because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.

So now I urge you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.

Watch yourselves so you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.

Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it, does not have God. The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.

Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to be with you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.