1 John 2:1–9

2My 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. ²And ^bHe Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but ^calso for the whole world.

The Test of Knowing Him

³Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ^dliar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵But ^ewhoever keeps His word, truly the love of God ¹is perfected ^fin him. By this we know that we are in Him. ^6gHe who says he abides in Him ^hought himself also to walk just as He walked.

⁷²Brethren, 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. ⁸Again, ^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.

^9mHe who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.