My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, awe have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And aHe Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but balso for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a aliar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But awhoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected bin him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 aHe who says he abides in Him bought himself also to walk just as He walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had afrom the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, aa new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, bbecause the darkness is passing away, and cthe true light is already shining.
9 aHe who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 aHe who loves his brother abides in the light, and bthere is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who ahates his brother is in darkness and bwalks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Their Spiritual State
12 I write to you, little children,
Because ayour sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is afrom the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have bknown the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because ayou are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 aDo not love the world or the things in the world. bIf anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, athe lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And athe world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deceptions of the Last Hour
18 aLittle children, bit is the last hour; and as you have heard that cthe Antichrist is coming, deven now many antichrists have come, by which we know ethat it is the last hour. 19 aThey went out from us, but they were not of us; for bif they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out cthat they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But ayou have an anointing bfrom the Holy One, and cyou know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 aWho is a liar but he who denies that bJesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 aWhoever denies the Son does not have the bFather either; che who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Let Truth Abide in You
24 Therefore let that abide in you awhich you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, byou also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 aAnd this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the aanointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and byou do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing cteaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
The Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have aconfidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 aIf you know that He is righteous, you know that beveryone who practices righteousness is born of Him. The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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