2 My dear children,^(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(D)

⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command;^(A) its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing^(B) and the true light^(C) is already shining.^(D)

On Not Loving the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world.^(A) If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[a] is not in them.^(B)

¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away,^(A) but whoever does the will of God^(B) lives forever.

²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.^(A)

God’s Children and Sin

²⁸ And now, dear children,^(A) continue in him, so that when he appears^(B) we may be confident^(C) and unashamed before him at his coming.^(D)

⁶ No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.^(A) No one who continues to sin has either seen him^(B) or known him.^(C)

⁹ No one who is born of God^(A) will continue to sin,^(B) because God’s seed^(C) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(A) do not believe every spirit,^(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^(C)