Prologue: Our Declaration
1What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — 2that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — 3what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Fellowship with God
5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.