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We are God's children

3 Think about how much God the Father loves us. He calls us his children! God loves us so much that we really have become his children. The people who belong to this world do not understand who God is. Because of that, they do not understand who we are. 2 My friends, we are already children of God. We do not yet know clearly what we will become. But we do know this: when Christ returns to this world, we will become like him. We will be like him because we will see him as he really is. 3 Christ is completely good. So all of us who hope to see him then must keep ourselves clean from sin.

4 If a person continues to do wrong things, he is choosing not to obey God's rules. Sin is when we do not obey God's rules. 5 You know that Jesus came into the world so that he might take away our sins. He himself is completely clean from sin. 6 Anyone who lives together with Christ does not continue to do wrong things. If anyone continues to do wrong things, that person has not understood who Christ is. He does not know Christ.

7 My little children, do not let anyone deceive you about sin. It is people who live in a good way that God accepts as right. In the same way, Jesus did only what is good and right. 8 People who continue to do wrong things show that they belong to the Devil. The Devil has always been doing wrong things from the beginning. This is why the Son of God came to the world. He came to destroy everything that the Devil has done.

9 Everybody who is a child of God does not continue to do wrong things. This is because God has given them a new life. He has caused them to become his children. So they cannot continue to do wrong things. 10 In this way, we can see clearly who are God's children and who are the Devil's children. Anyone who does not live in a way that is good and right does not belong to God. People like that do not love other believers.

Christians must love one another

11 Yes, we must love one another. That is the message which you have heard from the beginning. 12 We should not be like Cain. He belonged to Satan and he even killed his brother, Abel. Why did he do that? Cain did bad things and he killed Abel because Abel did things that were right.

13 So, my Christian friends, do not be surprised when people who belong to this world hate you.

14 We know that we now have new life with God. Death no longer has power over us. We know this because we love our Christian friends. But anyone who does not love other believers is still under the power of death. 15 Anyone who hates other believers is like someone who murders other people. You know that a person like that does not have true life with God.

16 This is how we know what true love is: Jesus Christ gave his own life on the cross. He died on our behalf. So we too ought to give our lives for other believers. 17 When another believer has trouble, we need to be kind to him. Maybe you have all the things that you need to live. If you see another believer who needs things like that, you should help him. If you refuse to be kind to him, it shows that you do not belong to God. You do not love people in the way that God loves them. [ a ]

18 My little children, we should not show love for each other only by what we say. We should also show true love by the things that we do. 19 Then we will know that we truly belong to God. We will be obeying God's true message. As a result, our thoughts will not make us ashamed to come to God. 20 Even if our thoughts tell us that we have done something wrong, we still will not be afraid of God. We can trust God more than we trust our thoughts. He already knows everything about us.

21 My friends, if our thoughts do not tell us that we are guilty, we will not be afraid to come to God. 22 We can pray to God and we can ask him to help us. He will give us what we ask him for. That is because we obey his commands and we do the things that please him. 23 This is God's command to us: we must believe that Jesus Christ is his Son. And we must love each other, as Jesus commanded us. 24 Anyone who obeys God's commands lives together with God. God also lives in him. How do we know that God lives in us? It is because of his Holy Spirit that he has given to us.

Footnotes

  1. 3:17 Christians should love their Christian friends. We should even be ready to die for them.

We Are God’s Children

3 The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him just as he is. 3 He is pure, and everyone who has this hope in him keeps themselves pure like Christ.

4 Anyone who sins breaks God’s law. Yes, sinning is the same as living against God’s law. 5 You know that Christ came to take away people’s sins. There is no sin in Christ. 6 So whoever lives in Christ does not continue to sin. If they continue to sin, they have never really understood Christ and have never known him.

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone lead you into the wrong way. Christ always did what was right. So to be good like Christ, you must do what is right. 8 The devil has been sinning since the beginning. Anyone who continues to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God came for this: to destroy the devil’s work.

9 Those who are God’s children do not continue to sin, because the new life God gave them [ a ] stays in them. They cannot keep sinning, because they have become children of God. 10 So we can see who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are. These are the ones who are not God’s children: those who don’t do what is right and those who do not love their brothers and sisters in God’s family.

We Must Love One Another

11 This is the teaching you have heard from the beginning: We must love each other. 12 Don’t be like Cain. He belonged to the Evil One. Cain killed his brother. But why did he kill him? Because what Cain did was evil, and what his brother did was good.

13 Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised when the people of this world hate you. 14 We know that we have left death and have come into life. We know this because we love each other as brothers and sisters. Anyone who does not love is still in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer. [ b ] And you know that no murderer has eternal life.

16 This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for each other as brothers and sisters. 17 Suppose a believer who is rich enough to have all the necessities of life sees a fellow believer who is poor and does not have even basic needs. What if the rich believer does not help the poor one? Then it is clear that God’s love is not in that person’s heart. 18 My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do.

19-20 That’s how we know we belong to the way of truth. And when our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God, because God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything.

