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.

Their Spiritual State

12 I write to you, little children,

Because ryour sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

13 I write to you, fathers,

Because you have known Him who is sfrom the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

Because you have overcome the wicked one.

I write to you, little children,

Because you have tknown 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 uyou are strong, and the word of God abides in you,

And you have overcome the wicked one.

Do Not Love the World

15 vDo not love the world or the things in the world. wIf 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, xthe lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And ythe 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 zLittle children, ait is the last hour; and as you have heard that bthe 4Antichrist is coming, ceven now many antichrists have come, by which we know dthat it is the last hour. 19 eThey went out from us, but they were not of us; for fif they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out gthat they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 But hyou have an anointing ifrom the Holy One, and jyou 5know 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 kWho is a liar but he who denies that lJesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 mWhoever denies the Son does not have the nFather either; ohe who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Let Truth Abide in You

24 Therefore let that abide in you pwhich you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, qyou also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 rAnd this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to 6deceive you. 27 But the sanointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and tyou do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing uteaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you 7will abide in Him.

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that 8when He appears, we may have vconfidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 wIf you know that He is righteous, you know that xeveryone who practices righteousness is born of Him.