2 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate^(A) with the Father—Jesus Christ the Righteous One. ² He Himself is the propitiation^(B) for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.^(C)

God’s Commands

³ This is how we are sure^(D) that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.^{(E) 4} The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn't keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word,^(F) truly in him the love of God is perfected.^[a] This is how we know we are in Him:^{(G) 6} The one who says he remains in Him^(H) should walk just as He walked.

⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command^(I) but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the message^(J) you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away^(K) and the true light^(L) is already shining.^(M)

⁹ The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother^(N) is in the darkness until now. ¹⁰ The one who loves his brother^(O) remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.^{[b] 11} But the one who hates his brother^(P) is in the darkness, walks in the darkness,^(Q) and doesn’t know where he’s going,^(R) because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

A Warning about the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world^(A) or the things that belong to^[a] the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For everything that belongs to^[b] the world—the lust of the flesh,^(B) the lust of the eyes,^(C) and the pride^(D) in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world with its lust is passing away,^(E) but the one who does God’s will^(F) remains forever.^(G)