1 JOHANNES 3
1 Kyk watter groot liefde die Vader aan ons bewys het: Hy noem ons kinders van God, en ons is dit ook. En die wêreld ken ons nie, omdat dit Hom nie ken nie.
2 Geliefdes, ons is nou reeds kinders van God. Dit is nog nie geopenbaar wat ons sal wees nie, maar ons weet dat, wanneer Jesus kom, ons soos Hy sal wees. Ons sal Hom sien soos Hy werklik is. 3 Elkeen wat hierdie verwagting in verband met Hom koester, hou homself rein soos Jesus rein is.
4 Elkeen wat sonde doen, oortree die wet van God. Sonde is immers oortreding van die wet van God. 5 Julle weet dat Jesus gekom het om die sondes weg te neem, en daar is geen sonde in Hom nie. 6 Iemand wat in Hom bly, hou nie aan met sondig nie; iemand wat aanhou sondig, het Hom nie gesien nie en ken Hom nie.
7 Liewe kinders, moenie dat iemand julle mislei nie: wie regverdig lewe, is regverdig soos Hy regverdig is; 8 wie aanhou sonde doen, behoort aan die duiwel, want die duiwel hou van die begin af aan met sondig. En die Seun van God het juis gekom om die werk van die duiwel tot niet te maak.
9 Iemand wat 'n kind van God is, doen nie meer sonde nie, omdat die Gees van God in hom bly; en hy kan nie meer sondig nie, omdat hy uit God gebore is. 10 Hiéraan is dit duidelik wie kinders van God en wie kinders van die duiwel is: iemand wat nie regverdig lewe nie en nie sy broer liefhet nie, behoort nie aan God nie.
Liefde vir mekaar
11 Dít is immers die boodskap wat julle van die begin af gehoor het: Ons moet mekaar liefhê. 12 Moenie soos Kain wees nie. Hy het aan die Bose behoort en het sy broer vermoor. En waarom het hy hom vermoor? Omdat sy eie dade sleg was en sy broer s'n reg.
13 Broers, moenie verbaas wees as die wêreld julle haat nie. 14 Ons weet dat ons klaar uit die dood na die lewe oorgegaan het, want ons het ons broers lief. Wie nie liefhet nie, bly in die dood. 15 Elkeen wat sy broer haat, is 'n moordenaar; en julle weet dat geen moordenaar die ewige lewe in hom het nie. 16 Hiéraan weet ons wat liefde is: Jesus het sy lewe vir ons afgelê. Ons behoort ook ons lewens vir ons broers af te lê. 17 Wie aardse besittings het en sy broer sien gebrek ly, maar geen gevoel vir hom het nie — hoe kan die liefde van God in hom wees?
'n Goeie gewete voor God
18 Liewe kinders, ons liefde moenie net woorde en lippetaal wees nie, maar moet met die daad bewys word, en dan in opregtheid. 19 Hierdeur kan ons ook te wete kom dat ons aan die ware God behoort en kan ons ons gewete voor Hom tot rus bring. 20 As ons gewete ons veroordeel — God is groter as ons gewete, en Hy weet alles.
21 Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God te gaan; 22 en wat ons vra, kry ons van Hom omdat ons sy gebooie gehoorsaam en doen wat Hy goedvind. 23 En dít is sy gebod: Ons moet in sy Seun, Jesus Christus, glo en ons moet mekaar liefhê ooreenkomstig die gebod wat Hy ons gegee het. 24 Wie sy gebooie gehoorsaam, bly in God en God in hom. Hiéraan weet ons dat Hy in ons bly: Hy het ons sy Gees gegee.
1 John 3
1 SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect--being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [essentially and forever].6 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains in communion with and in obedience to Him--deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].7 Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow believer in Christ).11 For this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,12 [And] not be like Cain who [took his nature and got his motivation] from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother’s were righteous (virtuous).13 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.14 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death.15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him.16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].17 But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?18 Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).19 By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,20 Whenever our hearts in [tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].21 And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.23 And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.24 All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.