1 John 3:24-5:4

New International Version

²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands^(A) lives in him,^(B) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.^(C)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(D) do not believe every spirit,^(E) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(F) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(G) is from God,^{(H) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(I) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(J)

⁴ You, dear children,^(K) are from God and have overcome them,^(L) because the one who is in you^(M) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(N) 5} They are from the world^(O) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(P) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(Q) and the spirit of falsehood.^(R)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another,^(S) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God^(T) and knows God.^{(U) 8} Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.^{(V) 9} This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^(W) into the world that we might live through him.^{(X) 10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(Y) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(Z) 11} Dear friends,^(AA) since God so loved us,^(AB) we also ought to love one another.^{(AC) 12} No one has ever seen God;^(AD) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.^(AE)

¹³ This is how we know^(AF) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.^{(AG) 14} And we have seen and testify^(AH) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.^{(AI) 15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,^(AJ) God lives in them and they in God.^{(AK) 16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(AL) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(AM) 17} This is how love is made complete^(AN) among us so that we will have confidence^(AO) on the day of judgment:^(AP) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(AQ) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^{(AR) 20} Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister^(AS) is a liar.^(AT) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,^(AU) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.^{(AV) 21} And he has given us this command:^(AW) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.^(AX)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

5 Everyone who believes^(AY) that Jesus is the Christ^(AZ) is born of God,^(BA) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.^{(BB) 2} This is how we know^(BC) that we love the children of God:^(BD) by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.^(BE) And his commands are not burdensome,^{(BF) 4} for everyone born of God^(BG) overcomes^(BH) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.