The First of John

1 That which was from [the] beginning,*+ which we have heard,+ which we have seen with our eyes,+ which we have viewed+ attentively and our hands felt,+ concerning the word of life,+ 2 (yes, the life was made manifest,+ and we have seen and are bearing witness+ and reporting to YOU the everlasting life+ which was with the Father and was made manifest to us,) 3 that which we have seen and heard we are reporting also to YOU,+ that YOU too may be having a sharing with us.+ Furthermore, this sharing+ of ours is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.+ 4 And so we are writing these things that our joy may be in full measure.*+

5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and are announcing to YOU,+ that God is light+ and there is no darkness at all in union with him.*+ 6 If we make the statement:* “We are having a sharing with him,” and yet we go on walking in the darkness,+ we are lying and are not practicing the truth.+ 7 However, if we are walking in the light as he himself is in the light,+ we do have a sharing with one another,+ and the blood+ of Jesus his Son cleanses+ us from all sin.+

8 If we make the statement: “We have no sin,”+ we are misleading* ourselves+ and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins,+ he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.+ 10 If we make the statement: “We have not sinned,” we are making him a liar, and his word is not in us.+