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The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,
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because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
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Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
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I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.
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And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.
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This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
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For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
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Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
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Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
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If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
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for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
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Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.