Obedience by Faith

5 Whoever believes that ^(A)Jesus is the Christ is ^(B)born 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 ^(C)keep His commandments. ^3 (D)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And ^(E)His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For ^(F)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that ^(G)has overcome the world—^[a]our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but ^(H)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Certainty of God’s Witness

⁶ This is He who came ^(I)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. ^(J)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷ For there are three that bear witness ^[b]in heaven: the Father, ^(K)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; ^(L)and these three are one. ⁸ And there are three that bear witness on earth: ^(M)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

⁹ If we receive ^(N)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; ^(O)for this is the witness of ^[c]God which He has testified of His Son. ¹⁰ He who believes in the Son of God ^(P)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God ^(Q)has 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 (R)He who has the Son has ^[d]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 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, ^[e]and 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 ^(S)if 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 ^(T)He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. ^(U)There is sin leading to death. ^(V)I do not say that he should pray about that. ^17 (W)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Knowing the True—Rejecting the False

¹⁸ We know that ^(X)whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God ^(Y)keeps^{[f] [g]}himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and ^(Z)the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

²⁰ And we know that the ^(AA)Son of God has come and ^(AB)has given us an understanding, ^(AC)that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. ^(AD)This is the true God ^(AE)and eternal life.

²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.