²¹ Dear friends,^(A) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God^(B)

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)

¹⁶ Let us then approach^(A) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(B) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Paul’s Change of Plans

¹² Now this is our boast: Our conscience^(A) testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity^[a](B) and godly sincerity.^(C) We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom^(D) but on God’s grace.

¹⁴ This is the confidence^(A) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.^(B)

¹⁷ This is how love is made complete^(A) among us so that we will have confidence^(B) on the day of judgment:^(C) In this world we are like Jesus.

²² let us draw near to God^(A) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,^(B) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience^(C) and having our bodies washed with pure water.^(D)