Let Truth Abide in You

24 Therefore let that abide in you pwhich you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, qyou also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 rAnd this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to 6deceive you. 27 But the sanointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and tyou do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing uteaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you 7will abide in Him.

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that 8when He appears, we may have vconfidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 wIf you know that He is righteous, you know that xeveryone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

3 Behold awhat manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that bwe should be called children of 1God! Therefore the world does not know 2us, cbecause it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, dnow we are children of God; and eit has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, fwe shall be like Him, for gwe shall see Him as He is. 3 hAnd everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Sin and the Child of God

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and isin is lawlessness. 5 And you know jthat He was manifested kto take away our sins, and lin Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 mHe who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, nthat He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been oborn of God does not sin, for pHis seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

The Imperative of Love

10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, qthat we should love one another, 12 not as rCain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if sthe world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love 3his brother abides in death. 15 tWhoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that uno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.