1 John 3

1 Look at how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us: he lets us be called God’s children! For that is what we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it has not learned to know him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. We know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is.

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is that, when it is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.

3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

And just as he is pure, everyone who has this hope, makes and keeps themselves pure.

4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

Everyone who lives sinfully is living in violation of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness.

5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him is no sin.

You know that Christ appeared to take away our sins and that there is no sin in him.

6 Whoever remains in him does not sin. Whoever sins hasn't seen him, neither knows him.

No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him.

7 Children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

My children, don’t let anyone mislead you. The person who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ 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, to destroy the works of the devil.

The person who lives in sin is a child of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To undo the devil’s work is the reason the Son of God appeared.

9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

No child of God sins, because God’s nature dwells in them. They can’t live in sin, because they are God’s children.

10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who does not love his brother.

By this it is made clear who are the children of God and who are the devil’s: anyone who doesn’t do what is right or doesn’t love others is not a child of God.

11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

For this is the message we heard from the beginning: we are to love one another.

12 unlike Qayen, 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.

We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his actions were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

13 Therefore do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

Do not be suprised, friends, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love remains in death.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love each other. The person who does not love remains in a state of death.

15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him. (aiōnios g166)

The person who hates another is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within them. (aiōnios g166)

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.

This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. So we should lay down our own lives for each other.

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?

If anyone has material possessions, and sees one of our own in need, but closes their heart against that person, how can it be said that the love of God is within them?

18 Little children, let us not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

My children, our love must not be mere words or talk. It must be true and show itself in actions.

19 And by this we will know that we are of the truth, and persuade our heart before him,

This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence:

20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

though our conscience condemns us, God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.

21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence,

22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we are keeping his commands, and are doing what pleases him.

23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Yeshua Meshikha, and love one another, even as he commanded us.

His command is that we should believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as Christ commanded us.

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

The person who keeps his commands dwells in God and God dwells in them. And we are sure he lives in us because of the Spirit he has given us.