“My little children” is an expression of sheer affection, a term that is used by John repeatedly in this letter of first John. He addressed the people he wrote the letter to as little children, affectionately reminding them not to fall into the temptation of sin. The apostle John, by the time he wrote this letter, was probably an old man. Together with his brother, James, they were known by Jesus as the sons of thunder because of their “thunder” like temper, but John’s life was greatly changed and shaped by Christ. At the time he wrote the first letter of John, John was still a fervent follower of Christ, but this fervency was driven by love. John was no longer the man who would curse them (like how he did to the Samaritan who did not believe in Jesus in Luke 9:54) if they were to fall into sin. He patiently and tenderly urged them like an old pastor to turn away from their sinful nature.

In 1 John 1, John was aware that sin is universal, for all men has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Anyone who says that he is without sin is a liar (1 John 1:10). However, in 1 John 2:1, John reminds all the people of knowledge and moral responsibilities not to fall into sin, because God is not pleased with us falling into sin.

William Barclay says that there is a tension in Christianity. On one hand, it is clearly an ethical religion, where we are required to keep God’s law in order to please God. However, on the other hand, it is also clear that man is often an ethical failure. Confronted with the demands of God, man admits and accepts them – and then fails to keep them. There is therefore a barrier erected between God and man. How can man, a sinner, who fails his promise of purity, ever going to enter into the presence of a Holy God?

The solution to this tension is Jesus Christ. He was the perfect man who died for us on the cross and by His death and resurrection, Jesus became the advocate for us between Holy God and sinful man. The idea of an advocate in Greek is used as a legal term where someone is called in to plead and defend for your law suite. Barclay says that in a Roman military court martial, the officer who defends the soldier under accusation is called the prisoner’s friend. Jesus is our friend. He is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are ever grateful for the way out of our problem of sin. Just by our own strength, we can never meet the standards of obeying God’s law and to be sinless. We thank God that He has given us Christ Jesus to become our advocate who intercedes for us day and night! We must stop leading a sinful life, but this is mission impossible if it is left to our own strength. We must hold on to Christ. Hold on to Him closely, for your life depends on Him.