My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

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

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

One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him.

But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most assuredly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him:

he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines.

He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now.

He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him.