Who is John speaking to in 1 John 2:1?
In 1 John 2:1, John addresses believers, calling them 'my little children.' He is not speaking to the unbelieving world, since he does not call unbelievers his children. The believing element is being addressed, as John writes to them that they sin not.
Les explains that in 1 John 2:1, John is addressing believers, not the unbelieving world, because he calls them 'my little children.' John writes so they will not sin, and this aligns with the teaching that grace is not license. Even though sin is always less than God's grace, that does not give believers license to sin. John begs the believer, 'sin not, don't sin,' but if any man sin.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
More Questions
Why did John write 1 John 2:1?
John wrote 1 John 2:1 so that believers would not sin.
Who is John addressing as 'my little children' in 1 John 2:1?
When John says 'my little children' in 1 John 2:1, he is addressing believers, because he does not call the unbelieving world his children.