1 John 3
1 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
See what marvellous love the Father has bestowed upon us--that we should be called God's children: and that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us--because it has not known Him.
2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
Dear friends, we are now God's children, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been fully revealed. We know that if Christ reappears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
And every man who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself so as to be as pure as He is.
4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
Every one who is guilty of sin is also guilty of violating Law; for sin is the violation of Law.
5 But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
No one who continues in union with Him lives in sin: no one who lives in sin has seen Him or knows Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
Dear children, let no one lead you astray. The man who acts righteously is righteous, just as He is righteous.
8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil, because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for the purpose of undoing the work of the Devil.
9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
No one who is a child of God is habitually guilty of sin. A God-given germ of life remains in him, and he cannot habitually sin--because he is a child of God.
10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
By this we can distinguish God's children and the Devil's children: no one who fails to act righteously is a child of God, nor he who does not love his brother man.
11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
For this is the Message you have heard from the beginning--that we are to love one another.
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
We are not to resemble Cain, who was a child of the Evil one and killed his own brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own actions were wicked and his brother's actions righteous.
13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
As for us, we know that we have already passed out of death into Life--because we love our brother men. He who is destitute of love continues dead.
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. (aiōnios g166)
Every one who hates his brother man is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has the Life of the Ages continuing in him. (aiōnios g166)
16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
We know what love is--through Christ's having laid down His life on our behalf; and in the same way we ought to lay down our lives for our brother men.
17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
But if any one has this world's wealth and sees that his brother man is in need, and yet hardens his heart against him--how can such a one continue to love God?
18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
Dear children, let us not love in words only nor with the lips, but in deed and in truth.
19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
And in this way we shall come to know that we are loyal to the truth, and shall satisfy our consciences in His presence
20 Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
in whatever matters our hearts condemn us--because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have perfect confidence towards God;
22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
and whatever we ask for we obtain from Him, because we obey His commands and do the things which are pleasing in His sight.
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
And this is His command--that we are to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us to do.
24 Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
The man who obeys His commands continues in union with God, and God continues in union with him; and through His Spirit whom He has given us we can know that He continues in union with us.
