Book of Common Prayer

¹³ I have written these things to you who believe on the name of the Son of God. I have written them so that you will know that you will live for ever.

¹⁴ And we are sure God will do this. If we ask him for anything that he wants us to have, he will listen to us.

¹⁵ And if we know he listens to us when we ask for anything, then we know that we have what we asked him for.

¹⁶ Maybe a man sees his brother do something wrong, but not so bad that he must die for it. The man should ask God and God will let his brother live. God will let people live if the things they have done are not so bad that they must die for them. But there are things so wrong that a person must die for them. If he has done such as that, I do not tell the man to ask God to let him live.

¹⁷ Everything that is wrong is a bad thing. But not every bad thing is so wrong that a person must die for it.

¹⁸ We know that any child of God does not do wrong things. The Son of God keeps him safe and the devil cannot touch him.

¹⁹ We know that we belong to God and the whole world belongs to the devil.

²⁰ We know that the Son of God has come. He has given us a heart to know him who is true. We belong to him who is true, because we belong to his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God. He has the life that will live for ever.

²¹ My children, have nothing to do with false gods or idols.

²⁵ Then Jesus said, `Father, you are Lord of heaven and earth. I thank you because you have hidden these things from people who are wise and know many things. But you have shown them to people who are like children.

²⁶ Yes, Father, that was the way you wanted it.'

²⁷ He said, `My Father has given everything to me. No one knows who the Son is but the Father. No one knows who the Father is but the Son and those to whom the Son wants to show him.

²⁸ All you who work hard! All you who carry heavy loads! Come to me! I will give you rest.

²⁹ Do what I tell you. Learn what I teach you. I am gentle. I am not proud. Then your hearts will rest.

³⁰ What I tell you to do is easy. What I give you to carry is not heavy.'