¹⁸ My little children, ^(A)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹ And by this we ^[a]know ^(B)that we are of the truth, and shall ^[b]assure our hearts before Him. ^20 (C)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, ^(D)we have confidence toward God. ²² And ^(E)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments ^(F)and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³ And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ ^(G)and love one another, as He gave ^[c]us commandment.

The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

²⁴ Now ^(H)he who keeps His commandments ^(I)abides in Him, and He in him. And ^(J)by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Knowing God Through Love^(A)

^7 (B)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who ^(C)loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ^9 (D)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(E)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(F)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(G)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(H)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

^12 (I)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. ^13 (J)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴ And ^(K)we have seen and testify that ^(L)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ^15 (M)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and ^(N)he who abides in love abides in God, and God ^(O)in him.