Children of God
1Behold, 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. 2Beloved, 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. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8He 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. 9Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10In 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.
Love One Another
(John 13:31-35; Romans 12:9-13)
11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not 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.
13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby 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. 17But 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? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And 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. 24And 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.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Children of God
1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. 6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him. 7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.
Love One Another
(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)
11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? 18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, 20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the 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, even as he commanded. 24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.
Children of God
1 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, a 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. b
4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. c 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, d let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. e 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.
Footnotes:
2 a Literally when He appears or when it appears
3 b Literally just as He is pure
4 c Or is violation of the Law
7 d NA Young children in training
7 e Literally He is righteous
Children of God
1See ye what love the Father hath given to us, that children of God we may be called; because of this the world doth not know us, because it did not know Him; 2beloved, now, children of God are we, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be, and we have known that if he may be manifested, like him we shall be, because we shall see him as he is; 3and every one who is having this hope on him, doth purify himself, even as he is pure.
4Every one who is doing the sin, the lawlessness also he doth do, and the sin is the lawlessness, 5and ye have known that he was manifested that our sins he may take away, and sin is not in him; 6every one who is remaining in him doth not sin; every one who is sinning, hath not seen him, nor known him. 7Little children, let no one lead you astray; he who is doing the righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, 8he who is doing the sin, of the devil he is, because from the beginning the devil doth sin; for this was the Son of God manifested, that he may break up the works of the devil; 9every one who hath been begotten of God, sin he doth not, because his seed in him doth remain, and he is not able to sin, because of God he hath been begotten. 10In this manifest are the children of God, and the children of the devil; every one who is not doing righteousness, is not of God, and he who is not loving his brother,
Love One Another
(John 13:31-35; Romans 12:9-13)
11because this is the message that ye did hear from the beginning, that we may love one another, 12not as Cain -- of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous.
13Do not wonder, my brethren, if the world doth hate you; 14we -- we have known that we have passed out of the death to the life, because we love the brethren; he who is not loving the brother doth remain in the death. 15Every one who is hating his brother -- a man-killer he is, and ye have known that no man-killer hath life age-during in him remaining, 16in this we have known the love, because he for us his life did lay down, and we ought for the brethren the lives to lay down; 17and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him -- how doth the love of God remain in him? 18My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in work and in truth! 19and in this we know that of the truth we are, and before Him we shall assure our hearts, 20because if our heart may condemn -- because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things. 21Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God, 22and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His commands we keep, and the things pleasing before Him we do,
23and this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us, 24and he who is keeping His commands, in Him he doth remain, and He in him; and in this we know that He doth remain in us, from the Spirit that He gave us.
The Favor of God paraphrase
Children of God and Overcoming Sin
¹ See what incredible love the Father has lavished on 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 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.
⁴ Everyone who sins breaks the law; sin is lawlessness. ⁵ But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. ⁶ No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.
⁷ Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. ⁸ The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. ⁹ No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed 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 are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
Love One Another
¹¹ For this is the message you 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 he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
¹³ Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in them.
¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Confidence Before God
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, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²² and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. ²³ And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.
Footnotes:
1.“Children of God” (verse 1) expresses the profound truth of our new identity in Christ. Being called God’s children highlights both God’s initiative in loving us and the transformation it brings in our lives.
2.The phrase “what we will be” (verse 2) reflects the future hope of complete transformation when Christ returns. Though we are already God’s children, the full glory of that reality will be revealed when we see Him face to face.
3.“Sin is lawlessness” (verse 4) emphasizes that sin is not just breaking rules but living in rebellion against God’s established order. This points to the serious nature of sin as a rejection of God’s authority.
4.The contrast between “children of God” and “children of the devil” (verse 10) underscores that our actions—whether we live righteously and love others—reveal our true spiritual identity.
5.The reference to Cain (verse 12) draws on the story in Genesis 4, where Cain’s jealousy led him to murder his brother Abel. John uses this as a warning against harboring hatred, which is spiritually akin to murder.
6.“Passing from death to life” (verse 14) reflects the transition that occurs when we come to faith in Jesus. Love is the evidence of this new life, marking a believer as someone who has been spiritually resurrected.
7.The call to “love with actions and in truth” (verse 18) emphasizes that real love is not merely words but is expressed in tangible deeds. This practical love mirrors Christ’s own sacrificial love for us.
