Children of God

1See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called [the] children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we children of God, and what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3And every one that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as *he* is pure.

4Every one that practises sin practises also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5And ye know that *he* has been manifested that he might take away our sins; and in him sin is not. 6Whoever abides in him, does not sin: whoever sins, has not seen him or known him. 7Children, let no man lead you astray; he that practises righteousness is righteous, even as *he* is righteous. 8He that practises sin is of the devil; for from [the] beginning the devil sins. To this end the Son of God has been manifested, that he might undo the works of the devil. 9Whoever has been begotten of God does not practise sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God. 10In this are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Whoever does not practise righteousness is not of God, and he who does not love his brother.

Love One Another

(John 13:31-35; Romans 12:9-13)

11For this is the message which ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 12not as Cain was of the wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother righteous.

13Do not wonder, brethren, if the world hate you. 14*We* know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides in death. 15Every one that hates his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby we have known love, because *he* has laid down his life for us; and *we* ought for the brethren to lay down [our] lives. 17But whoso may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God in him? 18Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall persuade our hearts before him -- 20that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness towards God, 22and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which are pleasing in his sight.

23And this is his commandment, that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given us commandment. 24And he that keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given to us.