^6 (A)If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

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 ^(A)liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But ^(B)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God ^[a]is perfected ^(C)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ^6 (D)He who says he abides in Him ^(E)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 ^(F)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard ^[c]from the beginning. ⁸ Again, ^(G)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, ^(H)because the darkness is passing away, and ^(I)the true light is already shining.

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

^3 (A)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

⁴ Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and ^(B)sin is lawlessness. ⁵ And you know ^(C)that He was manifested ^(D)to take away our sins, and ^(E)in Him there is no sin. ⁶ Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. ^8 (F)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, ^(G)that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been ^(H)born of God does not sin, for ^(I)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love^(J)

¹⁰ In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. ¹¹ For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, ^(K)that we should love one another, ¹² not as ^(L)Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

¹³ Do not marvel, my brethren, if ^(M)the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love ^[a]his brother abides in death. ^15 (N)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that ^(O)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

^16 (P)By this we know love, ^(Q)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷ But ^(R)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

¹⁸ My little children, ^(S)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we ^[b]know ^(T)that we are of the truth, and shall ^[c]assure our hearts before Him. ^20 (U)For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹ Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, ^(V)we have confidence toward God. ²² And ^(W)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments ^(X)and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.