Chapter 2
1 My little children , I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counsellor with the Father , Jesus Christ , the righteous .
2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only , but also for the whole world .
3 This is how we know that we know him : if we keep his commandments .
4 One who says , " I know him ," and doesn’ t keep his commandments , is a liar , and the truth isn’ t in him .
5 But God ’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word . This is how we know that we are in him :
6 he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked .
7 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.
8 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 .
9 He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness even until now .
10 He who loves his brother remains in the light , and there is no occasion for stumbling in him .
11 But he who hates his brother is in the darkness , and walks in the darkness , and doesn’ t know where he is going , because the darkness has blinded his eyes .
12 I write to you , little children , because your sins are forgiven you for his name ’s sake .
13 I write to you , fathers , because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you , young men , because you have overcome the evil one . I write to you , little children , because you know the Father .
14 I have written to you , fathers , because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you , young men , because you are strong , and the word of God remains in you , and you have overcome the evil one .
15 Don’ t love the world or the things that are in the world . If anyone loves the world , the Father ’s love isn’ t in him .
16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh , the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life —isn’ t the Father ’s, but is the world ’s.
17 The world is passing away with its lusts , but he who does God ’s will remains forever .
18 Little children , these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming , even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour .
19 They went out from us , but they didn’t belong to us ; for if they had belonged to us , they would have continued with us . But they left , that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us .
20 You have an anointing from the Holy One , and you all have knowledge .
21 I have not written to you because you don’ t know the truth, but because you know it , and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son .
23 Whoever denies the Son doesn’ t have the Father . He who confesses the Son has the Father also .
24 Therefore , as for you , let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you , you also will remain in the Son , and in the Father .
25 This is the promise which he promised us , the eternal life .
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray .
27 As for you , the anointing which you received from him remains in you , and you don’ t need for anyone to teach you . But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things , and is true , and is no lie , and even as it taught you , you will remain in him .
28 Now , little children , remain in him , that when he appears , we may have boldness and not be ashamed before him at his coming .
29 If you know that he is righteous , you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him .