This then is the commission we have from him, to declare unto you, that God is light, and in him there is no darkness.

If we say that we are without sin, we deceive ourselves, and have no regard to truth.

if we keep his commandments, that is a proof that we know him.

but he that observes his precepts, loves God with a true and perfect love: 'tis by this we know that we are truly christians.

My brethren, I don't prescribe you any new commandment, but the antient precept which you had from the beginning: and that is no other than the word which was originally delivered.

however, it is really, in effect, a new commandment I write unto you, with respect to you: because the darkness is past, and things now appear in their true light.

Dear children, the last time is come: as ye have heard that antichrist was to come, accordingly many antichrists have already appeared; whereby we know that we are now in the last times.

they went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that it might be manifest, that they were not all of us.

As for you who have receiv'd the unction of the holy spirit, you know the whole affair.

I have not written to you, as to people unacquainted with the truth of the gospel: but as to such who know it, and know that it cannot give rise to any imposture.

since you know that God is the source of virtue, you know that every one who has virtue, derives it from him.

Consider what proof the father has given us of his love, in allowing us to be called the sons of God: therefore the world does not know us, because it knew him not.

beloved, we are now the sons of God, tho' it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when this change shall be, his immediate presence will give us a divine resemblance.

and you know that he appear'd to abolish our sins; and that he was himself without sin.

whosoever adheres to him, sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, he does not know him.

dear children, let no man deceive you: only he that acts justly is just, as he is just.

as for us, we know, that we have passed from a state of death to that of life, because we love our brethren: he that does not love his brother, is in a destructive state.

whosoever hateth his brother, has the disposition of a murderer: and you know that no murderer has any title to eternal life.

he that possesses the enjoyments of life, and seeing his brother in want, has no compassion for him, how can he be said to have any divine love?

Hereby we shall know that we are true professors, and set our consciences securely at rest.

now this is his commandment, that we believe in his son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, as he commanded us.

he that observes his commandments, dwelleth in God, and God in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the spirit which he hath given us.

and every spirit that does not own that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not from God." this is that anti-christian spirit which you have heard was to come, and even now it appears in the world.

he that has not social affection, does not know God; for God is love.

no man hath ever seen God. if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and our love for him is then sincere.

Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his spirit.

by this we may know that we love the children of God, if we love God, and keep his commandments.

it appear'd by the water, and by the blood, who he was, even Jesus the Messiah; not by the water only, but by the water and by the blood: besides, the spirit is a witness too, now the spirit is truth itself.

if we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater: now this is the testimony, which God has given us of his son.

Now what is testified, is this, that God has given to us eternal life: and this life is by his son.

he that receives the son, is intitled to life; and he that does not receive the son of God, has no title to life.

these things have I written to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, by your believing on the name of the son of God.

we know that a true christian will not commit such a sin, for he that is the child of God keeps upon his guard, so that the wicked spirit does not approach him.

we know that we are the children of God, and the rest of the world are subject to the evil spirit.

We know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding to know him that is true: and we are with him that is true, by his son Jesus Christ. "he is the true God, who is the author of eternal life."