2 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ, the righteous one. 2 He himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. a a v2 Jesus is the sacrifice that covers our sin and turns away judgment — not for believers only, but offered for the whole world. 3 By this we know that we have come to know him: if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, in him the love of our Father has truly reached its full purpose. By this we know that we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk in the very way he walked.
7 Beloved, I am not writing you a new commandment, but an old one that you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever claims to be in the light but hates his brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother or sister abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother or sister is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of our Father abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the craving of the flesh, the craving of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away along with its cravings, but whoever does the will of our Father abides forever.
Watch for Those Who Deny the Son
18 Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. b b v18 “Antichrist” means “against” or “in place of” Christ. John defines it as anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ (2:22); already “many” have come, animated by “the spirit of antichrist” (4:3). 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But they left, so that it would be plain that none of them really belonged to us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know the truth. 21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist — the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he himself made to us — eternal life.
26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things — and it is true and no lie — just as it has taught you, abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.