1:1 This is about the Word of Life— that which was from the beginning, which we have heard and seen and touched.

1:2 This Life appeared; we have seen it, and we are witnessing and reporting to you the eternal life which was from the Father and appeared to us.

1:3 And we are reporting these things to you so you too can be close friends with us; and not only with us, but also with the Father and his Son Jesus the Anointed.

1:4 We write these things so we can be filled with joy.

1:5 Now this is the message we heard from him and are passing along to you: that God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.

1:6 Anyone who says they are close friends with him yet is in step with darkness is lying.

1:7 But if we stay in step with the light, as he is in the light, we are close friends with each other and the blood of Jesus his Son cleans us from every failure.

1:8 If we say we never fail, we deceive ourselves and have no truth in us.

1:9 But if we admit we fail, he is faithful and just and will pardon us and clean us from all injustice.

1:10 If we say we have not failed, we have made him a liar and his Word is not in us.