Because of Jesus

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake."

I John 2:12

 This is one of but several verses the apostle writes with the endearing phrase, "little children." No doubt John loved his readers with perfected love. Surely John, who refers to himself as the "apostle whom Jesus loved," understood greatly how to obey his Lord, that he loved God supremely, and his neighbors as himself. John loved his readers so much that he gave them these truths as a gracious father would. It is no wonder why John referred to himself as the apostle whom Jesus loved. It's not to say that Jesus loved John above all the others, but that John knew the God of the universe, who holds even the stars at bay, loved him.

Consider that the hand of God, which sustains all life, is justified if it were to remove from providing the sustenance we take for granted in our air, food, water, and shelter. Consider that should that hand remove from the sinner and his life perish he is condemned and the full wrath of God will bear down upon him in final judgement. John was aware of this, and how marvelous it is that the great God of life loved him. There was nothing John could do to earn this love, for his very existence rested in the mighty hand of God as does ours. John could not love God until his sins were forgiven through Jesus. 

This is why John called himself the apostle whom Jesus loved; not because John was special and deserving, but because he was wretched and deserving of eternal punishment because of his trespass against Holy God. Yet, Jesus died and arose from the grave. Jesus's blood was applied instead of John's and the Lord forgave the apostle's sins forever. No, it is not because John was great but because Jesus is great.

Don't you see? It is all of Jesus! We who have the blood of Jesus applied for our sins before the Judge can rest and praise His name, because it is all of Jesus. We can love God supremely because of Jesus. We can love those around us because of Jesus. Love is perfected in our obedience because of Jesus. It is because of Jesus that we even know love. Our sins are forgiven because of Jesus! Oh Christian, be joyful and thankful because of Jesus! Praise His holy name!

Consider also: Psalm 5:11,12; Romans 5:6-11