¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(A) that we are God’s children.^(B)

Do Everything Without Grumbling

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,^(A)

²¹ And he has given us this command:^(A) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(B)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

5 Everyone who believes^(A) that Jesus is the Christ^(B) is born of God,^(C) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.^{(D) 2} This is how we know^(E) that we love the children of God:^(F) by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.^(G) And his commands are not burdensome,^{(H) 4} for everyone born of God^(I) overcomes^(J) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,^(A) and this life is in his Son.^{(B) 12} Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.^(C)

Concluding Affirmations

¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God^(D) so that you may know that you have eternal life.^{(E) 14} This is the confidence^(F) we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.^{(G) 15} And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know^(H) that we have what we asked of him.^(I)