6And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross5:6 Greek This is he who came by water and blood.—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.

7So we have these three witnesses5:7 A few very late manuscripts add in heaven—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And we have three witnesses on earth.—

8the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.

9Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.

10All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

16If you see a fellow believer5:16 Greek a brother. sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.

17All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

18We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

19We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

20And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God.5:20 Greek the one who is true. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

21Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.5:21 Greek keep yourselves from idols.