The Test of Knowing Him

³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ^(A)liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But ^(B)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God ^[a]is perfected ^(C)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ^6 (D)He who says he abides in Him ^(E)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

^7 [b]Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ^(F)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard ^[c]from the beginning. ⁸ Again, ^(G)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, ^(H)because the darkness is passing away, and ^(I)the true light is already shining.

^9 (J)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ^10 (K)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and ^(L)there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who ^(M)hates his brother is in darkness and ^(N)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The Imperative of Love^(A)

¹⁰ In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. ¹¹ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, ^(B)that we should love one another, ¹² not as ^(C)Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

¹³ Do not marvel, my brethren, if ^(D)the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love ^[a]his brother abides in death. ^15 (E)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that ^(F)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.