My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocates with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. 2 He himself is the atoning sacrificeC,t for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.u

GOD’S COMMANDS

3 This is how we knowv that we know him: if we keep his commands.w 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word,x truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:y 6 The one who says he remains in himz should walk just as he walked.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new commandaa but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the wordab you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing awayac and the true lightad is already shining.ae