Beloved, (A)now we are children of God; and (B)it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, (C)we shall be like Him, for (D)we shall see Him as He is. (E)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and (F)sin is lawlessness. And you know (G)that He was manifested (H)to take away our sins, and (I)in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

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

The Imperative of Love(N)

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. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, (O)that we should love one another, 12 not as (P)Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if (Q)the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [a]his brother abides in death. 15 (R)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that (S)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

The Outworking of Love

16 (T)By this we know love, (U)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But (V)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:14 NU omits his brother

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