Overcoming the World 1 UDB All those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are children of God, born from God. And whoever loves anyone who is a father certainly loves his child also. BSB BSB: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.
2 UDB We can be sure that we truly love God's children when we love God and do what he commands us to do. BSB BSB: By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments.
3 UDB I am saying this because what loving God really means is that we do what he commands. Also, it is not difficult to do what he commands. BSB BSB: For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
4 UDB All of us whom God has caused to become his children have been able to refuse to do what unbelievers want us to do. We are stronger than everything that is against God. We are able to refuse to do wrong because we trust in Christ. BSB BSB: because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.
5 UDB Who is the person who is stronger than everything that is against God? It is anyone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. BSB BSB: Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 UDB Think about Jesus Christ. He is the one who came to earth from God. God showed that he had truly sent Jesus when John baptized Jesus in water, but also when Jesus's blood flowed from his body when he died. And God's Spirit declares truthfully that Jesus Christ came from God. BSB BSB: This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ—not by water alone, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies to this, because the Spirit is the truth.
7 UDB These three are like three witnesses who give testimony: BSB BSB: For there are three that testify:
8 UDB the Spirit of God, the water, and the blood. These three all tell us the same thing. BSB BSB: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
God’s Testimony about His Son 9 UDB We usually believe what other people tell us. But we can certainly trust much more in what God says. And he has certainly testified about his Son. BSB BSB: Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son.
10 UDB Those who trust in the Son of God know within their inner beings what is true about him. But those who do not believe what God says call him a liar, because they have refused to believe what God has testified about his Son. BSB BSB: Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
12 UDB Those who are joined with God's Son will live forever with God. Those who are not joined with him will not live forever. BSB BSB: Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Effective Prayer 14 UDB Because we are joined with him, we are very confident that he hears us when we ask him to do anything he approves of. BSB BSB: And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 UDB Also, if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—then we can be sure that we will receive whatever we asked from him. BSB BSB: And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.
16 UDB Suppose someone sees one of our fellow believers committing a sin that would not separate him from God forever. Then that person should ask God and pray that God will give him life—that is, to the person who is not committing a sin that would separate him from God forever. But there is a sin that can separate a person from God forever. I am not saying you should ask God to help a person who sins in that way. BSB BSB: If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.
17 UDB Everything that is wrong is a sin against God, but not every bad thing we do can separate us from God forever. BSB BSB: All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death.
The True God 18 UDB We know that if a person is a child of God, he does not keep sinning again and again. Instead, the Son of God protects him so that Satan, the evil one, does not harm him. BSB BSB: We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
19 UDB We know that we belong to God, and we know that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. BSB BSB: We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
20 UDB We also know that the Son of God has come among us and has enabled us to understand the truth; we are joined to him who is true, God's Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is truly God, and he is the one who enables us to have eternal life. BSB BSB: And we know that the Son of God has come and has 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 UDB I say to you who are very dear to me: Guard yourselves from worshiping gods that have no real power. BSB BSB: Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.