritual child in each of us. We continually remind ourselves to walk in the same child-like faith we had when we began our Christian journey (Matt. 18:3, Luke 18:17, Col. 2:6).

New believers should concentrate on shoring up the foundation of their salvation. Forgiveness of sin underpins everything else in Christian life and growth. How can one grow if one is not sure of his forgiveness, if fear of God’s retribution plagues the believer’s mind? John’s simple description of the foundational truth here carries with it profound implications. We use theological terms to help us study the various aspects of our forgiveness: redemption, reconciliation, regeneration, propitiation, grace, mercy, and the list goes on. John encapsulates it simply as sins having been forgiven. The point is, this is so absolutely central to the Christian life that the young believer should focus on learning deeply what it all means so that he is sure of what he believes.

Is it any wonder that Jesus unambiguously commanded that we should remember this foundational truth in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper?

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:27–28)

“. . . [D]o this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Cor. 11:25)

Often young believers get snared trying to understand deep theological topics like predestination, end-times prophecy, etc., but can quickly become confused and shipwrecked in faith if the foundation is unsure. So we need to continually remind them (and ourselves) of the great truths of our salvation.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to grow in my understanding of all You accomplished on the cross!