1 John 3
1 Look at the amazing kind of love the Father has for us! This is why we can be called God's children—for that's who we are! The reason why the people of this world don't recognize us as God's children is because they don't recognize him.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 My friends, we are already God's children; however what we shall become hasn't been revealed just yet. But we do know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 All those who have this hope in them make sure they are pure, just as he is pure.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 All those who sin are lawless, because sin is lawlessness.
Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 But of course you know that Jesus came to take away sins, and that there is no sin in him.
And ye know that he appeared to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 All those who live in him don't go on sinning; all those who keep on sinning haven't seen him and haven't known him.
Whoever abideth in him sinneth not: whoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Dear friends, don't let anyone fool you: those who do what is right are right, in the same way as Jesus is right.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 Those who sin are of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. That's the reason why the Son of God came—to destroy what the devil has done.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 All those who are born of God don't keep on sinning, for God's nature lives in them. They can't keep on sinning because they are born of God.
Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 This is how God's children and the devil's children can be distinguished: all those who don't do what's right don't belong to God, nor do those who don't love their fellow Christians.
In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil: whoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 The message you've heard from the beginning is simply this: we should love one another.
For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 We cannot be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one, and murdered his brother. Why did he murder him? Because Cain did what was evil, while his brother did what was right.
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 So don't be surprised, my friends, if this world hates you!
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 The reason we know that we have changed from death to life is because we love our Christian brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love remains dead.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 All those who hate their Christian brothers and sisters are murderers, and you know that no murderers have eternal life within them! (aiōnios g166)
Whoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)
16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 If one of you is living well in this world and you see your Christian brother or sister in need, but you don't show compassion—how can God's love be living in you?
But he who hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassions from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 Dear friends, let's not just say we love with words, but show our love in what we do and how we demonstrate the truth.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth, and how we will set our minds at rest before God
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 whenever we think we're in the wrong. God is greater than how we think, and he knows everything.
For if our heart condemneth us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Dear friends, if we're reassured we're not in the wrong, we can have confidence before God.
Beloved, if our heart doth not condemn us, then have we confidence toward God.
22 We'll receive from him whatever we ask him for, because we follow his commands and do what pleases him.
And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 This is what he commands: we should trust in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us to do.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 Those who keep his commands continue to live in him, and he lives in them. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit he has given us.
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And by this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit who he hath given to us.
