1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous. 4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three who testify: 8the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one. 9If we accept human testimony, the witness of God is greater; for this is God's testimony that he has testified concerning his Son. 10He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11The testimony is this, that God gave to us everlasting life, and this life is in his Son. 12He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have God's Son does not have the life.

13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have everlasting life. 14This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he should ask, and he will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I do not say that he should make a request concerning this. 17All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.