Jesus is Our Advocate

1My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just. 2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

3And by this we know that we have known him, if we keep his commandments. 4He who saith that he knoweth him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar: and the truth is not in him. 5But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

A New Command

7Dearly beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8Again a new commandment I write unto you: which thing is true both in him and in you, because the darkness is passed and the true light now shineth. 9He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. 10He that loveth his brother abideth in the light: and there is no scandal in him. 11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth: because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. 13I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. 14I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. I write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Do Not Love the World

15Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, which is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever.

Beware of Antichrists

18Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour. 19They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us: but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us. 20But you have the unction from the Holy One and know all things. 21I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth. 22Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son hath the Father also. 24As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son and in the Father.

25And this is the promise which he hath promised us, life everlasting.

26These things have I written to you concerning them that seduce you. 27And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you: but as his unction teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.

Continue in Him

28And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be confounded by him at his coming. 29If you know that he is just, know ye, that every one also who doth justice is born of him.