“Dear children” signifies a fond affection for the people to whom John wrote this letter. The exhortation to walk in the light encourages us not to sin. But we will. However, when we, as children of God, sin, we do not descend under the penalty of the law again. Jesus is our advocate, one who speaks to the Father on our behalf, as a defense attorney would argue our case before a judge. The advocate speaks with extraordinary authority before the judge, because his defense for us is that he, the defense attorney, has already paid any price the judge could impose. The willingness of the judge to forego judgment is not based on the life of the one on trial (us), but rather on the merits of the righteousness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus paid the price for our sin with his death. He is our atoning sacrifice, which is the grounds for the forgiveness of our sins.