5 Whoever believes that aJesus is the Christ is bborn of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and ckeep His commandments. 3 dFor this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And eHis commandments are not burdensome. 4 For fwhatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that ghas overcome the world—1our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but hhe who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Certainty of God’s Witness

6 This is He who came iby water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. jAnd it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness 2in heaven: the Father, kthe Word, and the Holy Spirit; land these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: mthe Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

9 If we receive nthe witness of men, the witness of God is greater; ofor this is the witness of 3God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God phas the witness in himself; he who does not believe God qhas made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 rHe who has the Son has 4life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have 4life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, 5and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer

14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that sif we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and tHe will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. uThere is sin leading to death. vI do not say that he should pray about that. 17 wAll unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Knowing the True—Rejecting the False

18 We know that xwhoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God ykeeps 6 7himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are of God, and zthe whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

20 And we know that the aSon of God has come and bhas given us an understanding, cthat we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. dThis is the true God eand eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.