So if we say that we share in life with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars, who don’t follow the truth.

If we say that we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we say we know God but do not obey his commands, we are lying. The truth is not in us.

But what I write is also a new command. It is a true one; you can see its truth in Jesus and in yourselves. The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

You have the gift that the Holy One gave you. So you all know the truth.

Do you think I am writing this letter because you don’t know the truth? No, I am writing because you do know the truth. And you know that no lie comes from the truth.

That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth. And when our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God, because God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything.

God Told Us About His Son

Jesus Christ is the one who came. He came with water and with blood. He did not come by water only. No, Jesus came by both water and blood. And the Spirit tells us that this is true. The Spirit is the truth.

We believe people when they say something is true. But what God says is more important. And this is what God told us: He told us the truth about his own Son.

Whoever believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. But people who do not believe God make God a liar, because they do not believe what God told us about his Son.