1 John 3:11-18

Christian Standard Bible

Love in Action

¹¹ For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, ¹² unlike Cain,^(A) who was of the evil one^(B) and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

¹³ Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates^(C) you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.^{(D) 15} Everyone who hates his brother or sister^(E) is a murderer,^(F) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. ¹⁶ This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life^(G) for us.^(H) We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.^{(I) 17} If anyone has this world’s goods^(J) and sees a fellow believer^[a] in need^(K) but withholds compassion^(L) from him—how does God’s love reside in him?^{(M) 18} Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.^(N)