Faith overcomes the world
1 Whoever believes that Jesus is Christ is a child of God, and such a child must also love his other children as well. 2 And this is how we know we love his other children: by loving God and carrying out his commands; 3 that is the love of God. And his commands are not heavy weights to carry, 4 because all who are God’s children are conquering the world— it is our faith that conquers it. 5 Who conquers the world, if not those who believe that Jesus is the God-Man?
6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by means of water and blood— not only water but also blood— and the Spirit is the truthful witness. 7 So there are three witnesses: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and they all agree. 9 If we accept the witness of mere humans, then the witness of God concerning his Son is greater. 10 Whoever puts their trust in the God-Man bears witness of him, but whoever does not believe God has called him a liar, because they have not believed God’s testimony about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God gave us eternal life, the life that is in his Son. 12 So whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the God-Man does not have life.
Salvation is assured
13 I write these things to you so you can understand that you have eternal life, you who put your trust in the Name of the God-Man. 14 We can boldly approach God with any request, and if it’s according to his will, he will hear us. 15 And if we know he hears us, whatever we request is ours.
16 If anyone sees another sinning, but in a way that does not lead to death, they should pray and thus save the sinning one’s life. (This doesn’t apply to a sin that leads to death; they shouldn’t pray about that.) 17 All unrighteousness is sin and does not lead to death. 18 We know that no child of God keeps sinning, but the One born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot touch them.
19 We know that we are from God but the whole world is assigned to the evil one. 20 Little ones, guard yourselves from idols!