 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test+ the spirits to see if they are of God. Because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this, you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. 3 Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you have heard would come. Even now it is already in the world. 4 Little children, you are of God and have overcome them. Because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. Those who know God hear us. Anyone who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another. For true love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Those who do not love do not know God, for God is love. 9 In this, the love of God was revealed+ to us: That God sent His Only genetic+ Son into the world so that through Him we might live. 10 Herein is love: Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the means of reconciliation+ for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, then we should+ also love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another, then God lives in us and His love is perfected~ in us. 13 By this we know that we live in Him and He in us: That He has given us His Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, reveals that God lives in them and they live in God. 16 We have known and believed the love that God has toward us. God is love. Those who abide in love, abide in God and God is in them. 17 Herein is our love made perfect~, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Because, as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect~ love casts out fear. Because fear has torment. Those who fear are not made perfect~ in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says: I love God, and hates others+, they are a liar. For how can those who do not love others+ whom they have seen, love God whom they have not seen? 21 This commandment we have from Him: That those who love God love others+ also. 1 From John the elder. To the elect~ lady and her children whom I love in the truth. Not only I but also all who have known the truth. 2 For the sake of the truth that lives in us and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found of your children walking in truth as we received commandment from the Father. 5 Now I appeal+ to you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning: to love one another. 6 And this is love: That we walk after His commandments. And this is the commandment: That as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have entered the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves so that we do not lose those things for which we have worked+, but so that we receive a full reward. 9 For everyone who transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God within them. But those who abide in the doctrine of Christ have both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive them into your house or bid them cordial greetings+. 11 For those who bid them cordial greetings+ are partakers of their evil deeds. 12 Although I have many things to write to you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you and speak face to face so that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect~ sister greet you. Amen.
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