¹⁷ By this ^(A)is love perfected with us, so that ^(B)we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because ^(C)as he is so also are we in this world.

^12 (A)No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and ^(B)his love is perfected in us.

Children of God

²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him, so that ^(A)when he appears ^(B)we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his ^(C)coming.

³ And everyone who ^(A)thus hopes in him ^(B)purifies himself as he is pure.

⁵ but whoever ^(A)keeps his word, in him truly ^(B)the love of God is perfected. ^(C)By this we may know that we are in him:

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

²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: ^(A)‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, ^(B)they will also persecute you. ^(C)If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

¹⁹ By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; ²⁰ for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. ²¹ Beloved, ^(A)if our heart does not condemn us, ^(B)we have confidence before God;

3 See ^(A)what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called ^(B)children of God; and so we are. The reason why ^(C)the world does not know us is that ^(D)it did not know him.