1 John 2:1-17

1My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous one.

2He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

3This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.

4The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him:

6The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old command that you have had from the beginning. The old command is the word you have heard.

8Yet I am writing you a new command, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

9The one who says he is in the light but hates his brother or sister is in the darkness until now.

10The one who loves his brother or sister remains in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11But the one who hates his brother or sister is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he’s going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I am writing to you, little children, since your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

13I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know the one who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have conquered the evil one.

14I have written to you, children, because you have come to know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have come to know the one who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, God’s word remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one.

15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions — is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.