Study Desk

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

So don't be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

So we have these three witnesses—

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth.

So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful.

But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.