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"That you may not sin."

Text: 1 John 2:1

WITH DEEP AFFECTION

The Apostle John wrote with a great sense of purpose. He was one of the original disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. He had seen how the Lord Jesus forgave sins. He had seen with his own eyes how destructive sin could be. He highlighted one of the reasons why he wrote.

“My little children, these things I write to you,
so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins,
we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
1 John 2:1

1. “My little children”

a) John wrote with deep affection.

i) This is known as a diminutive form.

ii) It is rightly translated “little children”.

iii) The word “little” is added in to translate this word effectively.

b) The phrase may be understood in two ways:-

i) To his readers in general (both young and old).

ii) To those who are younger literally.

c) John lived to a great age and thus he could address his readers in this affectionate way.

d) He had a heart that was full of affection and thus he wrote with much love in his heart.

2. “These things I write to you”

a) John wrote with great consciousness.

b) This is the intended impact of the use of the Present Tense here.

3. “That you may not sin”

a) John’s purpose for writing was stated clearly.

b) Sin may be prevented.

i) Through a deeper knowledge.

ii) With greater consciousness.

iii) With greater effort put in.

THE PROBLEM OF SIN

John had a clear understanding how sin can affect people terribly.

1. Sin will seek to enslave.

2. Sin is devastatingly destructive.