16 By this we know love, that ^dhe laid down his life for us, and ^ewe ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But ^fif anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet ^gcloses his heart against him, ^hhow does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not ⁱlove in word or talk but in deed and ^jin truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, ^kif our heart does not condemn us, ^lwe have confidence before God; 22 and ^mwhatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and ⁿdo what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, ^othat we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and ^plove one another, ^qjust as he has commanded us. 24 ^rWhoever keeps his commandments abides in God,¹ and God² in him. And ^sby this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

21 For ^zto this you have been called, ^ybecause Christ also suffered for you, ^aleaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: ^vwhoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully¹ will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^wnot reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^xGod loves a cheerful giver.

21 For to me ^mto live is Christ, and to die is gain.

32 ^oSo everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^xwhoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I ^yam going to the Father.