1 John 2:1-17

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

2and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.

3Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.

4The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person.

5But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him.

6The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

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

8On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you 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 still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.

10The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

11But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.

13I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.

14I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides 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,

16because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.

17And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.