The Knowledge of Eternal Life

13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal [fn]life, and so that you may continue believing [fn]in the name of the Son of God. 14 This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray for him, and God will give him life. I refer to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that no one who has been born of God continues in sin, but he who is born of God guards [fn]himself, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are from God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols. [fn]Amen.