Overcoming the World
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and whoever loves the Father also loves the one who is born from him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
4 For whomever has been born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith. 5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ, not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that testify, 8 the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one.
God’s Testimony of His Son
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is God’s testimony which he has testified concerning his Son. 10 He 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. 11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
God Hears our Prayer
14 This is the confidence which we have in the presence of God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions of which we have asked of him.
16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he shall pray, and for those whose sin does not lead to death, God will give him life. There is a sin leading to death. I do not say that he should make a request concerning this. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
Protection of God’s Children
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.