1The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it. 2This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. 3This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy.

5This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn't any darkness in him. 6If we say, "We have a relationship with God" and yet live in the dark, we're lying. We aren't being truthful. 7But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin. 8If we say, "We aren't sinful" we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong. 10If we say, "We have never sinned," we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us.