21 My dear friends, if we don’t feel that we are doing wrong, we can be without fear when we come to God. 22 And God gives us what we ask for. We receive it because we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him. 23 This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded. 24 All who obey God’s commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:9 the new life God gave them Literally, “his seed.”
  2. 1 John 3:15 Anyone … murderer Those who hate someone have in their mind the same motive that causes murder. So, morally, hating is equal to murder. Jesus taught his followers about this sin. See Mt. 5:21-26.

3 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 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 that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 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 Whosoever 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 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we 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 whoso 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 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and 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, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Children of God Love One Another

3 See [ a ] ( A ) how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called ( B ) children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because ( C ) it did not know Him. 2 ( D ) Beloved, now we are ( E ) children of God, and ( F ) it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He ( G ) appears, we will be ( H ) like Him, because we will ( I ) see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this ( J ) hope set on Him ( K ) purifies himself, just as He is pure.

4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and ( L ) sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He ( M ) appeared in order to ( N ) take away sins; and ( O ) in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in Him ( P ) sins continually ; no one who sins continually has seen Him or [ b ] ( Q ) knows Him. 7 ( R ) Little children, make sure no one ( S ) deceives you; ( T ) the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is ( U ) of the devil; for the devil [ c ] has been sinning from the beginning. ( V ) The Son of God ( W ) appeared for this purpose, ( X ) to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who has been ( Y ) born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually , because he has been born of God. 10 By this the ( Z ) children of God and the ( AA ) children of the devil are obvious: [ d ] anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who ( AB ) does not love his ( AC ) brother and sister .

11 ( AD ) For this is the message ( AE ) which you have heard from the beginning, ( AF ) that we are to love one another; 12 not as ( AG ) Cain, who was of ( AH ) the evil one and murdered his brother. And for what reason did he murder him? Because ( AI ) his own deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous.

13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters , if ( AJ ) the world hates you. 14 We know that we have ( AK ) passed out of death into life, ( AL ) because we love the brothers and sisters . The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who ( AM ) hates his brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that ( AN ) no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 We know love by this, that ( AO ) He laid down His life for us; and ( AP ) we ought to lay down our lives for the ( AQ ) brothers and sisters . 17 But ( AR ) whoever has worldly goods and sees his brother or sister in need, and ( AS ) closes his [ e ] heart [ f ] against him, ( AT ) how does the love of God remain in him? 18 ( AU ) Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and ( AV ) truth. 19 We will know by this that we are ( AW ) of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him, 20 that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things. 21 ( AX ) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have ( AY ) confidence [ g ] before God; 22 and ( AZ ) whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we ( BA ) keep His commandments and do ( BB ) the things that are pleasing in His sight.

23 This is His commandment, that we [ h ] ( BC ) believe in ( BD ) the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as ( BE ) He [ i ] commanded us. 24 The one who ( BF ) keeps His commandments ( BG ) remains in Him, and He in him. ( BH ) We know by this that ( BI ) He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:1 Lit what kind of love
  2. 1 John 3:6 Or has known
  3. 1 John 3:8 Lit sins
  4. 1 John 3:10 Lit everyone
  5. 1 John 3:17 Lit inward parts
  6. 1 John 3:17 Lit from
  7. 1 John 3:21 Lit toward
  8. 1 John 3:23 Or believe the name
  9. 1 John 3:23 Lit gave us a commandment

3 See what great love ( A ) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! ( B ) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ( C ) 2 Dear friends, ( D ) now we are children of God, ( E ) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, [ a ] ( F ) we shall be like him, ( G ) for we shall see him as he is. ( H ) 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, ( I ) just as he is pure. ( J )

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. ( K ) 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. ( L ) And in him is no sin. ( M ) 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. ( N ) No one who continues to sin has either seen him ( O ) or known him. ( P )

7 Dear children, ( Q ) do not let anyone lead you astray. ( R ) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. ( S ) 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, ( T ) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God ( U ) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. ( V ) 9 No one who is born of God ( W ) will continue to sin, ( X ) because God’s seed ( Y ) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God ( Z ) are and who the children of the devil ( AA ) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love ( AB ) their brother and sister. ( AC )

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard ( AD ) from the beginning: ( AE ) We should love one another. ( AF ) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one ( AG ) and murdered his brother. ( AH ) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ( AI ) 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, [ b ] if the world hates you. ( AJ ) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, ( AK ) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ( AL ) 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister ( AM ) is a murderer, ( AN ) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. ( AO )

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. ( AP ) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ( AQ ) 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, ( AR ) how can the love of God be in that person? ( AS ) 18 Dear children, ( AT ) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ( AU )

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, ( AV ) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ( AW ) 22 and receive from him anything we ask, ( AX ) because we keep his commands ( AY ) and do what pleases him. ( AZ ) 23 And this is his command: to believe ( BA ) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, ( BB ) and to love one another as he commanded us. ( BC ) 24 The one who keeps God’s commands ( BD ) lives in him, ( BE ) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. ( BF )

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known
  2. 1 John 3:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters ( adelphoi ) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 16.
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