⁵ But if anyone obeys his word,^(A) love for God^[a] is truly made complete in them.^(B) This is how we know^(C) we are in him:

¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God^(A) are and who the children of the devil^(B) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love^(C) their brother and sister.^(D)

More on Love and Hatred

¹¹ For this is the message you heard^(E) from the beginning:^(F) We should love one another.^{(G) 12} Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one^(H) and murdered his brother.^(I) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.^{(J) 13} Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,^[a] if the world hates you.^{(K) 14} We know that we have passed from death to life,^(L) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.^{(M) 15} Anyone who hates a brother or sister^(N) is a murderer,^(O) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.^(P)

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.^(Q) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(R) 17} If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,^(S) how can the love of God be in that person?^{(T) 18} Dear children,^(U) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.^(V)

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(A) into the world that we might live through him.^{(B) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(C) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(D) 11} Dear friends,^(E) since God so loved us,^(F) we also ought to love one another.^{(G) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(H) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(I)

¹³ This is how we know^(J) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.^{(K) 14} And we have seen and testify^(L) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.^{(M) 15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,^(N) God lives in them and they in God.^{(O) 16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(P) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(Q) 17} This is how love is made complete^(R) among us so that we will have confidence^(S) on the day of judgment:^(T) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(U) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^{(V) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(W) is a liar.^(X) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(Y) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(Z) 21} And he has given us this command:^(AA) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(AB)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

5 Everyone who believes^(AC) that Jesus is the Christ^(AD) is born of God,^(AE) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.^{(AF) 2} This is how we know^(AG) that we love the children of God:^(AH) by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.^(AI) And his commands are not burdensome,^(AJ)