1 John 2:9-19

9 Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark.

10 It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others.

11 But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

12 I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name.

13 You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.

14 You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers - such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.

15 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father.

16 Practically everything that goes on in the world - wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important - has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.

17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out - but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

18 Children, time is just about up. You heard that Antichrist is coming. Well, they're all over the place, antichrists everywhere you look. That's how we know that we're close to the end.

19 They left us, but they were never really with us. If they had been, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did belong.