1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God : and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him . 2Hereby we know that we love the children of God , when we love God and do his commandments . 3For this is the love of God , that we keep his commandments : and his commandments are not grievous. 4For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world : and this is the victory that hath overcome the world , even our faith . 5And who is he that overcometh the world , but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ?
The Witness of God
6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ ; not with the water only , but with the water and with the blood. 7And it is the Spirit that beareth witness , because the Spirit is the truth. 8For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit , and the water , and the blood: and the three agree in one . 9If we receive the witness of men , the witness of God is greater : for the witness of God is this , that he hath borne witness concerning his Son . 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him : he that believeth not God hath made him a liar ; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son . 11And the witness is this , that God gave unto us eternal life , and this life is in his Son . 12He that hath the Son hath the life ; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life .
Confidence in Prayer
13These things have I written unto you , that ye may know that ye have eternal life , even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God . 14And this is the boldness which we have toward him , that , if we ask anything according to his will , he heareth us : 15and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him . 16If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death , he shall ask , and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death . There is a sin unto death : not concerning this do I say that he should make request . 17All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death .
The Assurance of Eternal Life
18We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not ; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not . 19We know that we are of God , and the whole world lieth in the evil one . 20And we know that the Son of God is come , and hath given us an understanding , that we know him that is true , and we are in him that is true , even in his Son Jesus Christ . This is the true God , and eternal life . 21My little children , guard yourselves from idols .