1My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

2He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

3And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.

4If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

5But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

9If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer,2:9 Greek hates his brother; also in 2:11. that person is still living in darkness.

10Anyone who loves a fellow believer2:10 Greek loves his brother. is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

11But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

20But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit,2:20 Greek But you have an anointing from the Holy One. and all of you know the truth.

21So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.

22And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ.2:22a Or not the Messiah. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.2:22b Or the antichrist.

23Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

24So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.

25And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

26I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray.

27But you have received the Holy Spirit,2:27a Greek the anointing from him. and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit2:27b Greek the anointing. teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

29Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.