‘I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake (by means of his name).'
John's tender concern continues to come out. Having spoken of ‘teknia' (1 John 2:1) and ‘beloved ones' (1 John 2:7), he here again speaks to them all as ‘teknia' (compare John 13:33). With the privilege of an old man and an Apostle he is concerned lest in their comparative tenderness of years and experience in Christ these fathers and young men be led astray. So he first reminds them again that they are forgiven sinners because of Jesus Christ's work on their behalf (1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:1-2). It is for His sake and through what He is (through His name) that they have been forgiven. Thus they enjoy continual forgiveness as they walk with Him (1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9). It is the necessary basis of all Christian life that we have been forgiven as chapter 1 has emphasised. This in contrast with those who claim to have no sin. All who are true acknowledge their own moral failure and that they are forgiven ones.
Seeing this as introductory this blessing of being forgiven is thus applied to all, to both the elder and the younger men. If, however, the reference is only to those who are babes in Christ it is a reminder that they have received the first initial blessing of forgiveness on which they must go on to build their Christian lives. But of course in the end all are ‘forgiven ones'.