• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"I write to you, little children..."

Text: 1 John 2:12

MINISTRY TO CHILDREN

The Lord Jesus Christ had a heart for children. He received them with open arms. He blessed them. Little ones were healed too! It is no wonder that John also had a heart of love for children.

“I write to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.”
1 John 2:12

1. “I write to you”

a) John used the Present Tense with good effect.

b) He was in fact highlighting a special sense of consciousness of the children as he wrote.

2. “Little children”

a) The adjective “little” was added to express deep and special affection.

b) The word chosen (Greek “teknon”) was used by the Apostle Paul to describe his spiritual sons Timothy and Titus.

3. John’s knowledge of children

a) He knows that children can be naughty.

b) Naughtiness comes from the problem of sin.

c) Sensitive children can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the guilt of sin.

d) They need to be assured that God has made provision for the sin problem.

4. A special word of assurance to the little children

a) “Your sins are forgiven you”

i) This was the word of assurance given to the little ones.

ii) This was written especially (using what is called the Perfect Passive Indicative).

iii) John wants to assure the little children that their sins had been forgiven already.

iv) They stand in the sight of God as children who have already received forgiveness.

v) They do not have to worry about God being angry with them.

b) “For His name’s sake”

i) The name here, of course, is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii) All stand forgiven because of the Lord Jesus Christ who has taken away our sins.

iii) Children can be taught how to appreciate and love the Lord Jesus from a young age.

iv) Children must be nurtured in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.