1 John 2:3–11

Those Who Know Christ Obey His Commandments

³We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments. ⁴The person who says, “I know him,” but doesn’t obey his commandments is a liar. The truth isn’t in that person. ⁵But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God’s love is perfected. That’s how we know we are in Christ. ⁶Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived. 

⁷Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard. ⁸On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining. 

⁹Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark. ¹⁰Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light. ¹¹Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.