1 John 1:6–2:11

⁶So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth. ⁷But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.

⁸If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done. ¹⁰If we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and we do not accept God’s teaching.

Jesus Is Our Helper

2My dear children, I write this letter to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have a helper in the presence of the Father—Jesus Christ, the One who does what is right. ²He died in our place to take away our sins, and not only our sins but the sins of all people.

³We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. ⁴Anyone who says, “I know God,” but does not obey God’s commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵But if someone obeys God’s teaching, then in that person God’s love has truly reached its goal. This is how we can be sure we are living in God: ⁶Whoever says that he lives in God must live as Jesus lived.

The Command to Love Others

⁷My dear friends, I am not writing a new command to you but an old command you have had from the beginning. It is the teaching you have already heard. ⁸But also I am writing a new command to you, and you can see its truth in Jesus and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

⁹Anyone who says, “I am in the light,” ⁿ but hates a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. ¹⁰Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light and will not cause anyone to stumble in his faith. ¹¹But whoever hates a brother or sister is in darkness, lives in darkness, and does not know where to go, because the darkness has made that person blind.