⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,^(A) we lie and do not live out the truth.^{(B) 7} But if we walk in the light,^(C) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.^(D)

⁸ If we claim to be without sin,^(E) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.^{(F) 9} If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins^(G) and purify us from all unrighteousness.^{(H) 10} If we claim we have not sinned,^(I) we make him out to be a liar^(J) and his word is not in us.^(K)

⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,”^(A) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.^(B)

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister^[a](A) is still in the darkness.^{(B) 10} Anyone who loves their brother and sister^[b] lives in the light,^(C) and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.^{(D) 11} But anyone who hates a brother or sister^(E) is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.^(F) They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.^(G)

Warnings Against Denying the Son

¹⁸ Dear children, this is the last hour;^(A) and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming,^(B) even now many antichrists have come.^(C) This is how we know it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us,^(D) but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.^(E)

²⁰ But you have an anointing^(F) from the Holy One,^(G) and all of you know the truth.^{[a](H) 21} I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it^(I) and because no lie comes from the truth. ²² Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.^{(J) 23} No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.^(K)

²⁴ As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning^(L) remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.^{(M) 25} And this is what he promised us—eternal life.^(N)

²⁶ I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.^{(O) 27} As for you, the anointing^(P) you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things^(Q) and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.^(R)

⁴ Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.^(A)

⁶ No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.^(A) No one who continues to sin has either seen him^(B) or known him.^(C)

⁷ Dear children,^(D) do not let anyone lead you astray.^(E) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.^{(F) 8} The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,^(G) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God^(H) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.^{(I) 9} No one who is born of God^(J) will continue to sin,^(K) because God’s seed^(L) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. ¹⁰ This is how we know who the children of God^(M) are and who the children of the devil^(N) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love^(O) their brother and sister.^(P)

More on Love and Hatred

¹¹ For this is the message you heard^(Q) from the beginning:^(R) We should love one another.^{(S) 12} Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one^(T) and murdered his brother.^(U) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.^{(V) 13} Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,^[a] if the world hates you.^{(W) 14} We know that we have passed from death to life,^(X) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.^{(Y) 15} Anyone who hates a brother or sister^(Z) is a murderer,^(AA) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.^(AB)

¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.^(AC) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(AD) 17} If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,^(AE) how can the love of God be in that person?^(AF)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(A) do not believe every spirit,^(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(C) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(D) is from God,^{(E) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(G)

⁴ You, dear children,^(H) are from God and have overcome them,^(I) because the one who is in you^(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(K) 5} They are from the world^(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(N) and the spirit of falsehood.^(O)

²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(A) is a liar.^(B) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(C) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^(D)

¹⁰ Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.^(A) Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar,^(B) because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.