1 John 1:6–2:11

⁶If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.^{a 7}But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, so that he will forgive us our^* sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Keeping the New Commandment

2My little children, I am writing these things to you in order that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, ²and he^a is the propitiation^b for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ³And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴The one who says “I have come to know him,” and does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in this person. ⁵But whoever keeps his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. ⁶The one who says that he resides in him ought also to walk^c just as that one walked.

⁷Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the message which you have heard. ⁸Again, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you, because^d the darkness is passing away and the true light already is shining. ⁹The one who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰The one who loves his brother resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.