1 John 1:5-2:11

New King James Version

Fellowship with Him and One Another

^5 (A)This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that ^(B)God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ^6 (C)If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we ^(D)walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and ^(E)the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we ^(F)confess our sins, He is ^(G)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to ^(H)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we ^(I)make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The Test of Knowing Christ

2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, ^(J)we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And ^(K)He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but ^(L)also for the whole world.

The Test of Knowing Him

³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a ^(M)liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But ^(N)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God ^[a]is perfected ^(O)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ^6 (P)He who says he abides in Him ^(Q)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

^7 [b]Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had ^(R)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard ^[c]from the beginning. ⁸ Again, ^(S)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, ^(T)because the darkness is passing away, and ^(U)the true light is already shining.

^9 (V)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ^10 (W)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and ^(X)there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who ^(Y)hates his brother is in darkness and ^(Z)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.