1 John 2:7-17

7Dear friends, it’s not as though I’m writing to give you a new commandment. Rather, I’m giving you an old commandment that you’ve had from the beginning. It’s the old commandment you’ve already heard.

8On the other hand, I’m writing to give you a new commandment. It’s a truth that exists in Christ and in you: The darkness is fading, and the true light is already shining.

9Those who say that they are in the light but hate other believers are still in the dark.

10Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light.

11Those who hate other believers are in the dark and live in the dark. They don’t know where they’re going, because they can’t see in the dark.

12I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.

13I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Christ who has existed from the beginning. I’m writing to you, young people, because you have won the victory over the evil one.

14I’ve written to you, children, because you know the Father. I’ve written to you, fathers, because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning. I’ve written to you, young people, because you are strong and God’s word lives in you. You have won the victory over the evil one.

15Don’t love the world and what it offers. Those who love the world don’t have the Father’s love in them.

16Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and

17the world and its evil desires are passing away. But the person who does what God wants lives forever.