 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children+ of God. Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, we are now the children+ of God and it does not yet appear what we shall become. But we know that when He appears, we will be like Him. For we shall see Him as He is. 3 Everyone+ who has this hope in Him purifies themselves, even as He is pure. 4 Whoever commits sin, transgresses the law also. For sin is the transgression of the law. 5 You know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has not seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Those who do righteousness are righteous, even as He is righteous. 8 Those who commit sin are of the devil, for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested so that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, for His seed remains in them. They cannot sin, because they are born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed+, and also the children of the devil: Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God, nor are those who do not truly love others+. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: That we should love one another. 12 Not like Cain who was wicked and killed+ his brother. Why did he kill+ him? Because his own works were evil and his brother's were righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my family+, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love others+. Those who do not love others+ abide in death. 15 Whoever hates their brother is a murderer. You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in them. 16 By this we perceive the true love of God, that He laid down His life for us. And we therefore ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others+. 17 But whoever has this world's goods and sees others+ have needs and yet shuts up their heart+ of compassion from them, then how does the love of God live in them? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. 19 By this, we know that we are of the truth and by this we will assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our own heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and He knows everything+. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, then we can have confidence toward God. 22 Whatever we ask, we receive from Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 This is His commandment: That we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us this commandment. 24 Those who keep His commandments live in Him and He in them. By this, we know that He abides in us: By the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 From John the elder. To the elect~ lady and her children whom I love in the truth. Not only I but also all who have known the truth. 2 For the sake of the truth that lives in us and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 4 I rejoiced greatly that I have found of your children walking in truth as we received commandment from the Father. 5 Now I appeal+ to you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning: to love one another. 6 And this is love: That we walk after His commandments. And this is the commandment: That as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have entered the world who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves so that we do not lose those things for which we have worked+, but so that we receive a full reward. 9 For everyone who transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, does not have God within them. But those who abide in the doctrine of Christ have both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive them into your house or bid them cordial greetings+. 11 For those who bid them cordial greetings+ are partakers of their evil deeds. 12 Although I have many things to write to you, I would not write with paper and ink, but I trust to come to you and speak face to face so that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect~ sister greet you. Amen.
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