2 ¹ My children, in writing thus to you my purpose is that you should not commit sin. But should anyone commit a sin, we have one to plead our cause Literally: we have an advocate ... with the Father, Jesus Christ, and he is just. 2 ² He is himself the remedy for the defilement of our sins, not our sins only but the sins of all the world.
2 ³ Here is the test by which we can make sure that we know him: do we keep his commands? 2 ⁴ The man who says, 'I know him', while he disobeys his commands, is a liar and a stranger to the truth; 2 ⁵ but in the man who is obedient to his word, the divine love has indeed come to its perfection.

Here is the test by which we can make sure that we are in him: 2 ⁶ whoever claims to be dwelling in him, binds himself to live as Christ himself lived.