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

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life[a] is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers[b] does not belong to God.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:9 Greek because his seed.
  2. 3:10 Greek does not love his brother.