Prologue: Our Declaration

1What was from the beginning,a what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the wordb of life —  2that life was revealed,a and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to usb —  3what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowshipa with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Fatherb and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these thingsA so that ourB joya may be complete.

Fellowship with God

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light,a and there is absolutely no darkness in him.b 6If we say, “We have fellowshipa with him,” and yet we walk in darkness,b we are lying and are not practicing the truth.c 7If we walk in the lighta as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesusb his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say, “We have no sin,”a we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgivea us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his worda is not in us.b