What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched

1 That awhich was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have bseen with our eyes, cwhich we have looked upon, and dour hands have handled, concerning the eWord of life—2 fthe life gwas manifested, and we have seen, hand bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was iwith the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is jwith the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you kthat 1your joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another

5 lThis is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that mGod is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 nIf we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we owalk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and pthe blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we qconfess our sins, He is rfaithful and just to forgive us our sins and to scleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we tmake Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

2 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 bHe Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but calso 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 dliar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But ewhoever keeps His word, truly the love of God 1is perfected fin him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 gHe who says he abides in Him hought himself also to walk just as He walked.

7 2Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ifrom the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard 3from the beginning. 8 Again, ja new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, kbecause the darkness is passing away, and lthe true light is already shining.

9 mHe who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 nHe who loves his brother abides in the light, and othere is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who phates his brother is in darkness and qwalks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.