²⁸ Now, ^(A)little children, abide in Him, so that when He ^(B)appears, we may have ^(C)confidence and ^(D)not ^[a]shrink away from Him in shame ^[b]at His ^(E)coming.

^21 (A)Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have ^(B)confidence ^[a]before God; ²² and ^(C)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we ^(D)keep His commandments and do ^(E)the things that are pleasing in His sight.

²³ This is His commandment, that we ^[b](F)believe in ^(G)the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as ^(H)He ^[c]commanded us. ²⁴ The one who ^(I)keeps His commandments ^(J)abides in Him, and He in him. ^(K)We know by this that ^(L)He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.