Final words

13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 We can approach him with this confidence, that whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know he hears us – whatever we ask – we know also that what we ask for is ours. 16 If anyone sees one of our people committing some sin that is not a sin leading to death, they should ask, and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that those who have been born of God do not keep sinning. God protects his children and the evil one cannot get hold of them. 19 We know that we are God’s children, though the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know the true God – and we are in him who is true, by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 My children, guard yourselves against false ideas of God.