3. When we obey God, we are sure that we know him.
4. But if we claim to know him and don't obey him, we are lying and the truth isn't in our hearts.
5. We truly love God only when we obey him as we should, and then we know that we belong to him.
6. If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.
7. My dear friends, I am not writing to give you a new commandment. It is the same one that you were first given, and it is the message you heard.
8. But it really is a new commandment, and you know its true meaning, just as Christ does. You can see the darkness fading away and the true light already shining.
9. If we claim to be in the light and hate someone, we are still in the dark.
10. But if we love others, we are in the light, and we don't cause problems for them.
11. If we hate others, we are living and walking in the dark. We don't know where we are going, because we can't see in the dark.
12. Children, I am writing to you,because your sinshave been forgivenin the name of Christ.
13. Parents, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe one who was therefrom the beginning.Young people, I am writing to you,because you have defeatedthe evil one.
14. Children, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe Father.Parents, I am writing to you,because you have knownthe one who was therefrom the beginning.Young people, I am writing to you,because you are strong.God's message is firmin your hearts,and you have defeatedthe evil one.
15. Don't love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you cannot love the Father.