1 John 2

Knowing God Through Obedience and Love 1 John 2:3–11

³Verse 3. This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. ⁴Verse 4. One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him. ⁵Verse 5. But whoever keeps his word, God’s love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: ⁶Verse 6. he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked. ⁷Verse 7. Brothers, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.

⁸Verse 8. Again, I write a new commandment to you, which is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shines. ⁹Verse 9. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother, is in the darkness even until now. ¹⁰Verse 10. He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no occasion for stumbling in him. ¹¹Verse 11. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness, and walks in the darkness, and doesn’t know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Warnings Against Worldliness 1 John 2:12–17

¹²Verse 12. I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ¹³Verse 13. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, little children, because you know the Father. ¹⁴Verse 14. I have written to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one. ¹⁵Verse 15. Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.

¹⁶Verse 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. ¹⁷Verse 17. The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Discernment in the Last Times 1 John 2:18–27

¹⁸Verse 18. Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour. ¹⁹Verse 19. They went out from us, but they didn’t belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us. ²⁰Verse 20. You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. ²¹Verse 21. I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

²²Verse 22. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³Verse 23. Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴Verse 24. Therefore, as for you, let that remain in you which you heard from the beginning. If that which you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son, and in the Father. ²⁵Verse 25. This is the promise which he promised us, the eternal life. ²⁶Verse 26. These things I have written to you concerning those who would lead you astray.

²⁷Verse 27. As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him.

Abiding in Christ 1 John 2:28–29

²⁸Verse 28. Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. ²⁹Verse 29. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.