1 John - Chapter 3

Passage

Behold what manner of charity the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it knew not him. Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God: and it has not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that when he shall appear we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is. And every one that has this hope in him sanctifies himself, as he also is holy. Whoever commits sin commits also iniquity. And sin is iniquity. And you know that he appeared to take away our sins: and in him there is no sin. Whoever abides in him does not sin: and whoever sins has not seen him nor known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He that does justice is just, even as he is just. He that commits sin is of the devil: for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God does not commit sin: for his seed abides in him. And he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whoever is not just is not of God, or he that does not love his brother. For this is the declaration which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just. Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that does not love abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because he has laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that has the substance of this world and shall see his brother in need and shall shut up his bowels from him: how does the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. In this we know that we are of the truth and in his sight shall persuade our hearts. For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God. And whatever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments and do those things which are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment: That we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as he has given commandment to us. And he that keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abides in us by the Spirit which he has given us.