Children of God

1Behold then what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: though for this reason the world knoweth us not, because it knew not Him. 2Beloved, we are now the children of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be: we know however, that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 3And every one, that hath this hope in Him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure.

4Every one that committeth sin, transgresseth the law; for sin is the violation of the law. 5And ye know that He was manifested, to take away our sins: and in Him there is no sin. 6Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, nor known Him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you: he that practiseth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous: 8he, that makes a practise of sin, is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. And for this the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9Whosoever is born of God doth not practise sin, because his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not practise righteousness, and he who loveth not his brother, is not of God:

Love One Another
(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)

11for this is the injunction which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: not as Cain who was of the evil one, and slew his brother; 12and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13Wonder not then, my brethren, if the world hate you: 14since we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren: he, that loveth not his brother, remaineth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16In this we know his love, that He laid down his life for us: and we should be ready to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But if any one, who hath the good things of the world, seeth his brother in want, and shutteth up his bowels from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20For, if our heart condemn us, God is still greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God: 22and whatsoever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

23And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He hath given us a charge to do. 24And he, that keepeth his commandments, abideth in Him, and He in him: and hereby we know that He abideth in us, even by the Spirit which He hath given us.