Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who commits[a] sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God(A) was revealed(B) for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. Everyone who has been born of God(C) does not sin,[b] because his seed(D) remains in him; he is not able to sin,[c] because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:8 Or practices
  2. 3:9 Or not practice sin
  3. 3:9 Or to keep on sinning

Practicing sin or righteousness

Little children, make sure no one deceives you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, in the same way that Jesus is righteous. The person who practices sin belongs to the devil, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. God’s Son appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil. Those born from God don’t practice sin because God’s DNA[a] remains in them. They can’t sin because they are born from God. 10 This is how God’s children and the devil’s children are apparent: everyone who doesn’t practice righteousness is not from God, including the person who doesn’t love a brother or sister.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:9 Or genetic character