BSB 1 YHN Chapter 3

Children of God

3 Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And [that is what] we are! The reason the world does not know us [is] that it did not know Him.2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be {has} not yet been revealed. We know that when [Christ] appears,[fn] we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as [ Christ ] is pure.[fn]

4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.[fn]5 [But] you know that [Christ] appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him [or] known Him.

7 Little children,[fn] {let} no one deceive you: The [one who] practices righteousness is righteous, just as [Christ] is righteous.[fn]8 The [one who] practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from [the] very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because [God’s] seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.10 By this the children of God are distinguished [from] the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, [nor is] anyone who does not love his brother.

Love One Another

(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)

11 This is the message you have heard from [the] beginning: We should love one another.12 [Do] not [be] like Cain, [who] belonged to the evil [one] and murdered his brother. And why did [Cain] slay him? Because his [own] deeds were evil, while those of his brother [were] righteous.13 [So] {do} not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love [our] brothers. The [one who] does not love remains in death.15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life {does} not reside in a murderer.

16 By this we know what love [is]: [Jesus] laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down [our] lives for [our] brothers.17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother [in] need, [but] withholds his compassion from him, how {can} the love of God abide in him?

18 Little children, let us love not in word [and] speech, but in action and truth.19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:20 Even if our hearts condemn [us], God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn [us], we have confidence before God,22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.24 Whoever keeps His commandments remains in [God], and [God] in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.