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.

¹² No one has ever seen God;^(A) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(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)

⁵ But if anyone obeys his word,^(A) love for God^[a] is truly made complete in them.^(B) This is how we know^(C) we are in him:

³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves,^(A) just as he is pure.^(B)

3 See what great love^(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!^(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.^(C)

²⁹ For those God foreknew^(A) he also predestined^(B) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(C) that he might be the firstborn^(D) among many brothers and sisters.

¹⁹ This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: ²⁰ If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹ Dear friends,^(A) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God^(B)

²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a](A) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.^(B) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.