1. My little children, I am writing these things to you, so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4. Whoever says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5. But whoever keeps His word truly has the love of God perfected in him. By this we know we are in Him.
6. Whoever says he remains in Him ought to walk as He walked.
7. Brothers, I am writing no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard from the beginning.
8. Yet a new commandment I am writing to you, which holds true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9. Whoever says he is in the light but hates his brother is in darkness even until now.
10. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.