I JOHN CHAPTER III

[1 He declareth the singular love of God toward us in making us his sons; 
3 we therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments...]

BEHOLD 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 doth 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 manifested, and 
the children of the devil: whosoever doth not 
righteousness 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 
brother's 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 Whosover 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 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? 
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.