1 John 3
1 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.
Look at the amazing kind of love the Father has for us! This is why we can be called God's children—for that's who we are! The reason why the people of this world don't recognize us as God's children is because they don't recognize him.
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.
My friends, we are already God's children; however what we shall become hasn't been revealed just yet. But we do know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
All those who have this hope in them make sure they are pure, just as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
All those who sin are lawless, because sin is lawlessness.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
But of course you know that Jesus came to take away sins, and that there is no sin in him.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
All those who live in him don't go on sinning; all those who keep on sinning haven't seen him and haven't known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Dear friends, don't let anyone fool you: those who do what is right are right, in the same way as Jesus is right.
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.
Those who sin are of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. That's the reason why the Son of God came—to destroy what the devil has done.
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.
All those who are born of God don't keep on sinning, for God's nature lives in them. They can't keep on sinning because they are 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.
This is how God's children and the devil's children can be distinguished: all those who don't do what's right don't belong to God, nor do those who don't love their fellow Christians.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
The message you've heard from the beginning is simply this: 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.
We cannot be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one, and murdered his brother. Why did he murder him? Because Cain did what was evil, while his brother did what was right.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
So don't be surprised, my friends, if this world hates 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.
The reason we know that we have changed from death to life is because we love our Christian brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love remains dead.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)
All those who hate their Christian brothers and sisters are murderers, and you know that no murderers have eternal life within them! (aiōnios g166)
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.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.
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?
If one of you is living well in this world and you see your Christian brother or sister in need, but you don't show compassion—how can God's love be living in you?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Dear friends, let's not just say we love with words, but show our love in what we do and how we demonstrate the truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
This is how we will know that we belong to the truth, and how we will set our minds at rest before God
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
whenever we think we're in the wrong. God is greater than how we think, and he knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.
Dear friends, if we're reassured we're not in the wrong, we can have confidence before 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.
We'll receive from him whatever we ask him for, because we follow his commands and do what pleases him.
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.
This is what he commands: we should trust in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us to do.
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.
Those who keep his commands continue to live in him, and he lives in them. We know that he lives in us by the Spirit he has given us.
