¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(A)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(B)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[a]Christ depart from iniquity.”

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and ^(A)I know My sheep, and ^(B)am known by My own.

³ But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. ^8 (A)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, ^(B)that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been ^(C)born of God does not sin, for ^(D)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love^(E)

¹⁰ In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

⁵ and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is ^(A)His and who is ^(B)holy,^[a] and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to ^(C)come near to Him.

^27 (A)But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. ^(B)Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’

^27 (A)My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ^29 (B)My Father, ^(C)who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. ^30 (D)I and My Father are one.”

^5 (A)Therefore put to death ^(B)your members which are on the earth: ^(C)fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(D)which is idolatry. ^6 (E)Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon ^(F)the sons of disobedience, ^7 (G)in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

^8 (H)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.