Chapter 3

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet appeared what we shall be. We know that, when he appears, we shall be like to him, for we shall see him just as he is.

And everyone who has this hope in him makes himself holy, just as he also is holy.

Everyone who commits sin commits iniquity also; and sin is iniquity.

And you know that he appeared to take our sins away, and sin is not in him.

No one who abides in him commits sin; and no one who sins has seen him, or has known him. Children of the Devil

Dear children, let no one lead you astray. He who does what is just is just, even as he is just.

He who commits sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. To this end the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whoever is born of God does not commit sin, because his seed abides in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are made known. Whoever is not just is not of God, nor is he just who does not love his brother.

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

not like Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And wherefore he kill him? Because his own works were wicked, but his brother's just.

Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murder. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. True Charity

In this we come to know his love, that he laid down his life for us; and we likewise ought to lay down our life for the brethren.

He who has the goods of this world and sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God abide in him?

My dear children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue, but in deed and in truth. A Good Conscience

In this we know that we are of the truth, and in his sight we set out hearts at rest.

Because if our heart blames us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence towards God;

and whatever we ask, we shall receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.

And he who keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And in this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.