²² and receive from him anything we ask,^(A) because we keep his commands^(B) and do what pleases him.^{(C) 23} And this is his command: to believe^(D) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,^(E) and to love one another as he commanded us.^{(F) 24} The one who keeps God’s commands^(G) lives in him,^(H) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.^(I)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(J) do not believe every spirit,^(K) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(L) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(M) is from God,^{(N) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(O) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(P)

⁴ You, dear children,^(Q) are from God and have overcome them,^(R) because the one who is in you^(S) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(T) 5} They are from the world^(U) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(V) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(W) and the spirit of falsehood.^(X)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another,^(Y) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God^(Z) and knows God.^{(AA) 8} Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.^{(AB) 9} This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(AC) into the world that we might live through him.^{(AD) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(AE) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(AF) 11} Dear friends,^(AG) since God so loved us,^(AH) we also ought to love one another.^{(AI) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(AJ) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(AK)

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

God is love.^(AR) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(AS) 17} This is how love is made complete^(AT) among us so that we will have confidence^(AU) on the day of judgment:^(AV) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(AW) 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.^{(AX) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(AY) is a liar.^(AZ) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(BA) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(BB) 21} And he has given us this command:^(BC) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(BD)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

5 Everyone who believes^(BE) that Jesus is the Christ^(BF) is born of God,^(BG) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.^{(BH) 2} This is how we know^(BI) that we love the children of God:^(BJ) by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.^(BK) And his commands are not burdensome,^{(BL) 4} for everyone born of God^(BM) overcomes^(BN) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.^(BO)

⁶ This is the one who came by water and blood^(BP)—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.^{(BQ) 7} For there are three^(BR) that testify: ⁸ the^[b] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. ⁹ We accept human testimony,^(BS) but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God,^(BT) which he has given about his Son. ¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.^(BU) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,^(BV) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. ¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,^(BW) and this life is in his Son.^{(BX) 12} Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.^(BY)

Concluding Affirmations

¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God^(BZ) so that you may know that you have eternal life.^{(CA) 14} This is the confidence^(CB) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.^(CC)