Introduction

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.

This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.

And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

Conclusion

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.