1 ¶ Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and anyone that loves him that begat also loves him that is born of him.

The person who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. The person who loves the Father loves His children also.

2 I n this we know that we love the sons of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.

This is the way we know we love God’s children. It is when we love God and obey His Word.

3 F or this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.

Loving God means to obey His Word, and His Word is not hard to obey.

4 F or whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

Every child of God has power over the sins of the world. The way we have power over the sins of the world is by our faith.

5 W ho is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Who could have power over the world except by believing that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 ¶ This is Jesus, the Christ, who came by water and blood; not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit is he that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

Jesus Christ came by water and blood. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. The Holy Spirit speaks about this and He is truth.

7 F or there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

There are three Who speak of this in heaven: the Father and the Word and the Holy Spirit. These three are one.

8 A nd there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree in one.

There are three who speak of this on the earth: the Holy Spirit and the water and the blood. These three speak the same thing.

9 I f we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son.

If we believe what men say, we can be sure what God says is more important. God has spoken as He has told us about His Son.

10 ¶ He that believes in the Son of God has the witness of God in himself; he that does not believe God has made God a liar; because he does not believe the witness that God has testified of his Son.

The person who puts his trust in God’s Son knows in his own heart that Jesus is the Son of God. The person who does not have his trust in God’s Son makes God a liar. It is because he has not believed the word God spoke about His Son.

11 A nd this is the witness, that God has given eternal life to us, and this life is in his Son.

This is the word He spoke: God gave us life that lasts forever, and this life is in His Son.

12 H e that has the Son has life; and he that does not have the Son of God does not have life.

He that has the Son has life. He that does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13 T hese things I have written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God.

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God. Now you can know you have life that lasts forever.

14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in God, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:

We are sure that if we ask anything that He wants us to have, He will hear us.

15 A nd if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we also know that we have the petitions that we asked of him.

If we are sure He hears us when we ask, we can be sure He will give us what we ask for.

16 I f any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask God, and he shall give him life that is, unto those that do not sin unto death. There is sin unto death, for which I do not say that you should pray.

You may see a Christian brother sinning in a way that does not lead to death. You should pray for him. God will give him life unless he has done that sin that leads to death. There is a sin that leads to death. There is no reason to pray for him if he has done that sin.

17 A ll unrighteousness is sin, but there is a sin not unto death.

Every kind of wrong-doing is sin. But there is a sin that does not lead to death.

18 ¶ We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

We know that no child of God keeps on sinning. The Son of God watches over him and the devil cannot get near him.

19 A nd we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.

We know that we belong to God, but the whole world is under the power of the devil.

20 B ut we know that the Son of God is come and has given us understanding, that we may 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.

We know God’s Son has come. He has given us the understanding to know Him Who is the true God. We are joined together with the true God through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the life that lasts forever.

21 L ittle children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

My children, keep yourselves from false gods.