5 13 THIS LETTER is to assure you that you have eternal life. It is addressed to those who give their allegiance to the Son of God. 5 14 We can approach God with confidence for this reason: if we make requests which accord with his will he listens to us; 5 15 and if we know that our requests are heard, we know also that the things we ask for are ours. 5 16 If a man sees his brother committing a sin which is not a deadly sin, he should pray to God for him, and he will grant him life - that is, when men are not guilty of deadly sin. There is such a thing as deadly sin, 5 17 but although all wrongdoing is sin, not all sin is deadly sin.
5 18 We know that no child of God is a sinner; it is the Son of God who keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot touch him. 5 19 We know that we are of God's family, while the whole godless world lies in the power of the evil one. 5 20 We know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding to know him who is real; indeed we are in him who is real, since we are in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, this is eternal life. 5 21 My children, be on the watch against false gods.