1 John 3
Behold awhat manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that bwe should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, cbecause it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, anow we are children of God; and bit has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, cwe shall be like Him, for dwe shall see Him as He is. 3 aAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Sin and the Child of God
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and asin is lawlessness. 5 And you know athat He was manifested bto take away our sins, and cin Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 aHe who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, bthat He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been aborn of God does not sin, for bHis seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
The Imperative of Love
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, athat we should love one another, 12 not as aCain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if athe world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 aWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that bno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The Outworking of Love
16 aBy this we know love, bbecause He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But awhoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, alet us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know athat we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 aFor if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, awe have confidence toward God. 22 And awhatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments band do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ aand love one another, as He gave us commandment.
The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error
24 Now ahe who keeps His commandments babides in Him, and He in him. And cby this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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