If we say that we do not have sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

My loved ones, I do not give you a new law, but an old law which you had from the first; this old law is the word which came to your ears.

Again I do write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you: because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

I have not written to you because ye do not know the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

You people should continue [to practice] what you heard from the beginning [i.e., to love one another, See verses 7-11]. If you do, then you also will continue in [fellowship with] the Son, and with the Father.

And [as for] you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you do not have need that anyone teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all [things], and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you reside in him.

Dearly loved ones, we are God's children now, but it has not yet been revealed [to us] what we will be [in the future life, Luke 20:34-36]. But, we do know this, however, that when Jesus is revealed [i.e., at His second coming], we will be like Him [I Cor. 15:49], for we will see what He really looks like!

Here is how the children of God and the children of the devil can be recognized: All those who do not continue to do what is right do not belong to God. Also, the person who does not continue to love his brother [or sister does not belong to God].

Little children [i.e., dear ones], we should not [merely] claim to love [people], or [even just] talk about it, but [we should love] by what we do [for them] in a genuine way.

for if our conscience condemn us, God knows us better than we do our selves, he knoweth all things.

and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His commands we keep, and the things pleasing before Him we do,

in this we know that in Him we do remain, and He in us, because of His Spirit He hath given us.

And we have seen, and we do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the. world.

well, we do know, we have believed, the love God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

For the [true] love of God is this: that we habitually keep His commandments and remain focused on His precepts. And His commandments and His precepts are not difficult [to obey].

If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [that is, if we are willing to take the sworn statements of fallible humans as evidence], the testimony of God is greater [far more authoritative]; for this is the testimony of God, that He has testified regarding His Son.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for that. All unrighteousness is sin: but there is a sin not unto death.