< 1 John 3 >

1 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.
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 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.
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 And every man who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself so as to be as pure as He is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Every one who is guilty of sin is also guilty of violating Law; for sin is the violation of Law.
Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 No one who continues in union with Him lives in sin: no one who lives in sin has seen Him or knows Him.
Whoever abideth in him sinneth not: whoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Dear children, let no one lead you astray. The man who acts righteously is righteous, just as He is righteous.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 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.
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 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.
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 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.
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the Message you have heard from the beginning--that we are to love one another.
For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 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.
Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 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.
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 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)
Whoever hateth his brother, is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)
16 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.
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 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?
But he who hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 Dear children, let us not love in words only nor with the lips, but in deed and in truth.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
19 And in this way we shall come to know that we are loyal to the truth, and shall satisfy our consciences in His presence
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 in whatever matters our hearts condemn us--because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
For if our heart condemneth us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have perfect confidence towards God;
Beloved, if our heart doth not condemn us, [then] have we confidence towards God.
22 and whatever we ask for we obtain from Him, because we obey His commands and do the things which are pleasing in His sight.
And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 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.
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 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.
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 which he hath given us.

< 1 John 3 >