1 John 3

1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him.
7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil.9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.

15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.21 Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

1 John 3

Children of God Love One Another

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.6 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.

13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.