1 John 2:28-3:10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

God’s Children

²⁸ So now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears^(A) we may have boldness and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.^{(B) 29} If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right^(C) has been born of Him.^(D) 3 ¹ Look at how great a love^[a] the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. ² Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed.^(E) We know that when He appears, we will be like Him^(F) because we will see Him as He is.^{(G) 3} And everyone who has this hope^(H) in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.^(I)

⁴ Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law;^[b] sin is the breaking of law. ⁵ You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins,^[c](J) and there is no sin in Him.^{(K) 6} Everyone who remains in Him^(L) does not sin;^[d](M) everyone who^[e] sins has not seen Him or known Him.

⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you! The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. ⁸ The one who commits^[f] sin is of the Devil, for the Devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God^(N) was revealed^(O) for this purpose: to destroy the Devil’s works. ⁹ Everyone who has been born of God^(P) does not sin,^[g] because His^[h] seed^(Q) remains in him; he is not able to sin,^[i] because he has been born of God. ¹⁰ This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.

The Command to Love

Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.^(R)