1 John 3 KJV
Children of God
1 John Chapter 3: Children of God
The chapter roots hatred in primordial evil by linking Cain's murder of Abel directly to the devil's nature as originator of sin 'from the beginning,' framing interpersonal malice as participation in a pre-Adamic cosmic conflict rather than mere human failing.
1ehold, 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.
2 Beloved, 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.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He 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.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In 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.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not 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 brotherโs righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby 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.
17 But whoso hath this worldโs good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And 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.
24 And 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.
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Did You Know?
The chapter roots hatred in primordial evil by linking Cain's murder of Abel directly to the devil's nature as originator of sin 'from the beginning,' framing interpersonal malice as participation in a pre-Adamic cosmic conflict rather than mere human failing.
It presents an eschatological reserve by stating that 'it doth not yet appear what we shall be' while affirming present sonship, creating a deliberate tension between realized identity and future transformation into Christ's likeness at his appearing.
The assurance of answered prayer is conditioned on doing 'those things that are pleasing in his sight,' which the text equates with the dual commandment to believe in Jesus and love one another, binding petitionary confidence to ethical and christological fidelity.
The Spirit's indwelling functions as the sole empirical marker of reciprocal abiding ('he abideth in us'), shifting authentication of union with God from observable works alone to an internal, given witness that verifies commandment-keeping.
By declaring that God's love was 'manifested' in sending his Son 'that we might live through him,' the chapter recasts love as a historical, sacrificial initiative rather than an abstract attribute, requiring believers to replicate that same manifested, costly action toward others.