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.