My dear friends, this command I am writing you is not new; it is the old command, the one you have had from the very beginne add self-control; to your selfage you have already heard.

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who has existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you have defeated the Evil One.

I write to you, my children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who has existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong; the word of God lives in you, and you have defeated the Evil One.

I write you, then, not because you do not know the truth; instead, it is because you do know it, and you also know that no lie ever comes from the truth.

We write this in order that our joy may be complete.

I am writing this to you, my children, so that you will not sin; but if anyone does sin, we have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf---Jesus Christ, the righteous one.

But if we live in the light---just as he is in the light---then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin.

But if we confess our sins to God, he will keep his promise and do what is right: he will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.

Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

Happy is the one whom the LORD does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit.

When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, "Your sins are forgiven, my friend."

I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love."

The others sitting at the table began to say to themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

and in his name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us."

All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name."

All of you, my fellow Israelites, are to know for sure that it is through Jesus that the message about forgiveness of sins is preached to you; you are to know that everyone who believes in him is set free from all the sins from which the Law of Moses could not set you free.

This is what David meant when he spoke of the happiness of the person whom God accepts as righteous, apart from anything that person does:

"Happy are those whose wrongs are forgiven, whose sins are pardoned!

For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God,

by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

Keep your promise, LORD, and forgive my sins, for they are many.

But he saved them, as he had promised, in order to show his great power.

My people cry out to me, 'Even though our sins accuse us, help us, LORD, as you have promised. We have turned away from you many times; we have sinned against you.

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.