1 John 1:5–2:6

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heardk from him and declare to you: God is light;l in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,m we lie and do not live out the truth.n 7 But if we walk in the light,o as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from allb sin.p

8 If we claim to be without sin,q we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.r 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sinss and purify us from all unrighteousness.t 10 If we claim we have not sinned,u we make him out to be a liarv and his word is not in us.w

2 My dear children,x I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocatey with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,z and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.a

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

3 We knowb that we have come to know himc if we keep his commands.d 4 Whoever says, “I know him,”e but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.f 5 But if anyone obeys his word,g love for Goda is truly made complete in them.h This is how we knowi we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.j